New Dell PC SATA RAID-1 won't install ESXi

[ADB100]

I have a new Dell XPS PC (Intel i7, 8GB RAM, 2*1TB drives RAID-1). I initially installed Vista 64Bit, then Server 2008 Standard 64Bit and both installed perfectly. I have got this PC to replace some big old servers and was intending running VMWare ESXi on it, however I have fallen at the 1st hurdle. It boots from the ESXi 3.5 Update 3 CD and the install starts but stops with the error

Unable to find a supported device to write the VMware ESX Server 3i 3.5.0 image to

as this image here:

http://communities.vmware.com/servlet/JiveServlet/downloadImage/2-1133656-4843/1230081634+copy.jpg

I tried a couple of the suggestions but I don't think the SATA hardware is recognised (fdisk -l shows nothing). After a bit more research it looks like ESX & ESXi don't support this form of RAID and was wondering if this is likely to be supported in a future update?

I don't want to go with the Microsoft Hyper-V option as I have some OS restrictions on some of the guests I want to run (Cisco CCM6). It is looking favourable though as Windows 2008 works perfectly. It looks like I will have to use another machine for the CCM6 guests.

Andy

 

[Roadki11]

Yeah i figured as much, doesnt look like it likes your I/O controller. Unless you want to buy a new controller you are probably SOL. Kind of warned you of that in the other forum. ESX has lots of SCSI support, not so much SATA, yet anyway.



RoadKi11

"This apparent fear reaction is typical, rather than try to solve technical problems technically, policy solutions are often chosen." - Fred Cohen

 

[ADB100]

Thanks for the reply. For the time being then I will use the MS attempt. I already have a few MS Virtual Server 2005 images so the migration won't be too severe. I'll keep one of the old servers as a VMWare ESXi box (I know it runs on the Dell Poweredge 2650 with the PERC 3/Di) until there is support for my SATA drive.

Has anyone installed images onto a VMWare server and then used the conversion tools to convert the guest to the MS .vhd format? If this works it might be a (long) way around the issue?

Andy

 

[TheLad]

You could always use VMWare Server running on top of your Windows OS rather than have to convert all of your images?

http://www.vmware.com/products/server/

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"Insert funny comment in here!"
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[ADB100]

I already tried this and it does work, I was hoping for a bare-bones server though - i.e. ESXi or Hyper-V

I have just tested a freeware VMWare to MS VHD conversion tool and it worked pretty well for Windows guests. However I tried with one of the Linux guests and although the guest booted it detected the hardware was different and refused to run (it is designed like this). So it looks like I need to keep a VMWare server....

Andy

 

[TechyMcSe2k]

http://communities.vmware.com/message/933684;jsessionid=1D1B3E38864CA393D64721DCDCCD55C4

Check the Vmware support list and other solutions

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