System information

3 Configure the HBA BIOS for boot from SAN.
4 Boot your ESX system from the ESX installation CD.
The QLogic BIOS uses a search list of paths (wwpn:lun) to locate a boot image. If one of the wwpn:lun paths is
associated with a passive path, for example, when you use CLARiiON or IBM TotalStorage DS 4000 systems,
the BIOS stays with the passive path and does not locate an active path. If you are booting your ESX system
from a SAN LUN, the boot fails while the host tries to access the passive path.
Minimizing the Number of Initiators
Be sure the zone contains the minimum number of host and storage ports possible. The Emulex and QLogic
BIOS can become unresponsive if several other initiators are in the same zone and you try to select a boot LUN.
For example, if fifteen initiators and four Symmetrix ports are in one zone, you might not be able to select a
boot device from either the Emulex or QLogic BIOS because it becomes unresponsive. If you zone the two host
ports to see only the four storage ports, you can select a boot LUN.
Set Up Your System to Boot from CD-ROM First
Because the VMware installation CD is in the CD-ROM drive, set up your system to boot from CD-ROM first.
To achieve this, change the system boot sequence in your system BIOS setup.
For example, you need to complete the following on the IBM X-Series 345 server.
Procedure
1 During your system power up, enter the system BIOS Configuration/Setup Utility.
2 Select Startup Options and press Enter.
3 Select Startup Sequence Options and press Enter.
4 Change the First Startup Device to [CD-ROM].
You can now install the ESX system.
Setting Up the QLogic FC HBA for Boot from SAN
Configuring the QLogic HBA BIOS to boot ESX from a SAN includes enabling the QLogic HBA BIOS, enabling
the selectable Boot, and selecting the Boot LUN.
NOTE If you are using an IBM BladeCenter, disconnect all your local disk drives from the server.
Fibre Channel SAN Configuration Guide
46 VMware, Inc.