ESXi

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  • 1.  ESX & Marvell

    Posted Jul 20, 2011 09:34 AM

    Hi,

    I'm trying to evaluate vSphere 4.1 (Essentials part, but I suspect the evaluation is for Standard) and am installing ESXi 4.1

    (or was it 4.0?) and cannot proceed by the network adapter part.  I have a P5GZ-MX motherboard-system (only available

    system at the moment that I can test ESXi for the company) that has an onboard LAN adapter (Marvell 88E8001 PCI  Gigabit/ LAN).

    I'm guessing that this isn't a supported adapter since ESXi doesn't detect it?

    Is there a custom driver disk that has a driver for this adapter?  There is an option that during ESXi installation,

    I get to install drivers.

    Does there exist on the VMWare site a Marvell custom driver disk?  Searching for it doesn't seem to find any  hits.

    Any clarifications appreciated.

    Ed



  • 2.  RE: ESX & Marvell

    Posted Jul 20, 2011 01:04 PM

    At a high level, if it doesn't install / see hardware natively, and or is not on the VMware HCL, your out of luck.

    However, you could download the eval of VMware workstation, and install inside of that, for testing purposes.

    I hope that helps.

    Roger Lund



  • 3.  RE: ESX & Marvell

    Posted Jul 21, 2011 01:35 AM

    Hi Roger,

    Thanks for the information.  I have VMWorkstation 6.5 so I might give that a go.

    I think I've found a link or two that might help me but it looks quite involved/

    complicated.

    Mind you, I'm a bit confused.  In the Alt-F2 console, when I do a 'lspci -v',

    it can tell me I have the Marvel Gigabit network adapter, so during

    boot up it detects it.  Does this mean there is something I can do

    to get it working?

    Thanks

    Ed



  • 4.  RE: ESX & Marvell
    Best Answer

    Posted Jul 21, 2011 03:01 AM

    It might be easier to:

    1. install a supported NIC in your machine

    2. disable the marvell card in the bios

    3. Install ESXi



  • 5.  RE: ESX & Marvell

    Posted Jul 22, 2011 08:41 AM

    Hi MindTheGreg,

    That's what I exactly did.  I ended up buying an Intel GT Adapter and ESXi

    recognized it during the network config stage.  Now I have ESXi up running.

    Thanks!

    Ed



  • 6.  RE: ESX & Marvell

    Posted Jul 22, 2011 01:40 PM

    Awesome, that's great to hear!



  • 7.  RE: ESX & Marvell

    Posted Jul 21, 2011 03:46 AM

    Dunno,

    I think do not think it is to bad.

    http://www.vladan.fr/vsphere-4-in-vmware-workstation/

    http://www.sysprobs.com/vmware-vsphere-4-esxi-4-windows-7-vmware-workstation-7-pc

    check those links out.

    Roger Lund.



  • 8.  RE: ESX & Marvell

    Posted Jul 21, 2011 06:00 AM

    Roger Lund wrote:

    Dunno,

    I think do not think it is to bad.

    Just wanted to provide a different solution. :smileyhappy: