How to Install LSI Logic MegaRAID 8480 Controller in Existing ESX 3.5 System?

[dmcoop]

I am fairly new with VMWare and no nothing really about Linux - please do not shoot me but I am a Windows man and need instructions so simple that even a Windows guru can follow . . .

I have an existing VMWare server that is hosting 9 guest. I have purchased an IBM (LSI Logic) MegaRAID 8480 RAID controller and need to add it to my existing system. I need to know the steps required in setting up the drivers once I have the card installed in the server please.

Here is my configuration:

IBM x3650 Server with 24GB RAM and 2 Quad-Core Xeon CPUs running VMWare ESX 3.5.

There is an existing RAID on a IBM ServeRAID 8k/8k-l8 controller - 2 spindle sets on this controller.

I'll be adding 1 spindel set to the MegaRAID controller with an IBM DS3000 drive array.

As part of this upgrade I will have to move and existing 4 port NIC from the slot it is in now to another slot. Should I do that first, boot the server and make sure all is working BEFORE I put the new RAID card in? Will I have to reload NIC drivers too or will VMWare figure out that the card is the same but just in another slot?

Any help or suggestions are greatly appreciated.

[bradley4681 · Accepted solution]

You should be able to just stick it in and it'll recognize it. As far the NIC it should do the same thing, but any networks that you have setup with that nic in the configuration would most likely become unstable or corrupt. I would first remove the NIC from any configured virtual networks you have created within ESX and then shut down, you don't have to remove the network, just the physical adapter from the virtual switches as they can exist without any physical nics. This saves you from having to reconfigure any virtual machines using those virtual switches. Then move the NIC and install the RAID card and boot back up.

Cheers,

Bradley Sessions

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[dmcoop]

Thank you Bradley. I'll be doing this in about an hour and will post back the results.

[dmcoop]

Bradley - that did it. Thanks a bunch.