I am trying to install ESXi 4.0 on my new HP Z600 workstation, but always stop at "Failed to load lvmdriver".
I'm new at ESX... after a lot of Google, I decide to post my questions here, hope can get some help.

1. HW info
HP Z600
Intel 5520 chipset (similar to X58)
SATA AHCI/RAID controller
Onboard NIC: Broadcom BCM5764M
Add-in PCI-e NIC: BCM5761

2. What I tried.
1) remove PCI-e NIC, "Failed to load lvmdriver"
2) remove PCI-e NIC, and disable onboard NIC in BIOS, "Failed to load lvmdriver"
3) change storage controller mode from SATA/RAID to IDE, and remove/disable NIC, still fail to load lvmdriver.

3. my questions so far:
1) does "Failed to load lvmdriver" means no NIC or storage controller driver? Is anything else can lead to this failure?
2)I'm trying oem.tgz (http://www.vm-help.com/esx40i/customize_oem_tgz.php), will it help to fix my issue? I have no idea, but trying.

The LVM error is due to ESXi not finding a NIC that it can use. Can you post the PCI id for the NICs - http://www.vm-help.com/esx40i/Hardware_support.php?

Thanks Dave's quick response.

Currently, I can't boot with ESXi install CD. So I'm going to get PCI ID under Windows.

BTW, I just try my workstation with Intel pro/1000 82540EM Gigabit Ethernet Controller (other NIC disabled) and AHCI mode.
I can see the ESXi Installer loaded e1000 and AHCI driver in the installation progress. The lvmdriver failure always come up after ACHI driver loaded. Does it mean the NIC is not the key point?

Thanks,

PCI id screenshot.

From VMware HCL, the BCM5764M should be supported

http://www.vmware.com/resources/compati ... 76&release[]=-1&datePosted=-1&partnerId[]=12&ioTypeId[]=-1&vid=&did=&svid=&ssid=&rorre=0

But what it means in notes

Device Drivers:

* 1. tg3 version 3.86

If you see this list ESXi won't recognize the NICs and you'll need a NIC ESXi can use to get through the install process.
http://www.vm-help.com/esx40i/Hardware_support.php

I would boot with the install CD again and when you get to the error
1) press ALT+F1 to get to the console - login will be root / no password
2) run esxcfg-nics -l - you should get nothing for output
3) run vmkload_mod tg3.o to load the Broadcom driver.
4) then run esxcfg-nics -l again to see if the driver is able to load up OK for one of the NICs.

If that works then you can look at using a custom oem.tgz file for the install.

There might also be an updated driver for the NIC (hence it appears on the HCL).

Fail to access Console, but got some information under Alt+F12 (vmkernel log)
an alert says: Failed to trying to get a valid VMKernel MAC address,.... Please add/configure VMKernel NICs.

Alt+F11 (Installer progress bar and status)
stopped at: lvmdriver failed to load with status -1,-1, 0xbad0001

Alt+F1 should be shell terminal, but not response to keyboard input, just show .....Fail to load lvmdriver...

Alt+F2 just echo keyboard inputs, can't login and control.



Anyway, from the log, we can sure that this issue due to NIC driver.
But how to fix it? Anybody could give some help? I'm not so familiar with ESX and Linux script.

Did you type in unsupported at the console and then press enter. you won't get text feedback for that.

unsupported Works!

Both BCM5764M and BCM5761 listed in the output of esxcfg-nics -l after vmkload_mod tg3.o.

How to proceed with OEM.tgz? Could you give same advice for quick start?
Thanks,