Does ESXi 4.0 support PERC S300 on a Dell PoweEdge T310?

[YourTechAgent]

I recently purchased a Dell PowerEdge T310 that has a PERC S300 with 3 500GB HDs for RAID 5. I attempted to install VMWare ESXi 4.0 with Dell Customization but was unable to proceed. A installation failed message appeared stating the system doesn't have the supported device to write the image.

Can you confirm that Dell ESXi 4.0 or 4.0 with Update 1 supports the PERC S300? Do I have to return the server and get a PERC 6i controller? Thanks.

[weinstein5]

Have you checked the compatability guides? - http://www.vmware.com/resources/guides.html

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[AndreTheGiant]

Seems that is supported with the new U1.

See also:

Andre

[YourTechAgent]

The guides were checked and didn't find the the perc s300.

[YourTechAgent]

I'm unable to find where VMWare confirms that U1 can see the PERC S300. Is the U1 a full package?

[weinstein5]

Then it is not supported

Sent from my iPhone

On Dec 2, 2009, at 4:11 AM, "YourTechAgent" <communities-emailer@vmware.com

[AndreTheGiant]

There is only the server, but is not secify with which controller:

[HCL for T310|http://www.vmware.com/resources/compatibility/search.php?action=search&deviceCategory=server&productId=1&advancedORbasic=advanced&maxDisplayRows=50&key=T310&release[]=-1&datePosted=-1&partnerId[]=23&formFactorId[]=-1&filterByEVC=0&filterByFT=0&min_sockets=&min_cores=&min_memory=&rorre=0]

Is the U1 a full package?

Yes

Andre

[DSTAVERT · Accepted solution]

A Dell information piece indicated that it is a Software RAID device and so no RAID support in any version of ESXi. You may be able to use it as just 3 separate disks. I would try disabling any RAID functionality if possible and see what happens. If RAID is a requirement it looks like you would need to upgrade to a PERC 5 or 6.

[YourTechAgent]

Thank you for all the suggestions. Dell Customer Care sent me a PERC6i. I installed the card and configured the RAID5 for the 3 disks. After the initializing of the RAID, VMware ESXi 4.0 with Dell Customization successfully installed. Last, I updated to U1 using the VMWare Client Host Update Utility successfully.

Success!

[DSTAVERT]

Great news. Since this will probably be a very popular server choice it might be useful if you added a bit more about your experience for the community.

[mingtienwu]

Could you tell me how much you paid for the PERC6i? I have the same trouble for a Dell PowerEdge T110.

[YourTechAgent]

It had Dell send me a replacement (free). The Dell S300 since that is a PERC software raid controller won't work with the T110. You must have a PERC6i. I'm enjoying VMWare ESXi 4.0 U1 very much and has been running flawlessly.

[mingtienwu]

Thank you for your answer and suggestion! I'll talk to the Dell's salesman.

[JamesBond123321]

I had the same problem. I bought a new Dell PowerEdge T110 and got a PERC S300 Raid 5 configured with 3 x 250GB HDs.

I downloaded ESXi 4 and 4U1, but when installing it won't recognize the RAID 5 I have configured. Works great with Windows 2008.

When I went to the support site for Dell, it shows that you can make downloads for ESXi 4. I downloaded the firmware update for the ESXi 4, and ran it into a DOS prompt from my Windows 2008 I installed. I tried to install ESXi 4 and 4UI afterwards with no success.

But then there's a section as well I can download from their driver support site called "Enterprise Solutions". If you go there, there's an ISO of ESXi 4.0 with all the Dell drivers in them, for all PowerEdges.

Downloaded it, burned it, installed it ... STILL WON'T WORK. That customized version is to fix a NIC card problem. No additional drivers for RAID 5.

Went back to DELL and check out what is available for me by constructing another server. And guess what. It says in small letters on the SAS controller section that PERC S300 only works with Windows. Grrrr.

So I guess I'm stuck and see what I can to get another RAID card from DELL.