"Cannot mount root" error on Asus server (LSI 8300)

[A_K1]

Hello,

I am evaluating 3.51 ESX Server on one of our Asus servers. Installation went fine, but booting falls into some kind of console showing error "Cannot mount root". Server uses LSI MegaRaid 8300 XLP SAS controller.

Is there any way to fix this problem?

UPD: I have used ESX3.5 Update 1 (build 82663) on clean machine (disk is not partitioned).

[Dave_Mishchenko]

The problem is that the vmkernel does not recognize the storage adapter, while the Linux installer can. Take a look at this proceduce - http://www.vm-help.com/esx/esx3.5/SATA_mounting_root_failed.html. In your case you would need to edit either megaraid2.xml or megaraid_sas.xml (I would try the megaraid2 file first). This procedure essentially tells ESX which driver to load for the controller and it assumes that driver will work with the controller which is not gauranted. Unfortunately, you won't be able to add Linux drivers to ESX to get this controller to work if you have problems with the existing drivers.

If you need other controller options take a look at this list - http://www.vm-help.com/esx/esx3.5/Whiteboxes_SATA_Controllers_for_ESX_3.5_3i.htm

[A_K1]

The follwoing helped me:

adding

device,0x1000,0x0413,scsi,LSI Logic MegaRAID SAS8300XLP,megaraid_sas.o

to /etc/vmware/vmware-devices.map

followed by

esxfcg-boot -p

and an init 6