Installing VMware on RAID

[robneb]

I'm trying to install VMware ESXI 6.0 U3 on a HP Z240 (host) with two physical drives.

I created a  BIOS RAID 1 (mirror). The status of Raid 1 volume is normal and each drive is a member of the Raid.

However next during installing VMware is showing the two physical drives, i choose one of them and after installing the status of Raid volume is degraded

and one of the drives has status Non-Raid while the other is still a member of the Raid.

In the intel rapid storage technology where it displays status of the Raid and drives by pressing (ctr+I) i get a notification that the degraded Raid can be rebuild.

It says it can be done within OS. When i accept booting starts and gives notification "no operating system found".

Note that if i don't try to rebuild the degraded raid i can still make a network connection to the host but its just one drive raid.

If i take out the drive which is a member of the raid so the only one mounted is the Non-raid drive at boot time i get the same notification "no operating system found".

Is there maybe a problem with supporting a BIOS Raid together with VMware?

I would kindly ask for some advice what can be the issue here and how to resolve it.

[bluefirestorm]

Intel Rapid Storage Technology (RST) is software RAID.

VMware ESXi does not support the use of software RAID either as ESXi boot device nor as data store.

To use RAID configuration, you need a proper hardware RAID controller that is in the VMware Hardware Compatiblity List.

https://www.vmware.com/resources/compatibility/search.php?deviceCategory=io

You can install and boot up ESXi hypervisor from a USB thumb drive or SD card. An 8GB USB thumb drive or SD card is more than sufficient. After the hypervisor has booted up, there is minimal interaction with the USB thumb drive/SD card.

[SupreetK]

Software RAID does not seem to go well with ESXi. You might need a proper hardware RAID controller. Moreover, I don't see the server model Z240 in the VMware HCL :smileyhappy:

Please consider marking this answer as "correct" or "helpful" if you think your questions have been answered.

Cheers,

Supreet