Shuttle SX38P2 Pro as Low Cost ESXi lab server? Can anybody solve this?

[KunalKPatel]

I was looking into develping a low cost demo server using a barebones shuttle PC.

I originally looked at the following links, but I can't seem to find how to replicate their success.

http://communities.vmware.com/message/971388#971388

These are the components we used, pretty close to spec mentioned.

• Shuttle SX38P2 Pro (ICH9R SATA Controller which i set to IDE mode with Legacy support)

• Intel Core 2 Quad Q8200 2.33Ghz,

• Kingston HyperX DDR2 1066 RAM,

• 2 x WD 500GB Drives,

• HP nc360t Dual Gigabit

• nvidia GeForce 6200 128mb DDR PCIe Video Card (since there is no onboard video)

Of course the same error message you've all seen before

"Unable to find supported device to write the VMware ESX 3.5.0 image to"

The only difference is the ESXi Build, that couldn't be it right?

We're using ESXi 3.5 Version 3.5 Update 3 | 123629 - 11/06/08

The reported one working is Build 94430

Can anyone provide their insight and thoughts on how this was setup?

Thanks

[Dave_Mishchenko]

You might want to try this install method -http://www.vm-help.com/esx/esx3i/ESXi_install_to_IDE_drive/ESXi_install_to_IDE_drive.php.

[wazoo9000]

try putting the sata into IDE compatability mode.

[KunalKPatel]

Its in IDE more with Legacy support as well.

[KunalKPatel]

Thanks Dave, have you ever tried editing some of those files before? like oem.tgz? or the simple.map?

I edited the TargetFilter.py file as the link suggested

I ran some commands (lspci -v) as shown at this link

http://www.vm-help.com/esx/esx3i/find_PCI_ID.php#ESX_ISO

and found that it lists the following

IDE Controller (ICH9)

class 0101: 8086: 2926

Which is a good sign however I also see another line showing

IDE interface mass storage controller

class 0101: 197b:2368

which is not listed in the supported vendor and PCI lsitings.

I have 2 hard drives attached in this ShuttlePC system.

I'm not certain how to list this IDE interface mass storage controller in the oem file.

[Dave_Mishchenko]

The 197b:2368 is a jmicron controller and ESXi doesn't have a driver for that model. You'll have to stick with the ICH9 controller. There's an article on customizing oem.tgz on vm-help.com.

[packetboy]

Hi Kunal,

Did you get esxi working on your SX38P2 I am looking at picking one up to do the same thing.. Just wanted to see if you got it working or not !!

Thanks,

Packetboy.

[Texiwill]

Hello,

Moved to ESXi forum.

Best regards,
Edward L. Haletky
VMware Communities User Moderator, VMware vExpert 2009
====
Author of the book 'VMWare ESX Server in the Enterprise: Planning and Securing Virtualization Servers', Copyright 2008 Pearson Education.
Blue Gears and SearchVMware Pro Blogs -- Top Virtualization Security Links -- Virtualization Security Round Table Podcast

[packetboy]

Hi,

Not sure if anyone cares but I went ahead and purchased a Shuttle SX38P2 and I can confirm that the full version of ESX 3.5 Update 4 installs perfectly with no need to edit any install files. All I had to do was set my SATA controller to AHCI. Of course the onboard NIC doesnt work still (as Erik confirmed) but I sorted this out with a dual port intel nic I got off ebay for £15...

I tricked my shuttle out with the following:

Q9550 2.8ghz quad with 12mb L2 (fingers crossed this will support FT)

8GB DDR2

2 x 500GB HDD (1 for esx , 1 for hyper-v)

Asus Silent 256mb pcie video card

Intel Dual port pcie nic

Cheapest DVD-Rom I could find (for esx 4)

happy days !!

Packetboy.