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sol686
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ESXi 4 install halts at loading vtd module

Hi, when I boot up the ESXi 4 install cd, the disc boots fine; but when it prepares to load the setup program the system halts on trying to load the very last module (VTD).

The disc is fine and the iso was checked with md5. I run a Xeon X3350 processor on an Intel DX48BT2 mainboard. I currently have VMware Workstation 6.5 running on this machine.

Could anyone help me out here?

Many thanks!

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admin
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Try going into your host BIOS and disabling VT-d.

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weinstein5
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Welcome to the Forums - Are you trying to load ESXi 4.0 under a VM in Workstation or install directly onto the machine? If you are trying to install directly you might not be succesful because ESX/ESXi is very particular about the hardware installs to - If you are trying to install into VM under workstation check out - http://xtravirt.com/xd10089

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sol686
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I want to install it directly on my machine. I guess there isn't much hope of getting it to work then?

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weinstein5
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probably not - but check as it has information on using non-supported hardware to run ESXi

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admin
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Try going into your host BIOS and disabling VT-d.

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sol686
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Well, that did it!

The thought had occured to me that the vtd module might have something to do with VT-d, but I never thought that disabling this feature in the BIOS would help. I just hope I won't miss VT-d too much...

Thanks so much. Tomorrow I will start configuring the host and hopefully install some guests.

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admin
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VT-d is only used if you have physical I/O devices to pass through to your guests. See KB 1010789.

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MrCab
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Guess what shows up on google first for "ESXi stuck loading module vtd"?

This thread was helpful, and the VT-d module guy was dead on. I've been running my ESXi 4 box for a few months now and this was the first time it happened. My best guess as to why is a hardware change - adding an NVidia GeForce 8400 (8000 series at least) and a Haupage Win-PVR card to the box (MythTV on ESXi here I come, but that's a story for another thread).

That said, why am I posting here?

I have an Intel DQ35J0 board with some kinda Xeon (if you really want to know reply to this and I'll look at the box). Once I established turning VTD off in the BIOS worked, I poked around a little more. Something about "VA Appliances" in the BIOS immediately next to VTd was disabled, so I enabled it. Booting got past the vtd module that way.

Anyway, that's all I have to offer on the matter. Seemed weird that enabling that switch made VTD work. About as weird as VTD was suddenly breaking my boot in the first place.

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CH-Dave
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Found this thread via Google as well.

Interestingly enough, I had to ENABLE "Virtual Technology" support on my HP EliteBook 8530w laptop in order to get past the "Loading VTD module" point.

Once I enabled it, the ESXi installer ran fine and I was able to install ESXi on an inserted USB thumb drive.

IMG_20110215_122530-1.jpg

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