VI3.5 Boot-from-san with BladeCenter LS21

[francois_tiers]

I've got a problem...

I have a bladeCenter with 5 LS21 without local hard-drive and a DS4700 (16 drives - 15drive in RAID5)

I create an Array with a LUN (10Go) (ID=0) i mapped this lun to ESX group (with 2 FC cards)

I boot the LS21, and install ESX 3.5, no problem

but when i reboot, i have an error "no boot device", why ?

the Qlogic card are configured into bootable enable with 2 path per card

[ctfoster]

On the QLogic as well as enabling the bios do you need to specify the boot LUN?

[francois_tiers]

Yes a specified my boot LUN (LUNID=0), it's the only one LUN that i present to the blade...

I need help... i don't understand, why can i install but not boot!!!, i must disable some element ? or enable something?

For moment,

i enable the Qlogic card, the boot option and specified the boot LUN (with 2 path par qlogic card), my daughter card (qlogic) is primary than the SAS card and i remove the SAS local hard drive.

[ctfoster]

I'd put the SAS back in and try to boot - to see if the blade bios is finding the local SAS card before the QLogic. If the boot sees the SAS drive there is something in the blade bios thats not scanning the QLogic card looking for the boot bios. Or it is, and the the boot bios on the Qlogic is not enabled.

[francois_tiers]

Ths bios Qlogic is enabled, it force the Qlogic primary than the the SAS drive,

i must disable the SAS card, or just remove the SAS local hard drive ?

[ctfoster]

Removing the SAS drive it not going to make any difference if the host BIOS is not looking for the QLogic card for a boot BIOS.

To troubleshoot this I would disable the SAS card in the BIOS and try again. If you get the same error the host is not looking at the Qlogic card for a BIOS - or it's is and it's not enabled. Have you got a known good bootable LUN you cna test it with ?

[francois_tiers]

in fact, i have no problem with my config... When my lun is on ControlerA, the LS21 doesn't boot but on ControlerB all is OK

Now, my problem is my controlerA

[Schorschi]

Been a while since I look at this, but in VMware docs, there is a specific reference to QLogic having issues with multiple paths for Boot from SAN. QLogic card gets confused and tries to use the stand-by path not the active path. Unless VMware docs have been updated, you can not use multiple paths for boot from SAN.

[Erik_Bussink]

When you install 'Boot on SAN' with a Qlogic (1 embedded card = 2 adapters, named #5000 and #5100, or #4000 and #41000) you need to configure the BIOS on only one adatper, and present the LUN on only one adapter. It's only when you are done with the install for the 'Boot on SAN' that you can enable the 2nd adapter to see the LUN.

If you send me an private email thru this forum, I can send you the the installation guide for VI3.5 that I just realized for 18x IBM Blade HS21-XM on IBM BladeCenter H.

Erik

[nguhoa]

Hi Erik,

I'am very happy if you can send me installation guide for HS21-XM, because I installed VI-3.5 with boot on SAN and can not see both vmhba in VMware for multipath under Configuration --> Storage Adapters .

Thanks in advance.

HQN

[juan_pedro]

Hello,

I´m the same problem with HS21XM and ds4400.

I cannot create a cluster, I can´t see the logical drives in controller A.

Can you help me?, can you send me documentation?.

jpedrogarcia@hotmail.com

Thanks.

[alinc89]

I would also like the guide for the IBM BladeCenter H and Blade HS21XM with a DS4700. alinc89@hotmail.com

Thanks!

[Texiwill]

Hello,

Moved to VMware ESX v3.5 forum.

Best regards,

Edward L. Haletky

VMware Communities User Moderator

====

Author of the book 'VMWare ESX Server in the Enterprise: Planning and Securing Virtualization Servers', Copyright 2008 Pearson Education.

SearchVMware Blog: http://itknowledgeexchange.techtarget.com/virtualization-pro/

Blue Gears Blogs - http://www.itworld.com/ and http://www.networkworld.com/community/haletky

As well as the Virtualization Wiki at http://www.astroarch.com/wiki/index.php/Virtualization

[SteveDoney]

Erik, could I trouble you to send me the document you have on this subject ?

Please send to sdoney@au1.ibm.com

Many thanks in advance..

Cheers

Steve