VMWare Do not recognize this controller: LSI/3Ware 9650SE-4LPML

[SanXago]

Dear Community

I'm facing an issue when trying to install ESXi 5.5.0 in a SuperMicro X8DTL

This is not recognizing hard drives installed on the server. Consider that, this server it was working before with XenServer/Citrix, after I put MS-Windows Server 2008 to make some tests. So, this machine is working fine. You can check up this issue at https://plus.google.com/u/0/photos?pids=5931291519477723122,5931283496645328146&oid=1124405765352247...

How may I resolve this situation?

Thanks in advance.

SanXago.

[a_p_]

According to the VMware Compatibility Guide (see I/O Devices), this controller is not supported for v5.5. However, you may try to download the driver for the previous version from https://my.vmware.com/web/vmware/info/slug/datacenter_cloud_infrastructure/vmware_vsphere/5_1#driver... and inject it to your installation image.

André

[jsahn]

You need to load the latest LSI drivers from the download section (of vmware) which is going to be for ESXi 5.0u1 or something. You will also need the latest aacraid driver. Then you can sideload these via ssh or vCLI, or create a new ISO.

For windows to detect it properly/driver problems I used the latest version of the LSI/3ware drivers which isn't published.

For Windows:

3DM2_CLI-Win_10.2.2.1_9.5.5.1

9650SE_9690SA_firmware_9.5.5.1codeset_fw4.10.00.027

For ESXi

aacraid-1.2.1.40301-offline_bundle-1475991

LSI_2.27.08.036vm50-offline_bundle-637081

[zoran4afc]

I report that the driver 2.27.08.036 doesn't work properly in ESX 5.5u2, possibly also 5.5u1.

The symptoms are strange: you can't boot certain Windows version (particulary, W2K3 Server, WinXP 64-bit, those I tested) if the vmdk is stored at local storage driven by 9650SE-4LPML.

BTW, you can do live storage vmotion to local 9650SE-4LPML, the Windows will run - until you reboot.

EDIT:

During unsuccessful boot of the critical VMs, many errors like this appears in host's log:

vmkernel: cpu1:37694)<4>3w-9xxx: scsi1: ERROR: (0x06:0x002e): Found unaligned sgl address during execute scsi.

The VM freezes at black screen.

Also, if you try to install from ISO to local SCSI the OSes I listed above, the same issue happen at "Setup is inspecting your computer's hardware configuration.."

BTW, I have the similar controller (9650SE-8LPML) in the storage (Open-E DSS6), LUNs connected as software iSCSI SAN, but no issues there.

Since there is little or no hope for newer driver version, I suppose the 3ware 9650 is bad choice for ESXi5.5.