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Possible to install VMware ESXi on PowerEdge 750?

Hi, I have a Dell PowerEdge 750 that I want to use as an extra testing server. I planned on installing VMware ESXi on it and tried however I can't because this particular server isn't on the HCL. I've done some reading and I think the issue may be that I'm using SATA drives on this server. I have BIOS vA06 installed and I don't think I can "reconfigure the SATA controller as IDE"...not completely sure what this means.

So, I'd really love to run ESXi on this server and I know it's powerful enough. Is there any way to install ESXi on this server and bypass the error I get which says the VMware cannot find supported hardware?

thanks!

goldylamont

ASKER

I have gone to the link below which lists many computers not on the official VMware HCL list where the installation worked fine, however I don't see the PowerEdge 750 listed here. However this server is much more powerful than many of the other systems...I'll keep my fingers crossed :-)

http://www.vm-help.com/esx/esx3.5/Whiteboxes_SATA_Controllers_for_ESX_3.5_3i.htm

Paul Solovyovsky

If you have a SATA controller I would give it a try. It will take under 15 min. to install ESXi. If it doesn't install than we can troubleshoot and figure out what is not working. What type of SATA controller do you have on it and what type of NIC?

goldylamont

ASKER

I have a SATA controller; I tried installing ESXi before and it told me that it couldn't find appropriate hardware. Here's my hardware specs. thanks for the help:

Intel 6300ESB Ultra ATA Storage/SATA Controller - 25A3
Intel PRO/1000 CT NIC
Intel PRO/1000 MT NIC

Dell PowerEdge 750, 2.8Ghz dual core, 1Gb RAM

I think it's the SATA Controller that's the problem. I updated BIOS to the latest Dell release A06 and in BIOS I don't see how to reconfigure SATA drives to "appear" like they are something else...hopefully there's another way...

Roshan Mohammed

From the BIOS; change the SATA to IDE mode and disable AHCI on the sata. and then try to install.

goldylamont

ASKER

i don't have this option in the BIOS. i'm running the latest BIOS version A06 on a Dell PowerEdge 750.

Paul Solovyovsky

Please let us know what type of internal controller is on the motherboard we may be able to get the specifics to get it up and running

goldylamont

ASKER

i posted this information earlier. is this not the info you need?

Intel 6300ESB Ultra ATA Storage/SATA Controller - 25A3
Intel PRO/1000 CT NIC
Intel PRO/1000 MT NIC

Dell PowerEdge 750, 2.8Ghz dual core, 1Gb RAM

Paul Solovyovsky

Set controller to SATA only (not IDE-SATA)

goldylamont

ASKER

>> "Set controller to SATA only (not IDE-SATA)"

I have the latest firmware & BIOS and I don't see any options to configure the SATA controller at all. this was noted in two previous posts

ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION

goldylamont

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