VMware Cloud Community
tspayde
Contributor
Contributor

Error: Unable to find supported device to write image.

Hello. I am having issues installing ESXi 4.1.0. I am getting the error: "Unable to find a supported device to write the VMware ESXi 4.1.0 image to.". The system information is shows is:

System Information:

Manufacturer: Supermicro

Model: X8DT3

Service Tag: 1234567890

Bios Rev: American Megatrends Inc. 

The server is an Aberdeen X888. It is an 8U server with 48 hard drives. it has two additional hard drives just for the OS. The server has 2 ARC-1680 Raid Controllers which are on the list of supported devices. I have tried to re-create the array for the OS and that did not work. I was hoping someone would be able to give me some advice.

Let me know if you need anymore information.

Thank You

Reply
0 Kudos
4 Replies
Dave_Mishchenko
Immortal
Immortal

If you look at the notes on the HCL, you have to download drivers for the controller as they are not embedded into the installation media yet.

http://downloads.vmware.com/d/info/datacenter_downloads/vmware_vsphere_4/4_0#drivers_tools

You might want to check with Areca to see if they have a supported proccess to embed the drivers into the install, otherwise you can create a custom oem.tgz file and modify the installation media.

http://www.vm-help.com/esx40i/customize_oem_tgz.php

http://www.vm-help.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=4

tspayde
Contributor
Contributor

Thank you for the reply. I will give this a shot first thing in the morning. Thanks again.

Reply
0 Kudos
tspayde
Contributor
Contributor

So I think I have followed the steps completely. I added the oem.vmk file to the install. I could not follow the second part of his instructions because the paths did not exist in the iso. The only thing I could really do was add the oem.vmk file to the iso. The problem is my server is in a datacenter in Atlanta and I have to burn the disk and overnight it into the datacenter. I need to make sure that is all I have to do to get this install to work. With the system I posted in the first post do you think that the array controller driver is the only one I will need? Also just adding the oem.vmk file is that the proper way? There was mention of a install.tgz file but the iso for 4.1 did not have that file anywhere.

Thank You

Reply
0 Kudos
Dave_Mishchenko
Immortal
Immortal

It's oem.tgz that you replace but it has to be done in two places.  Some of the tgz/vgz names have changed with 4.1 but the script takes care of that.  You should be able to build the install CD image and you could then test it with an ESXi VM  (you just need Workstation on a PC and enough memory for a 2 GB VM).  If it works to install in a VM (you can check the installed copy after to ensure that the changes are present) then it'll work with your remote host.

Reply
0 Kudos