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LMT
Enthusiast
Enthusiast

Install of 3.0.1 with SAN attached

How do you go about installing ESX on a SAN attached Dell server (card Qlogic 2200/2340 on Dell 2650/2850) without it detecting SAN as sda and performing the install there?

Is there a way of:

a) change the order to pickup the megaraid first?

b) ignore the qla2200_707 driver entirely for install?

Or does the SAN need to be unplugged from the card?

Regards,

Marten

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25 Replies
LMT
Enthusiast
Enthusiast

Thanks all for your input on the matter.

I agree with you that certain precautions should be taken when performing a install with SAN attached. The last thing anyone needs is to blow away an entire LUN with several Virtual Machines on it.

In our case that precaution would be to "disable" the HBA or to change the reenumeration of the devices so local disk get enumerated first.

It seems that the only possible way of protecting the SAN is to manually pull out the cables from the HBA. This defy the whole function of scripted installation of remote systems. VMWare have now taken the issue offline and refer to the problem being Dell specific. Have not found anyone with a solution performing scripted install of ESX with SAN attached on Dell and it does not look good.

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kix1979
Immortal
Immortal

There is a work around for the grub stuff. I just cannot find the reference, but it can work.

Thomas H. Bryant III
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LMT
Enthusiast
Enthusiast

We are now taking this to Dell to see if they have any way of listing the PCI devices in an other order or masking the HBA. Otherwise it's up hacking the build and taking out the drivers for the HBA. Messy, but wee need to be able to build ESX remote via script without someone pulling fibre.

Thanks all for your help.

Marten

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jrglines
Contributor
Contributor

Do your Dell servers have DRAC's? If so, maybe this doc helps...

http://www.dell.com/downloads/global/power/ps4q04-20040105-Pan.pdf

Regards,

JR

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LMT
Enthusiast
Enthusiast

We use the virtual media function when booting the server from boot image but it does not let us choose PCI order or installation destination.

Regards,

Marten

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LMT
Enthusiast
Enthusiast

Have chosen the option of "hiding" the SAN from the server. Thank you all for your help in the matter.

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