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February 24th, 2025 23:28
Is ESXi 8.0u3 not Compatible with R740xd Raid Cards? (H740p mini)
When browsing Dell's available ESXi ISOs for an R740xd, VMware ESXi 8.0U3 version: A02, Build# 24280767 populates as available and mentions being able to access it on Broadcom's website.
After downloading the ESXi ISO and installing it, ESXi recognizes the H740p Mini as installed in the system, but the initialized RAID array being controlled by the H740p never becomes available to add to the Datastore.
When SSH'ing into the R740xd, commands again show the H740p Mini as existing, but never shows the driver as existing (command returns to a blank prompt)....
I manually moved the appropriate driver (what think is the appropriate driver, lsi-msgpt35 24.00.00.00-1OEM.800.1.0.20613240) into the /tmp folder and ran the command to install it and rebooted, but each time the command: "esxcli hardware pci list | grep -i perc" shows it as existing, returning with "Device Name: PERC H740P Mini", but when running "esxcli software vib list | grep -i perc" it never populates the driver installed.
Is the H740p Mini not compatible with the Dell customized image version of ESXi 8.0u3?
Origin3k
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February 25th, 2025 08:08
Hi,
you need some lines below/above where the SVID,SID,DIV... are shown for that given device. These numbers needs to match the HCL entry. The *vmw* within the driver name indicates that the driver comes from vmware and not 3rd. party or from a different vendor.
But the PERC H740 is the de-facto standard device and is there for ages and well supportet. Iam pretty sure that in the boot log ther might be an entry if ESXi try to load the driver and failed for unknown reason.
Regards,
Joerg
Origin3k
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February 25th, 2025 00:16
https://compatibilityguide.broadcom.com/search?program=server&persona=live&column=partnerName&order=asc&keyword=r740&productReleaseVersion=%5BESXi+8.0+U3%5D&partnerName=%5BDell%5D&systemType=%5BRackmount%5D&activePage=1&activeDelta=20
About a Dell PERC you need to create a VD on a Diskgroup(RAID Set) and you should select FastInit because than the VD would be created immediately and the OS will see the Volume.. Otherwise you need to wait ..........a long time based on the size of the VD and the given Disk types.
Regards,
Joerg
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February 25th, 2025 00:19
@Origin3k The virtual drive has long since been initialized and has been ready for a week.
The issue is that virtual drive is never available within ESXi 8u3.
Origin3k
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February 25th, 2025 00:23
About finding the driver... to see if a driver is loaded please report whats displayed when running
?
The 2nd. column is the driver name which than can be use to search within the esxcli software vib list output.
Regards,
Joerg
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February 25th, 2025 00:35
@Origin3k esxcfg-scsidevs -a
vmhba1 vmw_ahci link-n/a sata.vmhba1 (0000:00:11.5) Intel Corporation Lewisburg SATA AHCI Controller
vmhba2 vmw_ahci link-n/a sata.vmhba2 (0000:00:17.0) Intel Corporation Lewisburg SATA AHCI Controller
vmhba3 nvme_pcie link-n/a pcie.5e00 (0000:5e:00.0) MAXIO Technology (Hangzhou) Ltd. NVMe SSD Controller MAP1202
vmhba4 nvme_pcie link-n/a pcie.1800 (0000:18:00.0) Sandisk Corp <class> Non-Volatile memory controller
Origin3k
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February 25th, 2025 00:39
Hmm.... no PERC.
Than i would grep trough lspci -vv | grep -i perc or so and try to figure out the PCI IDs and search whithin the HCL. The old VMWare HCL have a search field for all these VID,SVID.... numbers. Not sure what Broadcom offers.
https://compatibilityguide.broadcom.com/detail?program=io&productId=43391&persona=live&column=brandName&order=asc&keyword=h740&productReleaseVersion=%5BESXi+8.0+U3%7C%7CESXi+8.0+U2%7C%7CESXi+8.0+U1%5D&activePage=1&activeDelta=20&redirectFrom=PERC%20H740P%20mini
Ninemeister
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February 25th, 2025 00:48
I've since removed 8.0u3 and installed a fresh copy of Dell Customized image & Addon of ESXi 8.0 version: A06, Build# 21493926, but the same problem persists.
I followed your link and and then selected the ESXi 8.0 option which populates "
What I show as being installed under 'Host -> Manage -> Packages' is= 7.722.02.00-1vmw.800.1.0.20513097
This is so odd.
Ninemeister
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February 25th, 2025 00:55
And when I 'esxcli hardware pci list | grep -i perc', I do get...
