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svt11
Contributor
Contributor

Issues when installing VMware vSphere 5.5 Free on server

Hi, I ran on couple of issues when tried to install ESXi on this machine

E3-1230 v2

Intel S1200BTS board

16GB RAM

LSI MegaRAID

USB mouse and keyboard

I put ESXi on USB stick 8GB.

First time when I started it loaded grey window with welcome screen and it hanged there and the keyboard didn't work. So I removed USB keyboard legacy support from BIOS. I don't know how I managed to get even there, because kbd didn't work couple times. Then I reboot, but It showed me other error this time - "... could not set the video subsystem" and installer hangs there.

Thank you.

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9 Replies
schepp
Leadership
Leadership

Hi,

your board is not on VMware HCL: VMware Compatibility Guide: System Search

ESXi has a very limited set of drivers and will most times only install on systems listed on the HCL.

As a workaround for lab purposes, you can install ESXi as a VM inside VMware player or workstation.

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svt11
Contributor
Contributor

Motherboard is on HCL for 5.1, I've downloaded it too and again I had the same issues. Only once I managed to boot and then hanged at this grey screen.

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vNEX
Expert
Expert

Hi sv11,

All storage on ESXi 5.0 and later is by default formatted with GUID Partition Table (GPT) instead of MBR...(especially to support >2TB datastores)

So for being able to successfully boot ESXi you need EFI/UEFI compatible BIOS.

Please check if yor MB series is UEFI ready...?!

If not you have an option to change partition format during ESXi install through <Shift->O: Edit boot options>

After prompt to ENTER boot options type "runweasel formatwithmbr" then press Enter.

If this doesnt help refer to this KB article:

VMware KB: Trending Issues: Installation problems with ESX/ESXi

Message was edited by: vNEX

_________________________________________________________________________________________ If you found this or any other answer helpful, please consider to award points. (use Correct or Helpful buttons) Regards, P.
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svt11
Contributor
Contributor

I think it's UEFI ready, because when I make selective boot - it then shows me UEFI: Jetflash....

And I figure it out how to pass through this shitty error for video subsystem. I've mistakenly made some change to BIOS - Ithnk I have disabled everything except onboard video and then it didn't show me anything on the screen and I resetted the BIOS using the pins and installed the video card. Then it was recognized. Now I'm having trouble with the LSI megaraid 9240-4i controller. It can;t load the driver for him. I think it's from the card I've installed - PowerColor 7850.

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vNEX
Expert
Expert

ESXi 5.5 image doesn't contain inbox driver for this controller but you can download form LSI or VMware appropriate VIB and install the driver manually...

Downloads:

http://www.lsi.com/downloads/Public/RAID%20Controllers/RAID%20Controllers%20Common%20Files/00_37_V0_...

https://my.vmware.com/web/vmware/details?productId=353&downloadGroup=DT-ESXI55-MEGARAID_SAS-66025500...

Methods how to inject async drivers to ESXi image:

http://kb.vmware.com/kb/2005205

http://www.tinkertry.com/lsi92658iesxi5/

http://www.v-front.de/p/esxi-customizer.html

_________________________________________________________________________________________ If you found this or any other answer helpful, please consider to award points. (use Correct or Helpful buttons) Regards, P.
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svt11
Contributor
Contributor

In some youtube video it's said that I have to change the BIOS to EFI compatible ROM - some option, bu I can't find it. I think it's somewhere in the BIOS, but I can't find it.

EDIT

I tried with drivers you poset with ESXI 5.5 and all other versions 6.03 6.04 and none of them have worked. I'm trying now with ESXI 5.1 and I manage to get past loading megaraid_sas module, but when during installation again the driver is wrong. It said me it doesn't work API 9.2.2.20 or something. Very first time when I tried to install I used the onboard video and got past yellow-black screen and it reached HCL grey window and the keyobard was not working.

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vNEX
Expert
Expert

EFI specification and implementation was developed solely by Intel and I think that your board is by default EFI enabled for that reason you probably cannot find any setting to turning it off/on.

Last you can try is to update your board firmware to the latest...download and apply this update:

https://downloadcenter.intel.com/Detail_Desc.aspx?DwnldID=23896

_________________________________________________________________________________________ If you found this or any other answer helpful, please consider to award points. (use Correct or Helpful buttons) Regards, P.
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svt11
Contributor
Contributor

I have done this and still not working.

EDIT

OK, I have removed LSI controller and it boots, but I now it doesn'rt recognize USB keyboard.

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vNEX
Expert
Expert

Have you verify that driver module was installed correctly for LSI controller just for check ensure that correct driver version is installed:

# esxcli software vib list | grep mega

latest version is :

6.602.55.00.1vmw of LSI Corporation megaraid_sas driver

Regarding you keyboard issue some people has resolved it by enabling USB "EHCI handoff" option in BIOS...

some by plugging the keyboard into USB port directly inside the mainboard  near its SATA connectors...

See this thread:

https://communities.vmware.com/thread/458366?start=15&tstart=0

In addition for keyboard/mouse issues you can also follow this article:

http://kb.vmware.com/selfservice/microsites/search.do?language=en_US&cmd=displayKC&externalId=100386...

Another option if everything fails is step backward and try to install ESXi 5.1 release which according to some community posts is working better with Intel S1200BTS board ...

_________________________________________________________________________________________ If you found this or any other answer helpful, please consider to award points. (use Correct or Helpful buttons) Regards, P.
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