VMware ESXi 5.5 hangs on ACPI initialization on DQ67OW

[RGarc11]

Hi,

I'm using a DQ670W motherboard as a VMWare ESXi whitebox for my personal use. It works great with ESXi up to 5.1U1.

ESXi 5.5 has been released but it hangs on ACPI initialization on startup or install. Searching on google, other brands of motherboards are facing the same problem, they released a new BIOS update to make ESXi 5.5 work even if their motherboard are not officially supported by VMware.

Is Intel aware of this problem ? Will a BIOS update be released ?

I can provide technical information for investigation.

Rene

[Silvia_L_Intel1]

RGC, there is no information about a new BIOS version for this specific motherboard. If for any chance a new version will be release on the future, it will be available in the Download Center.

[JLim24]

Since there is a BIOS update for DQ77MK to resolved ESXI ACPI hang boot issue with UEFI settings. Is there any possibility to have the same BIOS fix for DQ67SW ?

I have the same problem with ESXI 5.5 freezing in ACPI initialization, and it works only UEFI is disabled, but this does not allow me to boot from USB key. Please Intel, can your elite engineer come out with some magic to fix the BIOS so that ESXI 5.5 will not complain about the ACPI loading ?

Your help is very much appreciated.

[Silvia_L_Intel1]

I will send your request to the development team as an FYI.

[JLim24]

hi Sylvia,

Thank you for raising this to your development team, this is really great. May I request the motherboard that you are referring should also include DQ67SW. I only realised now the topic of this motherboard is DQ67OW. It seems like ever since ESXi 5.5 latest version has been released, a few Intel vPro DQ series motherboard is failing with similar issues.

Again, do help me to send DQ67SW request to your elite development team to look at the issue.

Thank you very much for your kind understanding

[Silvia_L_Intel1]

I includeD both model numbers DQ67SW and the DQ67OW.

[JLim24]

Brilliant !!! Thanks sylvia, you are a star. Do hope to hear from your team the soonest possible. I will constantly check on the Intel website for any new BIOS update for my motherboard model. Once again, thanks again.

[idata]

Any update on this issue? I am currently in the process of re-using this motherboard for an ESXi 5.5 build and while I noticed there was a 3.14 bios released it does not mention anything related to ESXi.

[Silvia_L_Intel1]

Nnyan the latest BIOS version available for this board is Version 67. https://downloadcenter.intel.com/Detail_Desc.aspx?DwnldID=23750 https://downloadcenter.intel.com/Detail_Desc.aspx?DwnldID=23750

I'm going to send this request again to the development team.

[YTame]

Is there any update on this? Is there any version of the BIOS for these boards that doesn't have the issue?

[Silvia_L_Intel1]

Unfortunately we haven't been notified about a new BIOS version for this motherboard. Version 67 is still the latest BIOS available.

[YTame]

I've been looking at this for some time and basically was able to put together a workaround:

-Switch off UEFI boot and VT-d

-Install ESXi 5.5U2 to a USB stick (You might have to actually press F10 to boot - just choose the stick without UEFI prefixed)

-Download the latest patches from https://my.vmware.com/group/vmware/patch# search https://my.vmware.com/group/vmware/patch# search

-Save them to a datastore

-Use whatever patching method and install ESXi550-201410001

-Reboot to BIOS

-Turn on VT-d and reboot

-Again you might have to press F10 to pick the USB stick

This will allow 5.5U2 with VT-d passthrough to function correctly. I have not tested UEFI as yet but at least without it, there is still a chance to make this board work.

Of note: I used this with the Intel AMT KVM in action and not using any fancy keyboard or monitor (Never physically touched the box)

[idata]

I tried to follow your instructions but no matter what I did I could not get this installed. How are you installing this? Are you connecting your USB stick to a rear port? I get stuck at either ACPI or USB initialization.

I've given up on Intel fixing this problem, It's been over a year and no go so I'm going to order a Supermicro board. I have several friends that have had ESXi fixes pushed out for motherboards that are over 3 years older then this one! Now that is customer service, I'll avoid Intel MB's going forward if this is what we can expect.

[RBabu3]

/thread/49043 S2600-CP2 vmware ESXi 5.5 hangs on ACPI initialization -- Boot loop

MyCroWave

I am using Intel S2600CW2 with the BIOS Version SE5C610.86B.01.01.0005.101720141054, 32GB RAM, 120GB SSD as AHCI. While trying to install ESX5.x during yellow screen the server automatically reboots after initializing ACPI.

https://downloadcenter.intel.com/Detail_Desc.aspx?DwnldID=24375 Intel® Download Center

Can someone help me on this, I need to complete this ESX installation today.

I even tried the creating a USB using MBR but still the same issue. I have diabled UEFI & VT-D.

[RBabu3]

My issue got fixed:

Goutam: Hello. Thank you for using the Intel Customer Chat Support service. We are glad to be of service. How may I help you?

Ramachandran: Hello Goutam

Goutam: Hello Ramachandran, Good morning.

Ramachandran: what is the ststus of my existing ticket?

Goutam: Kindly stay online for 2 -3 minutes while I check the required information for you.

Ramachandran: sure

Goutam: Thank you for staying online, I appreciate your patience.

Goutam: Mr.Chandran, from the previous chat interaction, I understood that you were not able to install VMWare ESXi server 5.5 on S2600CW board, am I correct?

Goutam: Mr.Chandran, are we connected?

Ramachandran: yes

Goutam: Okay. Are you at the front of the server right now?

Goutam: If Yes, could you restart / start the server and boot into BIOS?

Ramachandran: give me a min

Goutam: Sure.

Ramachandran: yes tell me

Ramachandran: ok i am rebooting the server

Ramachandran: what configuration do you want me to change in the BIOS

Goutam: In BIOS, you need to disable MMIO above 4B feature. i.e., BIOS > Advance > PCI configuration> MMIO above 4GB > disable.

Goutam: May I know how many hard drives have you connected? May I know the hard drive capacity and maker?

Ramachandran: i have connected only 1 SSD

Ramachandran: Samsung 120 GB

Ramachandran: i have disable the MMIO option

Goutam: May I know in which port did you connect hard drive?

Ramachandran: sata port 4

Goutam: Okay, Once disabling MMIO feature, press F10 to save and exit.

Goutam: Could you connect SSD drive on AHCI port?

Goutam: AHCI are white color SATA ports.</...

[RBabu3]

My issue got fixed:

Goutam: Hello. Thank you for using the Intel Customer Chat Support service. We are glad to be of service. How may I help you?

Ramachandran: Hello Goutam

Goutam: Hello Ramachandran, Good morning.

Ramachandran: what is the ststus of my existing ticket?

Goutam: Kindly stay online for 2 -3 minutes while I check the required information for you.

Ramachandran: sure

Goutam: Thank you for staying online, I appreciate your patience.

Goutam: Mr.Chandran, from the previous chat interaction, I understood that you were not able to install VMWare ESXi server 5.5 on S2600CW board, am I correct?

Goutam: Mr.Chandran, are we connected?

Ramachandran: yes

Goutam: Okay. Are you at the front of the server right now?

Goutam: If Yes, could you restart / start the server and boot into BIOS?

Ramachandran: give me a min

Goutam: Sure.

Ramachandran: yes tell me

Ramachandran: ok i am rebooting the server

Ramachandran: what configuration do you want me to change in the BIOS

Goutam: In BIOS, you need to disable MMIO above 4B feature. i.e., BIOS > Advance > PCI configuration> MMIO above 4GB > disable.

Goutam: May I know how many hard drives have you connected? May I know the hard drive capacity and maker?

Ramachandran: i have connected only 1 SSD

Ramachandran: Samsung 120 GB

Ramachandran: i have disable the MMIO option

Goutam: May I know in which port did you connect hard drive?

Ramachandran: sata port 4

Goutam: Okay, Once disabling MMIO feature, press F10 to save and exit.

Goutam: Could you connect SSD drive on AHCI port?

Goutam: AHCI are white color SATA ports.</...

[Silvia_L_Intel1]

I'm glad you got this issue fixed Ramachandran. Just in case you need additional information or support please post your inquire at the Servers community located at this link Servers

Regards,

[FKehl]

For future reference: ESXi 5.5 uses a GPT partition table by default which in turn requires an UEFI boot. However, during installation you can force ESXi to use a MBR table instead by pressing ctrl+o to edit the boot options (at the moment where you have 5 seconds counting down, after the blue rectangle on black ESXi install boot menu). The boot option flag you are looking for is formatwithmbr which is to be appended, so the complete option string should read: runweasel formatwithmbr

This fixed my problem with a Q67 board, the system now boots fine with diasable UEFI boot.