No datastore in my new ESXi 5 setup

What is the server, what storage does it have?

It's possible the single HD is not supported, or storage controller is not supported?

If you click Host, Configuration, Storage, Datastores? - anything present?

Have you scanned your HBAs (tab -> Storage Adapters [under 'Hardware' box])? Did you install your host on a USB disk? If so, then if your host has local hard disks for datastore storage, you will need to ADD the datastore. To do so, log in with vSphere Client to the host, then go to Hosts & Clusters, if not already there. Click the Configuration tab -> Storage link (in the Hardware box). In the upper right, there is another link that says "Add Storage". Click that link then go through the wizard to add storage. Select Disk/LUN, select the storage, then choose the amt (full amt recommended) you want to add, as well as the block size (determines the max size virtual disk you can create), give the Datastore a name, then click finish.
BLOCK SIZE:
1MB - 256GB max virt disk
2MB - 512GB max virt disk
4MB - 1TB max virt disk
8MB - 2TB max virt disk

If not local storage, share more on your physical layout, strorage-wise.

~coolsport00

@coolsport00: Block size!!!!! ESXi 5.0!!!!

Dang nab it! That's TWICE, isn't it??? :P

@coolsport00:

3 I believe!

Although I'm not counting!

:-)

ha...umm...right.

Basically @mbsadmin1, what we're talking about here is in LEGACY ESX/i versions, NOT v5. You had to be concerned with block size when adding datastores depending on the size virt disk you wanted to create for VMs. With v5 (ESXi 5), there is only 1 block size...1MB, which will allow you to create a virt disk size of up to 2TB. No configuring done on your end. I've had to share with posters so much about block size, that's it's just habit. Not needed anymore with vSphere 5 :)

~coolsport00

Hi Guys,

Thanks for your responses, it's appreciated.

Let's make it clear: I don't have SAN, just install ESXi 5 in a high end desktop machine (hardware compatible to ESXi 5 ). downloaded the ESXi 5.0 Installable and installed it in my machine with no issue.

I am able to access ESX via web interface and VMware vSphere Client (5.0).
I am able to create VM (Win2k8 64 bit R2), but OS installation is failed as it is unable to go forward after power on the VM, it was looking for PXE ... then failed as there is no media for installing the OS.

I was trying to upload an ISO image to the data store, then connect it to the VM when power on, it should start to install OS in that way, but I cann't do this as I cann't find the data store in my ESXi 5 (in the summary tab). So my questions are:

1.) Why I don't have the datastore? How to create a datastore on my ESXi 5?
2.) How to install V Center server? I couldn't find the step by step instructions?

Regarding the installation of V Center server,  I belive I need to do followings:
1.) first step is to create a VM (Win2k8 64 bit R2) on ESXi5
2.) second step is to mount the local CD/DVD (V Center server software in the CD) to the VM, then do the "autorun" to install the Vcenter server.

After the V Center Server is installed, then I may add another machine (similar specs to the first one I am using now) as the second host via V Center Server. Are my procedures correct?

Any information and help would be much appreciated.

Thanks

Regards

John

If you created a VM, where did you create it, because you need to select a datastore to create it on?

Can you screenshot the VM (you created) Summary Page, it should state the datastore it resides on, then select that datastore and Right Click and select Browse, and then Click the Upload Button to Upload your ISOs.

"If you created a VM, where did you create it, because you need to select a datastore to create it on? "
My answer: right click the host (inventory), then click "create VM" from the drop mane, then just followthe instructions. I created two VMs: one is Win2k8 R2; another is Redhead 6.0.

"Can you screenshot the VM (you created) Summary Page, it should state the datastore it resides on, then select that datastore and Right Click and select Browse, and then Click the Upload Button to Upload your ISOs. "

My answer: I cann't do now, but I cann't find the "datastore" session in the "summary".

here's my summary for a Virtual Machine called Windows XP Professional, as you can see it's stored on datastore which is called nfs

 

if you Right Click you get the browse option

 

hanccocka: You are champion, I solved my issue by following your instructions.

I was looking for the wrong place, I need to right click the VM instread of the host.
One more question: Do I need the SAN to Vmotion? I am going to build up another host (similar hardware to the current one, but not the same), then cluster these two hosts via VCenter Server.

Thanks again.

Regards

John

You need shared storage to use vMotion.

Thanks again!