unable to find supported device to write VMware esx server 3i image to.

[bydemandchd]

Hi

I am fairly new to virtulization.

I downloaded: VMware ESX Server 3i U4 Installable Refresh Version 3.5 Update 4 | 153875 - 03/30/09 from the website and burnt it to a disc. upon booting from the disc and following the instructions in the installation guide I get the following error:

Installation Operation failed!

The installation operation has encoutered a fatal error!

unable to find supported device to write VMware esx server 3i image to.

The Following system inforamtion will assist the VMWare support forum with your problem. Please record the information before proceeding.

System Information

Manufacture: Aborted

Model: aborted

Service Tag: Aborted

BIOS Rev: SGP4510H.06A.0083.2008.0819.1026

[Dave_Mishchenko]

Welcome to the VMware Community forums. Take a look at this page - http://www.vm-help.com/esx/esx3i/ESXi_35_common_issues.php

[AntonVZhbankov]

Don't know such vendor as "Aborted"

Please provide more details.

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VMware vExpert '2009

http://blog.vadmin.ru

[bydemandchd]

That is what it says?

[AntonVZhbankov]

Can you say what system are you using? Vendor, model of server - to find out what disk controller is installed.

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VMware vExpert '2009

http://blog.vadmin.ru

[bydemandchd]

The controller information is as follows:

ICH10 Family 2 Port Serial ATA storage Contoller 2-3A26

ICH10 Family 4 Port Serial ATA storage Contoller 1-3A20

[bydemandchd]

The article "Customizing your ESXi install with oem.tgz " says that if I am doing a fresh install I do not need a custom oem.tgz file. Anyway, even when I download a file for the ICH10 controller named "CommunityUnifiedDriverPack_v1.1.0_U3-123629.oem.gz" I am not sure how I can use this file. I know its a compressed file but after I extract it I am not sure how to use it. I am trying to boot from USB now to check to see if I have the required driver.

[Dave_Mishchenko]

Given that it's an ICH controller, I would check which driver is loaded (lspci -p) and verify that ESXi can see a HD (fdisk -l). If the module is IDE, then try the IDE install method.

[bydemandchd]

lspci -p shows vmhba0 and vmhba1 but fdisk -l does not return anything.

[OriVM]

best I way I have found is installing ESXi to usb then booting from that. You can find that once booted it sees more controllers plus there are added advantages of using USB too.

[Dave_Mishchenko]

What mode do you have the SATA controller in. Also try another port on the controller.

[J1mbo]

there is a .dd image on the cd that can be written directly to a usb key drive, bypassing the need to install it as such.

[bydemandchd]

Is there a specific way to install it on the USB? When I try to install on a USB, I checked to see using fdisk -l and it shows the drive present. But upon installing I get the same error as before. Could you please help.

[bydemandchd]

The SATA controller is in "Native Mode". I tried another port but no go.

[bydemandchd]

The list of files on the CD are as follows:

1. binmod.tgz

2. boot.catalog

3. cim.tgz

4. ienviron.tgz

5. install.tgz

6. isolinux.bin

7. isolinux.cfg

8. license.tgz

9. mboot.c32

10. menu.c32

11. oem.tgz

12. vmkernel.gz

I could find .dd image that you were refering to.

[OriVM · Accepted solution]

Ok I can tell you are new to this sort of thing, using windows XP this is the best guide I could find for you should walk you through all the way.

http://www.symantec.com/connect/articles/how-create-your-own-bootable-esx-3i-usb-stick

[bydemandchd]

A new development: I can see the drive when I do fdisk -l. But even after following the IDE install method I get the same error as before.

[J1mbo]

The dd file is tucked away in the install.tgz, see here: http://www.techhead.co.uk/how-to-create-a-bootable-vmware-esxi-usb-pen-drive

All you need to do is extract it and use WinImage to write it to a USB pen drive. Then you server will boot, enter it's IP address from the console and that is literally it.

[OriVM]

version 4 of ESXi seams to have been just release and the .dd file is now in the IMAGE.TGZ not INSTALL.TGZ. Seams to be x64 only as well.

[nsolop]

Hi, as many others suggested here the best way to install ESXi is to use an USB pen drive. I have 3 HP Proliant ML115 with SATA controllers but none of these boot from the local hard drive, I use a 1GB Kingston pen drive inside with ESXi installed on them instead.

We have followed this guide in order to install ESXi on the pen drives:

the guide is based on a Proliant ML 115 but I think that it may help on your problem.

Hope this helps you.

Saludos/Regards

Nicolas Solop

Buenos Aires, Argentina

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