Installation of ESXi Shows No Available Local Disks

Products

• VMware vSphere ESXi

Issue/Introduction

When attempting to install VMware ESXi on a new server, the installation wizard fails to detect any local disks, and no disks are displayed as available for installation. This issue occurs regardless of whether the installation is performed using the standard VMware ESXi ISO or a hardware vendor-specific ISO.

Cause

The primary cause for the ESXi installer not detecting any local disks is the absence of compatible drivers for the server’s storage controller or boot device in the ESXi installation media.

This situation is common with newer or non-standard hardware, where the necessary drivers are not included in the default ESXi ISO, resulting in the installer being unable to recognize or access the disks

Resolution

Forcing Use of VMKLinux Drivers

• To resolve situations where the ESXi installer does not detect local disks due to missing native drivers, instruct the installer to use the legacy VMKLinux driver stack:
• Reboot the server and begin the ESXi installation process.
• During the initial 5-second boot delay from the ESXi installation media, press Shift + O to access additional boot options.

• The default boot parameters will appear (e.g., cdromBoot runweasel). Append the following parameter to the end of the string: preferVmklinux=TRUE.

• Press Enter to continue booting with this option.
• Proceed with the installation; the installer should now detect and display the available storage devices.

Using Hardware Vendor Custom OS Images

If the standard VMware ESXi installer does not recognize the local storage devices, ensure you are using the custom ESXi ISO provided by your hardware vendor. These custom images typically include the necessary drivers for the latest storage controllers and boot devices, improving compatibility and reducing installation issues.