Installing ESXi on NUC8I7HNK - failing

[idata]

I am trying to install ESXi 6.7 on a NUC8I7HNK -

I've tried several different BIOS versions and in both Secure boot and Non-Secure Boot.

Each time it fails after loading all of the ESXi going into the Interactive installation with the following.

On the screen

"Shutting down firmware services…..

Using "simple offset" UEFT RTS mapping policy"

The NUC is now locked up.

Would really like to get this working.

The NUC7 works fine but liked the NUC8 with the two NICs built into the motherboard.

Any ideas on what to try?

[n_scott_pearson]

Likely lack of support for 8th gen processor. Check EXSi forums for folks who have overcome this issue...

Hope this helps,

...s

[APere13]

I don't believe the lack of ESXi support is the issue but it has something to do with the BIOS. I have been following this forum and it looks like the HVK models were able to suddenly install ESXi after a BIOS update but not the HNK.

https://www.reddit.com/r/intelnuc/comments/8iofop/gold_to_anyone_who_figures_out_how_to_install/ https://www.reddit.com/r/intelnuc/comments/8iofop/gold_to_anyone_who_figures_out_how_to_install/

[CCisz]

I have the same issue. Nothing as been fixed from what I can see on the HNK, just the HVK. Kind of ridiculous for something that costs as much as it did.

[idata]

Hello, alpdog8 and cmciszewski.

Can you please share with us the .txt file that the https://downloadcenter.intel.com/download/25293/Intel-System-Support-Utility-for-Windows- System Support Utility will generate (to attach a file, you must click the "Attach" option on the bottom right-hand corner of the response box)?Antony S.

[APere13]

Hi Anthony,

Here is the output of the utility from Windows I having running on it right now.

Let me know if you need anything else.

thanks!!!

Andrew

[CCisz]

I'm not running anything on this box yet - trying to get ESXi on it... don't have an OS installed.

[idata]

Hello, alpdog8. Thank you for the report.

It is worth mentioning that Intel currently does not support VMWare on these models. We are going to perform a deeper research into this issue. This might take some time but once I have an update I will let you know.Antony S.

[APere13]

Totally understand and appreciate the help Anthony.

From what I have read the issue was originally affecting both the NUC8i7HVK and NUC8I7HNK models but something changed in BIOS update 37 that suddenly allowed anyone who has a BIOS at or newer then 37 to install it on the NUC8i7HVK model.

thanks again for looking into this!

Andrew

[APere13]

intel_corp

Hi Anthony,

Just wanted to see if any progress was/is being made on this. As you can see there are are a lot of frustrated users who are waiting for a reply and there hasn't been any updates or activity on this for a while. Should be still be crossing our fingers or have you considered this a dead topic?

thanks,

[ASun9]

I have exactly the same issue with the same error message.

I have ordered 2 Intel NUC8i7HNK models 2 weeks ago, have updated the BIOS to the latest version v49 and tried to install ESXi 6.5 and 6.7 on them, neither worked. I used the ISO image downloaded directly from VMware, and used Rufus 2.18 to create the boot USB. With ESXi 6.7, after the image loading screen, I got the same error message: "Shutting down firmware services...Using 'simple offset' UEFI RTS mapping policy", then nothing; with ESXi 6.5, there was even no image loading screen, after chosen boot from USB, the NUC would just reboot itself.

People from Raddit are saying that they have successfully installed ESXi 6.7 on the HVK model, but I did not have the chance to test it myself, I have spent AUD4000 on the 2 HNK models (each with 32GB RAM and 1TB M.2 SSD) and now just leave them there for nothing... It is really weird because the BIOS is exactly the same on both HNK and HVK model, it should work on either one as well. However, it is not the case...

More details of other people's complains from Raddit:

https://www.reddit.com/r/intelnuc/comments/8iofop/gold_to_anyone_who_figures_out_how_to_install/ https://www.reddit.com/r/intelnuc/comments/8iofop/gold_to_anyone_who_figures_out_how_to_install/

Please, dear Intel developers, we need a new version of BIOS to install ESXi on the HNK model. Or if not needed, please let us know how to make it work...

Many thanks!!!

[idata]

Thank you for joining this thread, AragornSun. alpdog8, cmciszewski and malumbaugh2:

Please share with us the version, build and name of the Operating System that is being used in conjunction with ESXi?Antony S.

[CCisz]

Again - ESXi is the hypervisor - since that will not install, I cannot load an OS onto this device.

[ASun9]

Hi Antony,

I am not sure what you meant. ESXi 6.7 is the hypervisor appliance and the operating system I am trying to install on the HNK NUC, this is the first step when you build a home lab. Sure I could use Hyper-V and I have already tested it for both standalone Hyper-V server 2016 as well as Hyper-V on Windows Server 2016, both worked perfectly. However, at this stage I would like to build VMware ESXi lab instead of Hyper-V.

Could you please forward this issue to your DevOps or any testing department so that they would know what happened? As I mentioned before, people have successfully built ESXi 6.7 on the HVK model using the same BIOS v49, it's only the HNK model that has this issue at the moment.

Many thanks.

[THugh1]

You can add me to the list... as per AragornSun's post, I too am in exactly the same boat trying to install VMware ESXI 6.7 on a NUC8i7HNK but with no success and receiving the same error messages. Given that NUCs have been renowned Intel devices to run home labs with VMware ESXI on them, I'm surprised we're having these issues. The question is.... 'Is it an Intel issue or a VMware issue?'. Either way, our investment in our Intel NUC8i7HNK NUCs has not be fruitful to deliver what we intended... mine, like everyone else on this thread, is simply benched and collecting dust until this issue is resolved. There's no point building anything else on it until I can load the ESXI hypervisor on there first (poop to Hyper-V).

I really looking forward to hearing from someone with a resolution to this issue.

thanks

[idata]

Probably asking the obvious here, but are you sure that the network adapter in the NUC is supported by ESXi? I know ESXi can be really picky and refuse to work with unsupported hardware.

[idata]

Hello, everyone.

Allow me to clarify: I am looking to have the version, build and the name of the Operating System that you are using in conjunction with VMWare.Antony S.

[THugh1]

Anthony,

Firstly, I really appreciate your interest in looking into this problem for us.

Initially, I'm trying to load up ESXi with VMware-VMvisor-Installer-6.7.0-8169922.x86_64.iso from USB boot. The install commences but fails shortly after it begins. (I see that previous versions also fail to install).

https://www.vmware.com/go/get-free-esxi https://www.vmware.com/go/get-free-esxi

Once ESXi is successfully installed, I plan to load up the latest versions of Microsoft Windows Server 2016, Windows 10, Windows 7 and Ubuntu Linux. I also hear that others have successfully installed these OS's directly to the NUC without issue. It's just been ESXi that's been the problem where it's installation halts at 'Shutting down firmware services... Using 'simple offset' UEFI mapping policy'.

I hope this helps.

thanks again

Tim

[DRing1]

Having the same issue with NUC8i7HNK it seems that with NUC8i7HVK it works fine (limited functionality with BIOS ver 40 and fully working with BIOS ver 44 and up..)

I have tried to install ESXi 6.7 with BIOS ver 34,40,44 & 49 (latest) can you please help to define differences between NUC8i7HNK & NUC8i7HVK holding us from using it with ESXi ?

Appreciate if you (Intel) can let us know if its in investigation as I ordered 16 of those and will have to return it to supplier if not.

BTW - I used ESX on NUC6 and NUC7 kits with no issues.. it worked perfectly

[Ronny_G_Intel]

Hi everyone,

I work for Intel Customer Support and I have been monitoring this community conversation.

I will work/duplicate the issue that you are reporting on NUC8I7HNK but I have to remind you (Anthony did as well) that ESXi* is not officially validated and therefore not supported. I will do my best to get you some answers.

Thanks,

Ronny G

[MM22]

Hi Intel Corporation,

Reading your answer I understand that you are producing systems where you cannot run anything else than M$ windows system (unsupported).

ESXi/Linux was not supported on Intel NUC5/NUC6/NUC7 however it was working. Looks like it is also working on NUC8 HVK model after BIOS fixup.

The only thing we are asking is to fix a BUG and release BIOS allowing to install ESXi (version 6.5, 6.7, anything) and Linux.

VMware-VMvisor-Installer-6.5.0.update02-8294253.x86_64.iso

VMware-VMvisor-Installer-6.7.0-8169922.x86_64.iso

We are trying to boot that iso from USB and no success.

Please start process with developers and fix that or just simply put information "LINUX and VMWARE ESXI WILL NOT WORK ON NUC8i7HNK" on the website. I guess customers will be happy to avoid that system in the future."

I believe, this is not vendor's collution (M$ and Intel)

Thanks