Setup fails: unable to load vmkmod/vmfs3

[pavel-a]

Dear experts,

I'm trying to install my first ESXi, and stumped.

The software version is VMvisor-4.1.0.update1-348481.x86_64.iso

Can this be used for initial install? The description implies so, but installation fails

( crash in python script:

Unable to load module /usr/lib/vmware/vmkmod/vmfs3 )

I've verified the iso checksum.

Thanks,

-- pa

[weinstein5]

What hardware are you trying to install ESX onto? Have you confirmed all comonents areon the HCL -  http://www.vmware.com/resources/compatibility/search.php? How large is the disk you are installing to?

[pavel-a]

Thanks for your responce.

I coud not find the machine in the HCL, as the HCL does not seem to include any Core2 CPU.

The machine is Intel desktop  board, name of which I cannot see on the board, with Core2 Quad CPU.

It presumably has all the standard Intel components.

One SATA disk in native mode. The disk is clean (no partition table). Size: 500 GB.

WinXP and Fedora 15 run on this machine without issues. RAM test passes.

Immeduately before the 1st setup screen ("Welcome to ESXi setup....")

I've noticed several lines of red text showed up, but the setup screen obscured that.

The python traceback occurs immediately after the legalese screen (F11),

at this time I cannot scroll back to see previous output.

Is there a way to see the complete boot log or other debug info?

Thanks,

Pavel

[weinstein5]

The issue is the hardware it is not supported. ESX has rather stringent requirement for their hardware. - you might check a site like http://vm-help.com/  or http://ultimatewhitebox.com/ to see if they have any information that would useful to get the unsupported hardware to work -

[DSTAVERT]

The failure generally indicates an unsupported network card. Use the http://www.vm-help.com//esx40i/esx40_whitebox_HCL.php#NICs site to find a suitable NIC

[pavel-a]

Thank you David, unsupported netcard is at least one of the problems.

I've managed to see the error message. It is on linux console #11 (press ctrl/alt/F11).

the 1st error is Mod: 4145: Initialization of module lvmdriver failed

Next error is UWVMSyscall: 2726: there is no supported nic

Will try with another netcard and see if it helps.

Thanks,

-- pa

[a_p_ · Accepted solution]

It's definitely the NIC. The UUID needed for the VMFS datastores is derived from the MAC address and since the NIC is not recognized, you run into the vmfs error.

The Intel PRO/1000 GT (listed in the Whitebox lists) is known to work very well with ESXi.

André

[pavel-a]

Replacing the netcard did not help. I tried two cards listed as compatible at http://ultimatewhitebox.com/nic :

Intel etherexpress 100 desktop (8086/1229) and Realtek 8139 (10ec/8139).

With both, the failure mode is the same as before.

I've logged in as root and run lspci; both cards are detected by name.

Regards,

-- pa

[DSTAVERT]

100MB cards aren't suuported and neither are Realtek cards. People have managed to create special driver modules but you would need to create a custom installer CD to make that work. The Indel Desktop GB adapter models listed in the whitebox list will work witht he standard installer.