ESX Server 2.5.4 and 2.5.5 Installation Stops on Sun Fire X4200 and X4100 Server Systems

To work around this problem, follow the steps below while you boot from the CD.

1. Watch for the boot: prompt at the bottom of the screen.
   

2. As soon as you see the boot: prompt, do one of the following:
   
   type esx nousb   for GUI mode.
   type text nousb for text mode.
   type bootfromsan nousb to install to a SAN device in GUI mode.
   type bootfromsan -text nousb to install to a SAN device in text mode.
   
   Note: The nousb option can and must be used with all installation methods.
   

3. Press Enter to continue booting.  The installation should proceed normally.
   

4. After the installation completes, remove the CD and reboot the system.

While booting ESX Server, perform the following to prevent the system from hanging:

1. Watch for the boot: prompt at the bottom of the screen.
   

2. As soon as you see the boot: prompt, type linux-up nousb .

3. Press Enter to continue booting.

After ESX Server boots, update lilo.conf to include the nousb parameter.

1. As root, edit /etc/lilo.conf . 
   

2. For each section in the file (sections begin with image), locate the append line. 

3. If there is no append line, add one:
   append="nousb"  
   

4. If an append line already exists, insert nousb at the beginning, inside the quotes. For example, the existing line is:
   append="mem=192M cpci=0:0,1,9,15;1:*;"
   
   The edited line should be:
   append="nousb mem=192M cpci=0:0,1,9,15;1:*;" 
   

5. Save the updated lilo.conf file. 
   

6. Commit the lilo.conf changes by running /sbin/lilo in the console operating system as root.

7. Reboot the ESX Server system to verify that it does not hang during the boot process.
   

The next time the ESX Server system reboots, the nousb parameter is included.
 
Note: The Sun ILOM virtual media, including both the CD-ROM and the floppy, are not supported.