IBM x3400 & VMware ESXi 4.0

[3rst4knowledge]

Hi

We need to use VMware ESXi 4.0 hypervisor on an IBM x3400 server (P/N: 7976KJG).

VMware HCL and IBM web site state that this box is comaptible with ESX 4.0 only (not with ESXi 4.0).

Is it possible to install ESXi 4.0 on this machine ?

If yes, which binary is the best:

- ESXi 4.0 Update 1 Installable (CD ISO) or

- ESXi 4.0 U1 with IBM Customization optional binary ?

(The server was purchased more than 1 year ago, so I don't remember whether we had any "license entitlement" to download "VMware ESXi 4.0 with IBM Customization" binary.)

Thnx.

Zs.

[DSTAVERT]

There may be a reason that ESXi isn't supported but I would give it a try anyway. Use the IBM version first. If that fails use the generic version. The generic version will not have all the IBM specific monitoring modules and customizations. I would install to a USB flash disk. Use at least 1 1GB stick. It is a supported install destination straight from the CD install.

[3rst4knowledge]

Thank you for you answer.

Unfortunately my attempts were not succesful.

As you suggested I installed ESXi onto a USB flash drive.

I made tries with both versions (ESXi normal and ESXi IBM customized)..

Then my server didn't recognize it as a boot option - neither ESXi versions.

I' don't know why.

The boot order is:

1. CD

2. Removable drives

3. HDD.

The production W2K8 STD op. system was always booting from the HDD instead of ESXi from USB flash drive.

Even I manually called the Boot menu and selected the '2. Removable drives' option - after few seconds searching finally the W2K8 started to boot.

Anyway the flash drive seemed as created properly by ESXi installation.

On my notebook I checked it with a partition manager program and I saw several partitions created during ESXi installation (running from the CD).

Also trying to boot from the USB flash drive on my PC always was successful.

[vlho]

Hi 3rst4knowledge,

look just above your boot order entries,

here is option for change order HDD !

Default is first physical HDD, second USB flsh

[3rst4knowledge]

I don't understand.

in my Boot order the USB drives (flash drive, external USB HDD) have higher priority (2) than the internal HDD (3).

So server should boot from them before the attempt of boot from internal HDD.

[vlho]

Hi,

you look on the photo bellow...

The red mark is point where you press the key "Enter"

[3rst4knowledge]

Thnx!

Now it's working.

There were 2 'problems' (in my mind )

a) I thought that 'Removable' covered all kind of USB drives (either USB HDD or USB flashdrives),

b) I didn't recognize that 'Select The Boot Hardisk' is a menu option.

I focused only the 'Primary Startup Sequence' part of this screen.

[DSTAVERT]

Glad you are up and going and thanks for the follow up.

[3rst4knowledge]

To be honest I have only a half smile on my face ...

Because the real test (ESXi 4.0 compatibility with IBM x3400) has just begun.

I hope the hypervisor and the guest op. systems will work properly.

[DSTAVERT]

Getting it installed is most of the battle. What drive controller do you have? If you have the optional RAID card you should have no problem with creating the datastore.

[rriva]

How about your test ?

I have the same IBM X3400 7976 KJG and have to install on it ESXi 4

Could you also tell me if the DirectPath IO is supported on this system ?

Thank You

Bye

[b][i]Riccardo Riva[/i][/b]

VCP,RHCE,FCNSA[/i]
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[mark_l_zhang]

How about the Internal RAID Card? Does anyone try HOSTRAID ?