Problem Installing ESX 3.5 on IBM xSeries 335

jimcgreen · ‎12-21-2007

I am attempting to install ESX 3.5 on an IBM xSeries 335 with 2 Xeon 2GHz processors, 6GB memory, 160GB storage on 2 SCSI drives. The install stops at the screen where it is searching for previous installations of ESX. The progress bar just stays at 0%. This server was on the compatibility list for earlier ESX versions but I don't see it on the 3.5 list. Has anybody had success with xSeries 335?

Jim

jimcgreen · ‎01-07-2008

I found a solution. I was able to load ESX 3.5 by first booting with a Windows Server 2003 disc and deleting all of the partitions. Then I formatted the partitions in NTFS. After that, ESX would load successfully.

FredPeterson · ‎01-07-2008

I'd be amused at the performance you get out of those 335's.

Makes me curious enough to do it on some of the 335's we've retired due to them being P2V'd 😛

jimcgreen · ‎01-07-2008

Yeah, it's just a temporary box. 3550s are the next step.

mike_laspina · ‎01-07-2008

Make sure your firmware is up to date. There are some known firmware issues with ESX 3.0.x and the x335's which may carry into 3.5.x

BTW The performance on that old system is quite good. It should be able to handle 5-8 VM's.

http://blog.laspina.ca/ vExpert 2009

jimcgreen · ‎01-08-2008

That's good to know. I ran an IBM Update Express disc which updated the BIOS and firmware.

Ajay_Nabh · ‎06-09-2008

Thanks for your discussion. I am going to install ESX 3.5 on IBM x Series 336. will keep you posted on how I go. any advice anyone like to give me about x336 and 3.5

thanks

Ajay

TomHowarth · ‎06-10-2008

Thread moved to the VI: ESX 3.5 forum

Tom Howarth

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Tom Howarth VCP / VCAP / vExpert
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Ajay_Nabh · ‎06-11-2008

All Right Folks, I manage to install ESX 3.5 on IBM x336 without any trouble. while I was watching first boot I saw this message "Inquiry EVPD Failed" I don't know what this means but apart from this everything seems to be fine. Will update you if I see any issues

Thanks

Ajay

DanielMeyer · ‎07-01-2008

So, still no trouble with the x336 hardware? I think I'll have to use one of them myself (2 CPUs, 8 Gig Ram, 36 Gig Raid 1) as a temporary system (even with an eval license) because our new vendor wont be able to deliver the new hardware anytime soon...

Ajay_Nabh · ‎07-01-2008

Hi Daniel

Yes no probes at all, attached DS400 to these x336 server and it is running fine so far.