vSphere Storage - ESXi 5.1 - Documentation - VMware
vSphere Storage - ESXi 5.1 - Documentation - VMware
vSphere Storage - ESXi 5.1 - Documentation - VMware
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Install and Boot <strong>ESXi</strong> from Software FCoE LUN<br />
When you set up your system to boot from a software FCoE LUN, you install the <strong>ESXi</strong> image to the target<br />
LUN. You can then boot your host from that LUN.<br />
Prerequisites<br />
n Configure the option ROM of the network adapter to point to a target LUN that you want to use as the<br />
boot LUN. Make sure that you have information about the bootable LUN.<br />
n Change the boot order in the system BIOS to the following sequence:<br />
a The network adapter that you use for the software FCoE boot.<br />
b The <strong>ESXi</strong> installation media.<br />
See the vendor documentation for your system.<br />
Procedure<br />
1 Start an interactive installation from the <strong>ESXi</strong> installation CD/DVD.<br />
The <strong>ESXi</strong> installer verifies that FCoE boot is enabled in the BIOS and, if needed, creates a standard virtual<br />
switch for the FCoE capable network adapter. The name of the vSwitch is <strong>VMware</strong>_FCoE_vSwitch. The<br />
installer then uses preconfigured FCoE boot parameters to discover and display all available FCoE LUNs.<br />
2 On the Select a Disk screen, select the software FCoE LUN that you specified in the boot parameter setting.<br />
If the boot LUN does not appear in this menu, make sure that you correctly configured boot parameters<br />
in the option ROM of the network adapter.<br />
3 Follow the prompts to complete the installation.<br />
4 Reboot the host.<br />
5 Change the boot order in the system BIOS so that the FCoE boot LUN is the first bootable device.<br />
<strong>ESXi</strong> continues booting from the software FCoE LUN until it is ready to be used.<br />
What to do next<br />
If needed, you can rename and modify the <strong>VMware</strong>_FCoE_vSwitch that the installer automatically created.<br />
Make sure that the Cisco Discovery Protocol (CDP) mode is set to Listen or Both.<br />
Troubleshooting Installation and Boot from Software FCoE<br />
If the installation or boot of <strong>ESXi</strong> from a software FCoE LUN fails, you can use several troubleshooting methods.<br />
Problem<br />
When you install or boot <strong>ESXi</strong> from FCoE storage using a <strong>VMware</strong> software FCoE adapter and a network<br />
adapter with partial FCoE offload capabilities, the installation or the boot process fails.<br />
Solution<br />
n Make sure that you correctly configured boot parameters in the option ROM of the FCoE network adapter.<br />
n During installation, monitor the BIOS of the FCoE network adapter for any errors.<br />
n If possible, check the VMkernel log for errors.<br />
n Use the esxcli command to verify whether the boot LUN is present.<br />
esxcli conn_options hardware bootdevice list<br />
Chapter 8 Booting <strong>ESXi</strong> with Software FCoE<br />
<strong>VMware</strong>, Inc. 65
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