ESXi 5 Server does not recognize HP StorageWorks 81B HBA

[TIM02210]

I am setting up 4 ESXi 5 servers attached to a HP P2000 SAN. I'm pretty familiar with ESX and VMware. have been running ESX 3.5 for about 3 years. This new environment is giving me a problem as ESXi 5 does not see the HP StorageWorks 81B HBAs installed on the HP Proliant DL 380 G7 servers. I see that this is a known issue and I've been tring to follow the directions outlined in the HP doc (see link below). I find the document poorly written and not very clear. I'm getting stuck at step 3 where it says to:

"Install HBA Driver. Download Brocade HBA driver, extract the compressed file, and burn (or mount) the ISO image. Download and install VMware vSphere CLI. Open CLI and change directory to C:\Program Files\VMware\VMware vSphere CLI\bin .

Run the following command and make sure to not omit the dot and the backslash:

.\Vihostupdate.pl Server 10.12.243.130 –-username root –-password Password1 -–install –-bundle E:\offline-bundle\BCD-bfa-2.3.0.2-00000-offline_bundle-344638.zip "

I've downloaded the ISO file and the file and path "offline-bundle\BCD-bfa-2.3.0.2-00000-offline_bundle-344638.zip" exist on the CD but when I run the command from the CLI it says "error connecting to server at 'https://localhost/sdk/webservice' perhaps host is not a vcenter or ESX server". I'm trying to run this from a Windows server that is not a vCenter server but how would I run this from a vCenter server if I cannot see the HBAs and thus cannot see the SAN and am not at this time able to setup the vCenter server. I also substituted the 10.12.243.130 IP address for the IP address of the ESX server and that did not work and of course I entered the correct password for the "Password1" field. Could I run this command from the ESX server, if so what would be the command line? Anyway, I'm stuck at this point. I called HP tech support and they were no help at all.

http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/Document.jsp?lang=en&cc=uk&taskId=110&prodSeriesId=...

[a_p_ · Accepted solution]

According to the HCL, the adapter is not supported on ESXi 5.0.

However it looks like there is a driver for ESXi 5.0 at http://downloads.vmware.com/d/details/dt_esxi50_brocade_bfa_3000/dHRAYnRqdGpiZHAlJQ== which you could try (at your own risk) rather than the one you mentioned. The installation instructions are included in the zip file.

André

[TIM02210]

Brilliant, thank you so much for that. It worked perfectly, I have been pulling my hair out over this for 2 days.

[gmbsrt8]

The HP 81B is actually the Brocade 815 which is supported under the HCL.  You can download the docummentation and offline bundles from:

http://www.brocade.com/services-support/drivers-downloads/adapters/HBA_EMC.page

I used these a couple weeks ago on a HP DL380 G7 install.

The easiest install is to copy the file brocade_driver_esx50_v3-0-0-0.tar.gz over to the host (I used winscp) and follow the steps starting on page 99 of the Brocade_Adapters_v3.0.0.0_Install_and_Reference_Manual.pdf document.

[virtualserver]

Well this can be done via console also, if you have console access to ESXi 5.0 server. I performed the HBA driver installating from console.

1. Enable ssh from console.

2. Fress alt+F2, enter user/password

3. Login to vSphere client and upload the HBA drivers to datastore. (There is an option to upload the file, when you select folder in datastore)

4. CD to the dir where file is copeid from console.

5. Unzip the file and run ./brocade_install_esxi.sh (read info file for information which comes with .zip file)

Reboot the host and you are done with HBA driver installation.

Thanks,

Visrtualserver4