VMWare installation Flex X240 M5 Node

[hafizurr]

Flex Chassis  X240 M5 Server, we are getting issue when we try to install VMWare ESXi on it, chassis generate a hardware error " Fatal Bus Error" and automatic restart the Blade however same error has been observed on all blades.

Can any one help to resolve the issue

[rcporto]

Which version of vSphere ESXi you're trying to install ? And your IBM Flex node are with firmware updated ?

[hafizurr]

Hi Richardson,

We are using vSphere ESXi 5.5 to install  and IBM Flex X240 M5 Node are updated with  latest firmware.

[hafizurr]

Now problem solved after some BIOS setting in X240 M5 Node and VMWare 5.5 U2 installed success fully.

[itmanit]

hafizurr,

We are having the same issue on 10 x240 M5's with ESXi-5.1.2-1483097-IBM-20140305.iso.

Installer started, node crashed when ESXi installer at acpi check

Node Node 05 message: Group 2, (PCIs) fatal bus error)

Disabling 'PCI 64-Bit Resource Allocation' does work for us as well but does it have any impact on 64bit operation under VMWare?

Also for you information we tried VMware-VMvisor-Installer-6.0.0-2494585.x86_64.iso with 'PCI 64-Bit Resource Allocation' enabled and it installed successfully.

Cheers,

Chris

[hafizurr]

Dear Chris,

Thanks for your information as we are also able to install after  Disabling 'PCI 64-Bit Resource Allocation.

Now we will also try the VMware-VMvisor-Installer-6.0.0-2494585.x86_64.iso.

Kind Regards,

[mkarthi1984]

Hi

     Can u pls tell that setting what you have change in BIOS

[itmanit]

Hi mkarthi1984,

The setting to change on an IBM/Lenovo x240 M5 Node are the following

1. System Settings/Devices and I/O ports/PCI 64-Bit Resource Allocation to Disabled.
   
   
2. System Settings/Devices and I/O ports/MM Config Base memory window to 3 GB.

Full RETAIN tip here:

https://www-947.ibm.com/support/entry/portal/docdisplay?lndocid=MIGR-5096729&brandind=5000020

Hope this helps

Cheers, Chris

[mkarthi1984]

Hi Cheers

     Thanks for your support

[mkarthi1984]

Hi

     While install the ESXI 5.5 in IBM x240 node unable to see the local disk

[itmanit]

Hi mkarthi1984,

Have you created an array on the internal disks through the UEFI?

System Settings > Storage and create a RAID 1 (most common RAID used for Operating System install)

If you have already created the array, are you using the IBM customized image of ESXi?

Cheers

[Darkside59]

hi itmanit,

You're instruction works on installing VMware ESXi 5.5. I was able to install, but after it finish install and ask to reboot system. I reboot the system but now it's not detecting any drives. You have any issue like what I am experiencing?

System: Lenovo x240 m5

OS: VMware ESXi 5.5

Drives: 2 Intel NVMe drives ([0]400GB+[1]1.6TB)

After finish install, reboot and not seeing drive. No drive detect in BIOS.

Thanks.

[Darkside59]

itmanit,

Did you setup an array on SATA drives or NVMe drive? I've tried to create an array, but it won't see no drive on the BIOS menu.

Thanks again.

Jerry

[itmanit]

Hi Jerry,

They were two SAS hard drives and they were visible in the UEFI.

Have you checked to see if the Intel NVMe drives are on the supported VMware hardware matrix?

Cheers, Chris

[derhoeppi]

Hi,

i want to install the esxi 5.1 onto the sd card module. My problem is that the sd cards not shown within the setup as local harddisk. I dont configure an volume or RAID because the sd card module should automatically create a RAID 1 if two sd cards pluged in. Does anybody setup this? 

Kind regards

derhoeppi

[nathangustiryan]

Just sharing video tutorial :

Step by step BIOS Config for SDCard and Local Harddisk on Lenovo Flex x240 M5 by Nathan Gusti Ryan

https://youtu.be/jdt4781dnHk

Step by step SDCard and Local Harddisk Configuration with Console on Lenovo Flex x240 M5 by Nathan Gusti Ryan

https://youtu.be/yRZObpUte0I