Confirming ESX/ESXi host hardware (System, Storage, and I/O) compatibility

Products

• VMware vSphere ESXi

Issue/Introduction

This article provides links to ESX/ESXi host Hardware Compatibility Documents (HCLs) so that you can verify your System, Storage, and I/O devices are on the VMware Certified and Supported Hardware Compatibility Lists.

 

Additionally, you can also verify if your systems and hardware require specific BIOS and firmware versions. If your System, Storage, or I/O devices are not listed or no specific BIOS or firmware versions are listed, contact your OEM or third party vendor for further verification and support.

Environment

VMware vSphere ESXi

Resolution

VMware Hardware Compatibility Guides

Compare your hardware information with the VMware ESX/ESXi Server / Systems, I/O, and SAN Compatibility guides located at Broadcom Hardware Compatibility Guides. Review these lists to verify correct system BIOS and firmware levels.

 

If you have any additional questions, contact your OEM hardware vendor directly to verify that your hardware has the recommended BIOS and firmware versions for all hardware installed in your system and storage devices.

 

Confirming Hardware Compatibility

To confirm hardware compatibility:

1. Connect to the ESX/ESXi host with an SSH session using root credentials. For more information, see Using ESXi Shell in ESXi 
2. Run this command to display the system information:
   
   # esxcfg-info | less -I

You see an output similar to:

|----Product Name.............................................ProLiant DL380 G6
|----Vendor Name..............................................Hewlett-Packard
    
3. Identify the SCSI shared storage devices with the following command:
   
   For ESX/ESXi 4.x, ESXi 5.x and 6.0, run the command:
   
   # esxcfg-scsidevs -l | egrep -i 'display name|vendor'

You see output similar to:

Display Name: Local ServeRA Disk (mpx.vmhba0:C0:T0:L0)
Vendor: ServeRA Model: 8k-l Mirror Revis: V1.0
    
4. Run this command to find additional peripherals and devices:
   
   # lspci -vvv

You see an output similar to:

02:0e.0 RAID bus controller: Dell Computer Corporation PowerEdge Expandable RAID Controller 4E/SI/DI (rev 06)
Subsystem: Dell Computer Corporation: Unknown device 016d
Flags: bus master, stepping, 66Mhz, medium devsel, latency 64, IRQ 24
Memory at d80f0000 (32-bit, prefetchable) [size=64K]
Memory at dfdc0000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=256K]
Expansion ROM at dfe00000 [disabled] [size=128K]
Capabilities: [c0] Power Management version 2
Capabilities: [d0] Message Signalled Interrupts: 64bit+ Queue=0/1 Enable-
Capabilities: [e0] PCI-X non-bridge device.

06:07.0 Ethernet controller: Intel Corporation 8254NXX Gigabit Ethernet Controller (rev 05)
Subsystem: Dell Computer Corporation: Unknown device 016d
Flags: bus master, 66Mhz, medium devsel, latency 32, IRQ 25
Memory at dfae0000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=128K]
I/O ports at ecc0 [size=64]
Capabilities: [dc] Power Management version 2
Capabilities: [e4] PCI-X non-bridge device.

07:08.0 Ethernet controller: Intel Corporation 8254NXX Gigabit Ethernet Controller (rev 05)
Subsystem: Dell Computer Corporation: Unknown device 016d
Flags: bus master, 66Mhz, medium devsel, latency 32, IRQ 26
Memory at df8e0000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=128K]
I/O ports at dcc0 [size=64]
Capabilities: [dc] Power Management version 2
Capabilities: [e4] PCI-X non-bridge device.
    
5. Compare your hardware information to the VMware ESX/ESXi Server / Systems, I/O, and SAN Compatibility guides located at Broadcom Compatibility Guide.