ESXi 6.7 Troubleshooting
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Here's a KB that matches the virtual machine hardware versions with product versions like you see when you try to create a VM - https://kb.vmware.com/s/article/1003746.
Here's a list of capabilities that match to different virtual machine hardware versions - https://docs.vmware.com/en/VMware-vSphere/6.7/com.vmware.vsphere.vm_admin.doc/GUID-789C3913-1053-4850-A0F0-E29C3D32B6DA.html.
So if you created a VM that was compatible with 6.7U2, it could not run on a host running any version of ESXi older than 6.7U2. In your case that won't be a problem since you are just getting started, but it is something to keep in mind if you build an environment with hosts on newer versions of ESXi later and want to move things around. Keep the VM hardware version at the right level for max flexibility / compatibility in the environment.
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Also, just for due diligence, I recommend checking the power profile on the server and ensure it is set to max performance. Turn off processor C-states as well to ensure you get all the firepower that host can give you. There's a host power power management policy setting in ESXi for each host that you can set to high performance as well.
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@NetworkNerd, @pmoncho , I'm still having no luck over here. I've tried 6.5, 6.7 and 6.7 U2. All with Dell ESXi and without. Dell is saying that they think it's because this specific server doesn't have a PERC cache. Does that sound like nonsense to you all or not? I know the previous machine (which I had 0 zero issues other than forgetting to install VMWare Tools on initially), worked fine, but it DOES have a PERC cache...
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@G-I-Jones said in ESXi 6.7 Troubleshooting:
@NetworkNerd, @pmoncho , I'm still having no luck over here. I've tried 6.5, 6.7 and 6.7 U2. All with Dell ESXi and without. Dell is saying that they think it's because this specific server doesn't have a PERC cache. Does that sound like nonsense to you all or not? I know the previous machine (which I had 0 zero issues other than forgetting to install VMWare Tools on initially), worked fine, but it DOES have a PERC cache...
Which RAID card do you have in the server according to the BIOS or iDRAC?
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@pmoncho said in ESXi 6.7 Troubleshooting:
@G-I-Jones said in ESXi 6.7 Troubleshooting:
@NetworkNerd, @pmoncho , I'm still having no luck over here. I've tried 6.5, 6.7 and 6.7 U2. All with Dell ESXi and without. Dell is saying that they think it's because this specific server doesn't have a PERC cache. Does that sound like nonsense to you all or not? I know the previous machine (which I had 0 zero issues other than forgetting to install VMWare Tools on initially), worked fine, but it DOES have a PERC cache...
Which RAID card do you have in the server according to the BIOS or iDRAC?
PERC H330 Adapter
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@G-I-Jones said in ESXi 6.7 Troubleshooting:
@pmoncho said in ESXi 6.7 Troubleshooting:
@G-I-Jones said in ESXi 6.7 Troubleshooting:
@NetworkNerd, @pmoncho , I'm still having no luck over here. I've tried 6.5, 6.7 and 6.7 U2. All with Dell ESXi and without. Dell is saying that they think it's because this specific server doesn't have a PERC cache. Does that sound like nonsense to you all or not? I know the previous machine (which I had 0 zero issues other than forgetting to install VMWare Tools on initially), worked fine, but it DOES have a PERC cache...
Which RAID card do you have in the server according to the BIOS or iDRAC?
PERC H330 Adapter
Well, they are right that the PERC H330 does not have a cache. Based on a few google searches, others have had similar issues with this card depending on the RAID level.
So, what type of drives do you have and what RAID level are you using?
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@pmoncho said in ESXi 6.7 Troubleshooting:
@G-I-Jones said in ESXi 6.7 Troubleshooting:
@pmoncho said in ESXi 6.7 Troubleshooting:
@G-I-Jones said in ESXi 6.7 Troubleshooting:
@NetworkNerd, @pmoncho , I'm still having no luck over here. I've tried 6.5, 6.7 and 6.7 U2. All with Dell ESXi and without. Dell is saying that they think it's because this specific server doesn't have a PERC cache. Does that sound like nonsense to you all or not? I know the previous machine (which I had 0 zero issues other than forgetting to install VMWare Tools on initially), worked fine, but it DOES have a PERC cache...
Which RAID card do you have in the server according to the BIOS or iDRAC?
PERC H330 Adapter
Well, they are right that the PERC H330 does not have a cache. Based on a few google searches, others have had similar issues with this card depending on the RAID level.
So, what type of drives do you have and what RAID level are you using?
RAID 5, 7 - 1TB Intel SSD, shipped with the Server.
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@pmoncho, @NetworkNerd, @travisdh1, @Dashrender, @DustinB3403, @marcinozga - Thanks for your help. After reading an article on it or two and talking with Dell, We're ditching the H330. Boss just ordered the H730P.
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@G-I-Jones said in ESXi 6.7 Troubleshooting:
@pmoncho We're ditching the H330. Boss just ordered the H730P.
That, in the long run, is probably the best call. Any way you can get the boss to add on the SD Card module? That will be a benefit also if you stay with ESXi.
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When you were trying to copy files and so forth, were you viewing the Disk Monitor on the host? If so, did you notice abnormal latency?
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@pmoncho There were a lot of spikes.
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@pmoncho said in ESXi 6.7 Troubleshooting:
@G-I-Jones said in ESXi 6.7 Troubleshooting:
@pmoncho said in ESXi 6.7 Troubleshooting:
@G-I-Jones said in ESXi 6.7 Troubleshooting:
@NetworkNerd, @pmoncho , I'm still having no luck over here. I've tried 6.5, 6.7 and 6.7 U2. All with Dell ESXi and without. Dell is saying that they think it's because this specific server doesn't have a PERC cache. Does that sound like nonsense to you all or not? I know the previous machine (which I had 0 zero issues other than forgetting to install VMWare Tools on initially), worked fine, but it DOES have a PERC cache...
Which RAID card do you have in the server according to the BIOS or iDRAC?
PERC H330 Adapter
Well, they are right that the PERC H330 does not have a cache. Based on a few google searches, others have had similar issues with this card depending on the RAID level.
So, what type of drives do you have and what RAID level are you using?
The H330 is like for labs or testing. Shouldn't be found in a production environment. It's a fine card for what it is, just not a production use card
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@G-I-Jones said in ESXi 6.7 Troubleshooting:
@pmoncho, @NetworkNerd, @travisdh1, @Dashrender, @DustinB3403, @marcinozga - Thanks for your help. After reading an article on it or two and talking with Dell, We're ditching the H330. Boss just ordered the H730P.
Yeah, that's definitely the way to go. You need the CPU and cache of that card.
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@pmoncho said in ESXi 6.7 Troubleshooting:
@G-I-Jones said in ESXi 6.7 Troubleshooting:
@pmoncho We're ditching the H330. Boss just ordered the H730P.
That, in the long run, is probably the best call. Any way you can get the boss to add on the SD Card module? That will be a benefit also if you stay with ESXi.
haha, yes. Working on that as we speak.
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@G-I-Jones said in ESXi 6.7 Troubleshooting:
@pmoncho said in ESXi 6.7 Troubleshooting:
@G-I-Jones said in ESXi 6.7 Troubleshooting:
@pmoncho We're ditching the H330. Boss just ordered the H730P.
That, in the long run, is probably the best call. Any way you can get the boss to add on the SD Card module? That will be a benefit also if you stay with ESXi.
haha, yes. Working on that as we speak.
Sweet. Keep going. See if your boss can get iDRAC enterprise license if you don't have that. Not really required but it is nice to have.
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The H330 is like for labs or testing. Shouldn't be found in a production environment. It's a fine card for what it is, just not a production use card
Begs the question why when ordering a server for a specific purpose, they would even ship that out.
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@G-I-Jones said in ESXi 6.7 Troubleshooting:
The H330 is like for labs or testing. Shouldn't be found in a production environment. It's a fine card for what it is, just not a production use card
Begs the question why when ordering a server for a specific purpose, they would even ship that out.
I have thought the same thing for a long time on Dell 4XX's on up. Either no controller at all or start at the H730 and up. Just an opinion though.
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@G-I-Jones said in ESXi 6.7 Troubleshooting:
The H330 is like for labs or testing. Shouldn't be found in a production environment. It's a fine card for what it is, just not a production use card
Begs the question why when ordering a server for a specific purpose, they would even ship that out.
Because they are not your IT - at least, they shouldn't be.
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@Dashrender said in ESXi 6.7 Troubleshooting:
@G-I-Jones said in ESXi 6.7 Troubleshooting:
The H330 is like for labs or testing. Shouldn't be found in a production environment. It's a fine card for what it is, just not a production use card
Begs the question why when ordering a server for a specific purpose, they would even ship that out.
Because they are not your IT - at least, they shouldn't be.
I get it, although, to even sell an H330 on a Dell PowerEdge R840 is like selling standard breaks on a Audi A6 and making the driver request anti-lock breaks. While there are some users that prefer standard breaks, my guess would be the amount of users requesting a trade down to standard brakes is minuscule.
Also, Dell does not even have a Celeron processor on the list for anything higher than a T340. Logic tells me they know its is not a good idea. Apparently selling an H330 on a T/R440 or higher hasn't hit the "not a good idea" level yet.
EDIT - Reread my post - Dell just gets under my skin sometimes! Didn't mean to come off jerky.
