VMware VI-ENG-Q407-434 Manual

A SERVICE OF

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VMware, Inc. 83

Chapter 7 Installing VMware ESX Server Software

LUN Requirements

AlthoughESX Serversupportsupto256LUNsforoperation,theinstallersupportsa

maximumof128LUNs.Ifyouhavemorethan128LUNs,connectthemafterthe

installationiscomplete.TheminimumsupportedLUNcapacityforVMFS3is1200MB.

AnESX Serverhostsupportsonlythefirst256LUNsloadedat

boottime.Yourboot

volumemustbeencounteredinthefirst256LUNs,ortheESX Serverhostcanhangat

startup.Ifyouhaveacontrollerloading256LUNsbeforethebootvolume,reducethe

numberofLUNsonthatcontrollerto256orless.

Ifyouhavenotinstalled

ESX Serversoftware,arrangePCIcontrollercardstodetermine

theLUNorder.

VMwarerecommendsthatyoudonotrearrangedrivecontrollersamongPCIslotsafter

youinstalltheESX Serversoftware.

IfyouwantanESX ServerhosttobootfromaSAN,allocateanentireLUNtoeach

ESX Serverhost.See theSANConfiguration

Guideforpost‐installationconfiguration.

See “RequiredPartitions”onpage 95foradescriptionofVMFS.

ESX ServersoftwaredoesnotsupportbootingfromasharedLUN.Ifyouinstall

ESX ServersoftwareontoasharedLUN,youmightoverwritethedataontheshared

LUN.

YoumustdeterminethestatusofyouravailableLUNs.

Theinstallercannotdetermine

ifaLUNisshared.

Installing ESX Server

See theUpgradeGuidetoupgradefromapreviousESX Serverversion.

Prepareforthisinstallationbyreading“PreparingtoInstall”onpage 81.

CAUTIONVMwarerecommendsthatyoudisconnecttheSANbeforeyoubeginthe

ESX Serverinstallprocess.Thereisoneexception:IfyouarebootingfromaSAN,then

onlythesystemLUNshouldbepresentedtotheESX Server.AllotherLUNsshouldnot

bepresentedtotheESX Serverduringtheinstallprocess.