IBM eX5 Implementation Guide

Chapter 6. IBM System x3850 X5 and x3950 X5 275

To order a recovery CD, contact your local support center at the following website:

http://www.ibm.com/planetwide/region.html

6.10.3 Installing the ESX 4.1 or ESXi 4.1 Installable onto x3850 X5

Before installing any VMware OS, always refer to the latest OS support information that is

contained on the IBM ServerProven site. You can obtain IBM ServerProven information at the

following website:

http://ibm.com/systems/info/x86servers/serverproven/compat/us/nos/vmwaree.html

VMware supported versions based on x3850 X5 hardware configuration

IBM ServerProven provides general OS support information for the x3850 X5. Table 6-11 lists

the versions of VMware ESX that are supported on the various x3850 X5 hardware

configurations.

Table 6-11 WMware OS versions supported based on x3850 X5 hardware configuration

Nonuniform memory access (NUMA)

When installing any supported version of the ESX Server OS onto the x3850 X5, the memory

must be balanced across all processors in the system. This rule applies to 1-node, 2-node

configurations, and x3850 X5 with MAX5 attached. Failure to follow this rule will prevent the

OS from installing correctly. See 2.3.4, “Nonuniform memory architecture (NUMA)” on

page 26 for details.

Installing the ESX/ESXi 4.1 Installable edition onto x3850 X5 with MAX5

To correctly configure and install ESX/ESXi 4.1 Installable editions of ESX/ESXi Server, follow

these instructions:

1. Connect the MAX5, as described in 6.4, “Attaching the MAX5 memory expansion unit” on

page 230.

2. Configure memory scaling. Systems running VMware ESX/ESXi Server must use

Non-Pooled mode in the MAX5 Memory Scaling option. See “1-node with MAX5” on

page 261 for instructions to configure the MAX5 Memory Scaling option.

3. Configure your RAID arrays.

4. Use the following procedures to install ESX/ESXi 4.1 Installable on an x3850 X5 with

MAX5:

– “Installing the ESX 4.1 OS” on page 276

– “Installing the ESXi 4.1 OS” on page 278

VMware OS One-node Two-node x3850 X5 with MAX5

VMware ESX Server 4.0 Update 1

Ye s N o N o

VMware ESXi Server 4.0 Update 1

Ye s N o N o

VMware ESX Server 4.1

Ye s Ye s Ye s

VMware ESXi Server 4.1

Ye s Ye s Ye s

Tip: If your System has 1 Terabyte (TB) or greater of memory, see the following web page:

http://ibm.com/support/entry/portal/docdisplay?lndocid=MIGR-5084935

276 IBM eX5 Implementation Guide

Installing the ESX 4.1 OS

VMware ESX 4.1 is not UEFI aware, and therefore, you must use the Legacy Only option as

the first boot option. To decrease the boot time, the optimal minimum configuration is Legacy

Only, CD/DVD Rom, and Hard Disk 0.

Use the following steps to install ESX 4.1 Server onto x3850 X5 with MAX5 attached:

1. Power on the system and press F1 when the UEFI splash panel is shown.

2. Select Boot Manager  Add Boot Option.

3. Select CD/DVD Rom, Legacy Only, and Hard Disk 0. If either option is not listed, the

option is already included in the boot list.

4. Press Esc when finished to go back one panel.

5. Select Change Boot Order and change the boot order to look like Figure 6-53.

Figure 6-53 Example of a boot order

6. Select Commit Changes and press Enter to save the changes.

7. Boot the host from the ESX installation media.

8. Press F2 when you see the ESX 4.1 installation options panel, as shown in Figure 6-54.

Figure 6-54 ESX installation options panel

Chapter 6. IBM System x3850 X5 and x3950 X5 277

9. The Boot Options line will appear on the panel. Type the following parameter at the end of

the Boot Options line:

allowInterleavedNUMAnodes=TRUE

The edited result looks like Figure 6-55. Press Enter to proceed.

Figure 6-55 Editing the Boot Options

10.Proceed through the installer until you reach the Setup Type page. Click Advanced setup

and clear Configure bootloader automatically (leave checked if unsure) as shown in

Figure 6-56. Click Next.

Figure 6-56 Modifying the ESX installation