Technical white paper

Running VMware vSphere on

HPE Superdome Flex family
of servers
Configuring VMware vSphere on HPE Superdome
Flex family of servers
Technical white paper

Contents
Introduction ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 3
Hardware overview of HPE Superdome Flex family of servers ................................................................................................................................................................................................... 3
VMware vSphere overview............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 3
VMware vSphere limitations on HPE Superdome Flex family of servers ........................................................................................................................................................................... 4
HPE Persistent Memory on HPE Superdome Flex server ......................................................................................................................................................................................................... 4
VMware vSphere configuration maximums ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 5
HPE Superdome Flex family of servers firmware bundle ........................................................................................................................................................................................................... 5
HPE Superdome Flex I/O Service Pack ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 5
VMware vSphere ISO image options ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 5
Build own VMware vSphere custom images for HPE Superdome Flex servers..................................................................................................................................................... 6
Download VMware vSphere Hypervisor (ESXi) Offline Bundles from VMware site .......................................................................................................................................... 6
Download VMware vSphere Hypervisor (ESXi) Custom ISO Images from VMware site ............................................................................................................................... 6
HPE Online VIBs software depot for HPE Superdome Flex servers ................................................................................................................................................................................ 7
Steps to build own VMware vSphere custom image ...................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 7
HPE Data Collection Daemon .............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 8
VMware ESXi logs ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 9
Preparing to install VMware vSphere on HPE Superdome Flex family of servers ..................................................................................................................................................... 9
Known issues in VMware 6.5 U1\U2\U3, 6.7 U1\U2\U3, 7.0 U1\U2\U3 and 8.0 ................................................................................................................................................13
Summary .....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................14
Resources ...................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................15
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Introduction
VMware vSphere® is a virtualization platform for building cloud infrastructures using existing IT assets and resources. It is easy to deploy
VMware vSphere on HPE Superdome Flex family of servers.
This paper provides instructions to deploy and update VMware vSphere on HPE Superdome Flex. You can also build your own VMware
vSphere custom image. This white paper facilitates successful deployment and configuration of the VMware vSphere virtualization platform
on HPE Superdome Flex servers and HPE Superdome Flex 280 servers, referred as HPE Superdome Flex family of servers. It includes a
description of recommended HPE hardware and software components for HPE Superdome Flex family of servers and the best practices you
may use when deploying VMware vSphere.

Hardware overview of HPE Superdome Flex family of servers

The following section provides an overview of the hardware and software requirements for the HPE Superdome Flex family of mission-critical
x86 servers.
The HPE Superdome Flex server is built using 4-socket, 5U chassis that are cabled together to create servers from 4 sockets (1 chassis)
to 32 sockets (8 chassis). A single partition can be supported with 4-socket to 8-socket capability. For more information, refer to the
QuickSpecs link. The latest version of the QuickSpecs also provides details on supported I/O configuration for HPE Superdome Flex server
in VMware® environment.
The HPE Superdome Flex 280 servers are built using 4-socket, 5U chassis that scales to create servers from 2 sockets (1 chassis) to
8 sockets (2 chassis). A single partition can be supported with 2-socket to 8-socket capability. For more information, refer to
QuickSpecs link.

VMware vSphere overview

HPE Superdome Flex servers based on Intel® Xeon® scalable 61xx or 81xx series processors (first-generation Intel Xeon Scalable
processors), Intel Xeon scalable 62xx or 82xx series processors (second-generation Intel Xeon Scalable processors) and HPE Superdome
Flex 280 servers based on Intel Xeon scalable 53xx, 63xx, or 83xx series processors (third-generation Intel Xeon Scalable processors)
supports following VMware vSphere distributions:
Table 1. Supported VMware vSphere distributed versions
VMware vSphere releases HPE Superdome Flex HPE Superdome Flex HPE Superdome Flex 280
(first-generation Intel Xeon (second-generation Intel Xeon (third-generation Intel Xeon
Scalable processors) Scalable processors) Scalable processors)

VMware vSphere 6.5 U1   

VMware vSphere 6.5 U2   

VMware vSphere 6.5 U3   

VMware vSphere 6.7   

VMware vSphere 6.7 U1   

VMware vSphere 6.7 U2   

VMware vSphere 6.7 U3   

VMware vSphere 7.0   

VMware vSphere 7.0 U1   

VMware vSphere 7.0 U2   

VMware vSphere 7.0 U3   

VMware vSphere 8.0   

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VMware vSphere limitations on HPE Superdome Flex family of servers

Table 2 lists the VMware vSphere version and servers with maximum socket configurations supported:
 = Not supported
Table 2. Supported sockets configuration on HPE Superdome Flex family of servers based on Intel Xeon Scalable processor types

VMware vSphere releases HPE Superdome Flex HPE Superdome Flex HPE Superdome Flex 280
(first-generation Intel Xeon (second-generation Intel Xeon (third-generation Intel Xeon
Scalable processors) Supported Scalable processors) Supported Scalable processors) Supported
Socket Configuration Socket Configuration Socket Configuration

VMware vSphere 6.5 U1 4 and 8  

VMware vSphere 6.5 U2 4 and 8  

VMware vSphere 6.5 U3 4 and 8  

VMware vSphere 6.7 4 and 8  

VMware vSphere 6.7 U1 4 and 8  

VMware vSphere 6.7 U2 4 and 8  

VMware vSphere 6.7 U3 4 and 8 4 and 8 

VMware vSphere 7.0 4 and 8 4 and 8 

VMware vSphere 7.0 U1 4 and 8 4 and 8 2, 4, and 8

VMware vSphere 7.0 U2 4 and 8 4, 8, 12, and 16 2, 4, 6, and 8

VMware vSphere 7.0 U3 4 and 8 4, 8, 12, and 16 2, 4, 6, and 8

VMware vSphere 8.0 4 and 8 4, 8, 12, and 16 2, 4, 6, and 8

Table 3. The memory limits supported by VMware vSphere on HPE Superdome Flex family of servers based on Intel Xeon Scalable processor types
VMware vSphere Memory size Memory size Memory size
HPE Superdome Flex HPE Superdome Flex HPE Superdome Flex 280
(first-generation Intel Xeon (second-generation Intel Xeon (third-generation Intel Xeon
Scalable processors) Scalable processors) Scalable processors)

VMware vSphere 6.5 U1 6 TB  

VMware vSphere 6.5 U2 6 TB  

VMware vSphere 6.5 U3 6 TB  

VMware vSphere 6.7 6 TB  

VMware vSphere 6.7 U1 6 TB  

VMware vSphere 6.7 U2 6 TB  

VMware vSphere 6.7 U3 6 TB 12 TB 

VMware vSphere 7.0 6 TB 12 TB 

VMware vSphere 7.0 U1 6 TB 12 TB 12 TB

VMware vSphere 7.0 U2 6 TB 24 TB 24 TB

VMware vSphere 7.0 U3 6 TB 24 TB 24 TB

VMware vSphere 8.0 6 TB 24 TB 24 TB

HPE Persistent Memory on HPE Superdome Flex server

Hewlett Packard Enterprise supports HPE Persistent Memory on HPE Superdome Flex servers with Intel Xeon 62xx and 82xx processors
(second-generation Intel Xeon Scalable processors). For details on supported HPE Persistent Memory Mode configurations and related
administration and maintenance tasks, see HPE Persistent Memory Guide for HPE Superdome Flex Server.
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Table 4. The HPE Persistent Memory limits supported by VMware vSphere on HPE Superdome Flex servers based on second-generation Intel Xeon Scalable processors
VMware vSphere HPE Persistent Memory size Non-persistent memory size

VMware vSphere 6.7 U3 12 TB 3 TB

VMware vSphere 7.0 12 TB 3 TB

VMware vSphere 7.0 U1 12 TB 3 TB

VMware vSphere 7.0 U2 12 TB 3 TB

VMware vSphere 7.0 U3 12 TB 3 TB

VMware vSphere 8.0 12 TB 3 TB

VMware vSphere configuration maximums

VMware documentation of configuration maximums is available at the following link: configmax.vmware.com/home.
Select the product name as VMware vSphere (left pane of the screen) and appropriate VMware vSphere version on the mentioned URL
to list the maximum configurations. HPE Superdome Flex family of servers hardware and firmware setup/configuration instructions.

HPE Superdome Flex family of servers firmware bundle

The latest firmware recipe bundle for HPE Superdome Flex family of servers is available at support.hpe.com/connect/s/search?
language=en_US#t=DriversandSoftware. On the landing page, In the Search bar, Search for “HPE Superdome Flex Chassis/Enclosures”
which can be installed/updated with the install instructions available in the download page.

HPE Superdome Flex I/O Service Pack

Customers should utilize the HPE Superdome Flex I/O Service Pack for updating I/O firmware using HPE Smart Update Manager. The
HPE Superdome Flex I/O Service Pack ISO is available at support.hpe.com/connect/s/search?language=en_US#t=DriversandSoftware On
the landing page, In the Search bar search for “I/O Service Pack for HPE Superdome Flex” which can be installed/updated with the install
instructions available in the download page.
Updated I/O drivers for HPE Superdome Flex family of servers are not available in the VMware vSphere base image distributions. Even the
I/O firmware image is not available. HPE Superdome Flex family of servers based on first-generation and second-generation of Intel Xeon
Scalable processors can obtain the appropriate async drivers from vibsdepot.hpe.com/superdome/sdflex/downloads for ESXi 6.x.

VMware vSphere ISO image options

VMware vSphere offers different image (ISO file) options. You can use the VMware base image or your own custom image. Hewlett Packard
Enterprise recommends building a custom image that includes all the new/updated drivers.
• VMware vSphere® Hypervisor (ESXi ISO) image (VMware base image): The VMware base image includes the base VMware ESXi™
Hypervisor image and default set of drivers. This image does not include HPE value-add components or new or updated drivers.
HPE Superdome Flex family of servers required to use a custom ISO image that includes new or updated drivers to support the storage
and network hardware included in the server.
• Custom ISO image:
– For HPE Superdome Flex family of servers based on first-generation and second-generation Intel Xeon Scalable processors, one can
create your own ISO image for deploying VMware vSphere. To create a custom ISO image, use the VMware Image Builder included
with VMware vSphere® PowerCLI™. Start with the VMware base depot and then customize it to include the VMware vSphere
Installation Bundles (VIBs) delivering HPE value-add components that need to be loaded at boot time. VIBs include all the updated
drivers. The output of Image Builder will be a custom ISO image that includes the VMware base image and all the added VIBs.
– For HPE Superdome Flex 280 servers based on third-generation Intel Xeon Scalable processors, which supports VMware vSphere
7.0 U1 Distribution of VMware, you can directly download the Custom ISO image from the VMware site.

Note
VMware vSphere PowerCLI can be downloaded from VMware site by providing appropriate credentials.
Technical white paper Page 6

Build own VMware vSphere custom images for HPE Superdome Flex servers
This section is applicable to HPE Superdome Flex family of servers based on first-generation and second-generation Intel Xeon Scalable
processors. You can build a VMware vSphere custom image ISO using the VMware vSphere Hypervisor (ESXi) Offline Bundle which is in
the .ZIP format and specific HPE online VIBs software depot for HPE Superdome Flex server.

Download VMware vSphere Hypervisor (ESXi) Offline Bundles from VMware site
HPE will not support the HPE Superdome Flex family of servers with the HPE ProLiant VMware custom images. You need to build your own
VMware vSphere custom image ISO using the VMware vSphere Hypervisor (ESXi) Offline Bundle and specific available drivers (includes the
third-party driver’s bundle) to HPE Superdome Flex family of servers based on first-generation and second-generation Intel Xeon Scalable
processors from vibsdepot (also known as HPE Online Depot).
VMware vSphere Hypervisor (ESXi) 6.5 U1 Offline Bundle
• The VMware 6.5 U1 Offline Bundle is available for download at VMware site
VMware vSphere Hypervisor (ESXi) 6.5 U2 Offline Bundle
• The VMware 6.5 U2 Offline Bundle is available for download at VMware site
VMware vSphere Hypervisor (ESXi) 6.5 U3 Offline Bundle
• The VMware 6.5 U3 Offline Bundle is available for download at VMware site
VMware vSphere Hypervisor (ESXi) 6.7 Offline Bundle
• The VMware 6.7 Offline Bundle is available for download at VMware site
VMware vSphere Hypervisor (ESXi) 6.7 U1 Offline Bundle
• The VMware 6.7 U1 Offline Bundle is available for download at VMware site
VMware vSphere Hypervisor (ESXi) 6.7 U2 Offline Bundle
• The VMware 6.7 U2 Offline Bundle is available for download at VMware site
VMware vSphere Hypervisor (ESXi) 6.7 U3 Offline Bundle
• The VMware 6.7 U3 Offline Bundle is available for download at VMware site

Download VMware vSphere Hypervisor (ESXi) Custom ISO Images from VMware site
• Starting with VMware vSphere 7.0 onwards, HPE publishes a tested custom ISO image containing updated drivers (includes the
third-party driver’s bundle), on the below mentioned VMware site and can be downloaded directly from following URLs:

Note
HPE has removed all ESXi 7.0 U3 content from vibsdepot in alignment with the VMware announcement that ESXi 7.0 Update 3, ESXi 7.0
Update 3a, and ESXi 7.0 Update 3b were removed from all online and offline download portals on November 18, 2021. Check KB 86398
for further details. HPE has published new ESXi 7.0 U3 images based upon the VMware announcement of a new ESXi 7.0 U3. See the links
below to download the same.

Table 5. VMware vSphere Hypervisor (ESXi) Custom ISO images for HPE Superdome Flex 280 servers

VMware Supported Comment URL

vSphere servers
releases

VMware vSphere HPE HPE Custom ISO customerconnect.vmware.com/en/downloads/details?downloadGroup=OEM-ESXI80-HPE&productId=1345

8.0 (Nov 2022) Superdome HPE Add-on Depot customerconnect.vmware.com/en/downloads/details?downloadGroup=ADDON_ESXI80-HPE&productId=1345
Flex 280

VMware vSphere HPE HPE Custom ISO customerconnect.vmware.com/en/downloads/details?downloadGroup=OEM-ESXI70U3-HPE&productId=974

7.0 U3 (Mar 2022) Superdome HPE Add-on Depot customerconnect.vmware.com/en/downloads/details?downloadGroup=ADDON_ESXI70U3_HPE&productId=974
Flex 280

VMware vSphere HPE HPE Custom ISO customerconnect.vmware.com/downloads/details?downloadGroup=OEM-ESXI70U2-HPE&productId=974

7.0 U2 Superdome HPE Add-on Depot customerconnect.vmware.com/downloads/details?downloadGroup=ADDON_ESXI70U2_HPE&productId=974
(May 2021) Flex 280

VMware vSphere HPE HPE Custom ISO customerconnect.vmware.com/en/downloads/details?downloadGroup=OEM-ESXI70U1-HPE&productId=974

7.0 U1 Superdome HPE Add-on Depot customerconnect.vmware.com/en/downloads/details?downloadGroup=ADDON_ESXI70U1_HPE&productId=974
(Nov 2020) Flex 280
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Table 6. VMware vSphere Hypervisor (ESXi) Custom ISO images for HPE Superdome Flex servers (first and second-generation Intel Xeon Scalable processors)

VMware vSphere Supported Comment URL

releases servers

VMware vSphere HPE Superdome HPE Custom ISO customerconnect.vmware.com/en/downloads/details?downloadGroup=OEM-ESXI80-HPE&productId=1345

8.0 (Nov 2022) Flex 280 HPE Add-on Depot customerconnect.vmware.com/en/downloads/details?downloadGroup=ADDON_ESXI80-HPE&productId=1345

VMware vSphere HPE HPE Custom ISO customerconnect.vmware.com/en/downloads/details?downloadGroup=OEM-ESXI70U3-HPE&productId=974

7.0 U3 (Mar 2022) Superdome HPE Add-on Depot customerconnect.vmware.com/en/downloads/details?downloadGroup=ADDON_ESXI70U3_HPE&productId=974
Flex servers

VMware vSphere HPE HPE Custom ISO customerconnect.vmware.com/downloads/details?downloadGroup=OEM-ESXI70U2-HPE&productId=974

7.0 U2 (May 2021) Superdome HPE Add-on Depot customerconnect.vmware.com/downloads/details?downloadGroup=ADDON_ESXI70U2_HPE&productId=974
Flex servers

VMware vSphere HPE HPE Custom ISO customerconnect.vmware.com/en/downloads/details?downloadGroup=OEM-ESXI70U1-HPE&productId=974

7.0 U1 (Nov 2020) Superdome HPE Add-on Depot customerconnect.vmware.com/en/downloads/details?downloadGroup=ADDON_ESXI70U1_HPE&productId=974
Flex servers

VMware vSphere HPE HPE Custom ISO customerconnect.vmware.com/downloads/details?downloadGroup=OEM-ESXI70-HPE&productId=974

7.0 (Jan 2021) Superdome HPE Add-on Depot customerconnect.vmware.com/downloads/details?downloadGroup=ADDON_ESXI700_HPE&productId=974
Flex servers

HPE Online VIBs software depot for HPE Superdome Flex servers
For HPE Superdome Flex family of servers based on Intel Xeon scalable 61xx or 81xx series processors (first-generation Intel Xeon Scalable
processors) or Intel Xeon scalable 62xx or 82xx series processors (second-generation Intel Xeon Scalable processors) customer need to
include/update appropriate async drivers, which are available from vibsdepot and build their custom VMware vSphere distributions. A customer
can obtain the appropriate updated drivers from the link mentioned in Table 7 and 7A.
Table 7. To create a supported HPE Custom build for VMware vSphere versions of ESXi 6.5 U1/U2/U3 and 6.7 U1/U2/U3 (First generation)
Supported servers Vibsdepot link

HPE Superdome Flex servers vibsdepot.hpe.com/superdome/sdflex/downloads/Apr2022/SDflex/

Table 7A. To create a supported HPE Custom build for VMware vSphere versions of ESXi 6.7 U3 onwards (Second generation)
Supported servers Vibsdepot link

HPE Superdome Flex servers vibsdepot.hpe.com/superdome/sdflex/downloads/Apr2022/SDflex/

Steps to build own VMware vSphere custom image

Below are example steps which are common to HPE Superdome Flex servers based on Intel Xeon scalable 61xx or 81xx series processors
(first-generation Intel Xeon Scalable processors) and HPE Superdome Flex servers based on Intel Xeon scalable 62xx or 82xx series
processors (second-generation Intel Xeon Scalable processors).

Note
As steps mentioned below involve usage of a script which downloads HPE online VIBs software depot from vibsdepot link, hence the server
on which these steps performed need to be connected to the internet.

To build own VMware vSphere custom image for Apr 2022, follow these steps:
1. Download the HPE Image Builder script (“.ps1” file) from the vibsdepot release path of the desired HPE drivers and save it as .ps1 file.
For 6.5 U1/U2/U3: vibsdepot.hpe.com/superdome/sdflex/downloads/Apr2022/SDflex/hpe650/build-hpe650-img-Apr2022-SDflex.ps1
For 6.7\6.7 U1/U2/U3: vibsdepot.hpe.com/superdome/sdflex/downloads/Apr2022/SDflex/hpe670/build-hpe670-img-Apr2022-SDflex.ps1
2. Download the corresponding VMware vSphere Hypervisor (ESXi) Offline Bundles by referring the section “Download VMware vSphere
Hypervisor (ESXi) Offline Bundles” from VMware site and place it on the folder where .ps1 file is kept.
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3. Identify the VMware image profile to use from VMware vSphere Hypervisor (ESXi) Offline Bundle by viewing the contents of the “profiles”
directory in the metadata file inside the zip file (always use the image profile with xxxxxxxx-standard embedded in the name with NO “s”
before “-standard”)
a. Example output: ESXi-6.5.0-20170702001-standard
b. Example output: ESXi-6.7.0-20180804001-standard
4. Start PowerCLI Image Builder session

Note
As the above-mentioned PowerShell scripts published are unsigned, run “Set-ExecutionPolicy cmdlet” in PowerCLI to run unsigned
scripts.

5. Run the Image Builder script and supply the input parameters to build a custom image. Customer can choose from one of the following
two options to create the image:
a. Option a: Run the .ps1 file and supply all the parameters in the same command line:
<.\ps1 file> -VMwareDepot <VMware vSphere Hypervisor (ESXi) Offline Bundles> -VMwareIP <name
of the Image Profile> -CustomIP “<Your choice of New ISO image to be created>” -CustomVendor
“<Your Company Name>”
b. Option b: Run the script with no parameters from the command line and supply parameters one by one as prompted:
I. PowerCLI C:\vmware> .\ps1 file
II. VMwareDepot: VMware vSphere Hypervisor (ESXi) Offline Bundle
III. VMwareIP: Name of the Image Profile
IV. CustomIP: Your choice of New ISO image be created
V. CustomVendor: Your Company Name
6. The custom image will be generated in the current working directory

HPE Data Collection Daemon

Data Collection Daemon (DCD) is an agentless service for HPE Superdome Flex family of mission-critical x86 servers. DCD proactively
monitors the health of hardware components that are visible to running operating system instance and reports any errors to management
firmware running on Rack Management Controller (RMC) of HPE Superdome Flex server. The management service running on RMC uses
the data within its Redfish service and also serves it out of band to client applications like HPE Insight Remote Support (IRS).
DCD includes the following major features for VMware vSphere:
• DCD collects inventory data for below listed components:
– ESXi Hypervisor
– SAS/SATA controllers
– Physical drives—HPE Superdome Base Chassis Drives (Internal only)
– RAID volumes (Logical drives)
• DCD proactively monitors the health of the SAS/SATA controllers, attached drives, and RAID volumes. And auto forwards any minor or
critical state change events to RMC.
• A command line utility “dcdCli” is provided to test the health of DCD service and its connectivity to RMC and its clients.
• Logging is supported in DCD to log messages at different logging levels.
• All the data is transferred between DCD and RMC through in-band IPMI Channel.
• DCD is delivered as HPE signed and certified offline bundle.
The HPE DCD product offline bundle and release notes can be accessed at the following location vibsdepot.hpe.com/superdome/sdflex/dcd/.
Technical white paper Page 9

VMware ESXi logs

VMware ESXi has various logs and a user can obtain information from the Knowledge Base site: kb.vmware.com/s/article/2004201.

Preparing to install VMware vSphere on HPE Superdome Flex family of servers

If you are using HPE Superdome Flex family of servers, HPE recommends you refer to section “Gathering installation materials and
information” of the HPE Superdome Flex Server OS Installation Guide to know the method to mount the ISO image and OS
installation procedure.
The following process is to install the operating system using virtual media:
Refer section “Gathering installation materials and information” section of the HPE Superdome Flex Server OS Installation Guide to know
the method to mount the ISO image and OS installation procedure with images of the screen.
• Point browser at the RMC (example: https://ch-057-rmc/) and log in with administrator privileges.
• Select the nPartition and enable the Remote Media.
• From the selected nPartition open the Console (KVM or Launch Remote Web Console).
• Using “Browse File” present in the top right corner select the VMware OS ISO image that needs to be installed. This step will mount
the ISO image onto either DVD or USB connected to the server.
• Now, click on “Start Media.”
• In the Console interface you should see the UEFI Shell prompt.
• Exit the text shell to enter the UEFI menus by typing “exit” on the UEFI Shell prompt.
• Go to UEFI’s Boot Manager Menu and select the device on which ISO image got mounted.
• Wait for the Loading ESXi installer to finish and then follow the on-screen instructions.
• On completion of installation, as instructed “Stop Media” and “Enter Reboot” the server.
The following process is to install the operating system using PXE:
You can install the VMware vSphere on an HPE Superdome Flex series of server within a PXE.
1. Use the documentation from the Operating System vendor to configure a PXE server.
a. Make sure that the PXE server can serve Operating System images to other servers.
2. Use an SSH client, such as PuTTY, to log into the HPE Superdome Flex server RMC as the administrator user.
a. For example: localhost% ssh administrator@flex-rmc
b. For the password, enter the current RMC password for the administrator user and press Enter
3. From the RMC prompt, use the power-on command to switch on the server.
a. For example: RMC cli> power on
4. Enter the following command to reset the server.
a. RMC cli> power reset npar pnum=0
5. Wait for the server to reset.
a. The reset is complete when the RMC prompt appears
6. At the RMC prompt, enter the following command to open a console to the shell:
a. RMC cli> connect npar pnum=0
7. When the following BIOS boot menu appears, press F2:
a. Press (Enter) to directly boot
b. Press (F2) to enter setup and select boot options
8. On the boot manager screen, use the arrow keys to highlight > Boot Manager Menu and press Enter.
9. On the Boot Manager Menu, use the arrow keys to highlight one of the LAN partitions, and press Enter.
a. For example, highlight UEFI BASEIO IPv4 Network @ r001i01—LAN0
10. Continue to navigate through the rest of the installation steps; when the installation is complete, press Enter to reboot the host.
VMware post-installation instructions:
• On the Console screen of a nPartition, Press [F2] and log in.
• Select Troubleshooting Options. Enable SSH and ESXi Shell.
• <esc> to exit and <esc> again to log out.
• After completion of above steps, one can log in to the host through SSH.
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Adding the boot entry on installing VMware 6.x OS versions:

You can add the boot entry at the boot maintenance manager level and boot the VMware vSphere from the corresponding boot
entry added.
Procedure
1. Following POST, select the EFI shell. Enter the command map fs* and note down the LUN device name where you installed
VMware vSphere (for example, FS0:).

2. Check the LUN device name by listing the contents (for example, >dir fs0:\EFI\BOOT\BOOTx64.efi)
3. Exit the EFI shell by entering the exit command; enter the System Utilities and navigate to Boot Maintenance Manager ->
Boot Options Menu; select Add Boot Option.
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4. Select the boot entry for VMware vSphere that matches the entry noted in steps 1 and 2, and then press Enter.

Note
In the next step, use the BOOT directory, not the VMware directory.
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5. Go to Change Boot Order under Boot Options Menu. Set the boot order so VMware ESXi (VMware vSphere) is the first option or as the
next option after the HPE iLO virtual DVD. Commit the changes.

6. Once VMware vSphere is successfully booted, configure the management network, for example, IP address and such, to enable SSH
through direct console user interface (DCUI).

Note
The above steps are applicable only for ESXi 6.x versions. For ESXi 7.x and above, boot entry is automatically created.

Known issues in VMware 6.5 U1\U2\U3, 6.7 U1\U2\U3, 7.0 U1\U2\U3, and 8.0
• VMware ESXi doesn’t display some of the I/O adapters this could include FC HBA adapter or NIC adapter.
– Workaround 1: The default “maxIntrCookies” needs to be increased its value from current 1024 to max 4096. Please use the below
esxcli command to do the same.
 # esxcli system settings kernel set -s maxIntrCookies -v 4096
 #reboot (The system needs to be rebooted for the changes to be effective)
– Workaround 1(a): Even after increasing the value of maxIntrCookies to 4096 and if still VMware ESXi doesn’t display your required
I/O adapter, then deconfigure one or more unused I/O adapters using the below RMC command.
# deconfig physloc=xxxx (physical address of unused I/O adapters)
• In case upgrading from 7.0 U2 fails:
– Workaround: Remove “hpe-upgrade” drivers from 7.0 U2 before upgrading to higher versions using the esxcli command.
– syntax/command: esxcli software vib remove --vibname=hpe-upgrade
 #reboot (The system needs to be rebooted for the changes to be effective)
Once system boots up the upgrade to higher version should work.
• VMware ESXi displays less memory than is available on the host
The DCUI expresses available host memory as a rounded number of terabytes. In some cases, the rounding operation results in the
DCUI stating the available memory as less than the amount of memory actually in use. For example, the DCUI might display the
available memory as 1.4 TB instead of the 1.5 TB that the ESXi host is utilizing. Refer the KB site: kb.vmware.com/s/article/2144056.
• MegaRAID 9361-4i SAS card (HPE 9361-4i RAID Controller) information not displayed on the VMware ESXi
The SAS card information (Model Description, Hardware Version, and OptionROM Version) is not getting displayed on the OS level.
Following is one of the examples for reference:
# esxcli storage san sas list
Device Name: vmhba2
SAS Address: 60:f5:75:42:75:71:40:72
Physical ID: 0
Minimum Link Rate: 0 Mbps
Maximum Link Rate: 0 Mbps
Technical white paper Page 14

Negotiated Link Rate: 0 Mbps

Model Description:
Hardware Version:
OptionROM Version:
Firmware Version: 24.21.0-0025
Driver Name: lsi_mr3
Driver Version: 7.702.17.00

• Incorrect information displayed against the Physical Slot of all PCI hardware
When details of a PCI hardware are displayed, the information displayed against the Physical Slot is incorrect. Following is one of the
examples for reference:
# esxcli hardware pci list
Physical Slot: 4294967295

• Access USB Device from virtual machine (VM) failed in VMware ESXi
Unable to access a bootable USB drive on to the guest VMs, which are mounted on to the host. Guest VM is unable to mount a bootable
OS image.
• Failure messages in syslog
The following failure is seen on the /var/log/syslog file:
“Failed to open dcb ioctl interface”
This failure message is harmless and can be safely ignored.
• RAID mode of Intel® Corporation Lewisburg SATA AHCI Controller is not supported in ESXi
VMware does not support the RAID mode of Intel Corporation Lewisburg SATA AHCI Controller in VMware ESXi. Refer KB site:
kb.vmware.com/s/article/52047

Summary
Hewlett Packard Enterprise is committed to providing a long road map of solutions for virtualized mission-critical computing.
These solutions are grounded on solid HPE hardware platforms, augmented by VMware vSphere virtualization. We are working
with the VMware community to make continuous improvements to these mission-critical virtualization solutions.
Further innovations will be released to the market on a regular basis. This white paper will be updated as further enhancements
are announced.
Technical white paper Page 15

Resources
• HPE Superdome Flex family of servers (first-generation and second-generation Intel Xeon Scalable processors) QuickSpecs
• HPE Superdome Flex 280 servers (third-generation Intel Xeon Scalable processors) QuickSpecs
• HPE Superdome Flex servers based on Intel Xeon scalable 61xx or 81xx series processors (first-generation Intel Xeon Scalable
processors) server-specific third-party drivers (OEM drivers) for appropriate VMware vSphere versions can be directly downloaded using
the following URLs:
Table 8. To create a supported HPE Custom build for VMware vSphere versions of ESXi 6.5 U1/U2/U3 and 6.7 U1/U2/U3 (First generation)

Directory name Supported servers Comment URL

Mar 2018 HPE Superdome Flex servers Initial I/O drivers vibsdepot.hpe.com/superdome/sdflex/downloads/Mar2018/SDflex/

Sep 2018 HPE Superdome Flex servers Initial I/O drivers vibsdepot.hpe.com/superdome/sdflex/downloads/Sep2018/SDflex/

Aug 2019 HPE Superdome Flex servers Initial I/O drivers vibsdepot.hpe.com/superdome/sdflex/downloads/Aug2019/SDflex/

Mar 2020 HPE Superdome Flex servers Initial I/O drivers vibsdepot.hpe.com/superdome/sdflex/downloads/March2020/SDflex/

Jan 2021 HPE Superdome Flex servers Initial I/O drivers vibsdepot.hpe.com/superdome/sdflex/downloads/Jan2021/SDflex/

Oct 2021 HPE Superdome Flex servers Initial I/O drivers vibsdepot.hpe.com/superdome/sdflex/downloads/Oct2021/SDflex/

Apr 2022 HPE Superdome Flex servers Initial I/O drivers vibsdepot.hpe.com/superdome/sdflex/downloads/Apr2022/SDflex/

• HPE Superdome Flex family of servers based on Intel Xeon scalable 62xx or 82xx series processors (second-generation Intel Xeon
Scalable processors) server-specific third-party drivers (OEM drivers) for VMware vSphere 6.7 U3 onwards can be directly downloaded
using the following URLs:
Table 9. To create a supported HPE Custom build for VMware vSphere versions of ESXi 6.7 U3 onwards (Second generation)

Directory name Supported servers Comment URL

Aug 2019 HPE Superdome Flex servers Initial I/O drivers vibsdepot.hpe.com/superdome/sdflex/downloads/Aug2019/SDflex/

Mar 2020 HPE Superdome Flex servers Initial I/O drivers vibsdepot.hpe.com/superdome/sdflex/downloads/March2020/SDflex/

Jan 2021 HPE Superdome Flex servers Initial I/O drivers vibsdepot.hpe.com/superdome/sdflex/downloads/Jan2021/SDflex/

Oct 2021 HPE Superdome Flex servers Initial I/O drivers vibsdepot.hpe.com/superdome/sdflex/downloads/Oct2021/SDflex/

Apr 2022 HPE Superdome Flex servers Initial I/O drivers vibsdepot.hpe.com/superdome/sdflex/downloads/Apr2022/SDflex/
Technical white paper

• HPE Superdome Flex 280 servers (third-generation Intel Xeon Scalable processors) and HPE Superdome Flex family of servers
(first-generation and second-generation Intel Xeon Scalable processors) server-specific custom ISO containing third-party drivers
(OEM drivers) for VMware vSphere 7.0 based distributions can be downloaded using following URLs:
Table 10. VMware vSphere Hypervisor (ESXi) Custom ISO images for HPE Superdome Flex family of servers

VMware vSphere Supported Comment URL

releases Servers

VMware vSphere HPE Superdome HPE Custom ISO customerconnect.vmware.com/en/downloads/details?downloadGroup=OEM-ESXI80-HPE&productId=1345

8.0 (Nov 2022) Flex family of HPE Add-on Depot customerconnect.vmware.com/en/downloads/details?downloadGroup=ADDON_ESXI80-HPE&productId=1345
servers

VMware vSphere HPE Superdome HPE Custom ISO customerconnect.vmware.com/en/downloads/details?downloadGroup=OEM-ESXI70U3-HPE&productId=974

7.0 U3 (Mar 2022) Flex family of HPE Add-on Depot customerconnect.vmware.com/en/downloads/details?downloadGroup=ADDON_ESXI70U3_HPE&productId=974
servers

VMware vSphere HPE Superdome HPE Custom ISO customerconnect.vmware.com/downloads/details?downloadGroup=OEM-ESXI70U2-HPE&productId=974

7.0 U2 (May Flex family of HPE Add-on Depot customerconnect.vmware.com/downloads/details?downloadGroup=ADDON_ESXI70U2_HPE&productId=974
2021) servers

VMware vSphere HPE Superdome HPE Custom ISO customerconnect.vmware.com/en/downloads/details?downloadGroup=OEM-ESXI70U1-HPE&productId=974

7.0 U1 (Nov Flex family of HPE Add-on Depot customerconnect.vmware.com/en/downloads/details?downloadGroup=ADDON_ESXI70U1_HPE&productId=974
2020) servers

VMware vSphere HPE Superdome HPE Custom ISO customerconnect.vmware.com/downloads/details?downloadGroup=OEM-ESXI70-HPE&productId=974

7.0 (Jan 2021) Flex servers HPE Add-on Depot customerconnect.vmware.com/downloads/details?downloadGroup=ADDON_ESXI700_HPE&productId=974

Additional resources
• HPE and VMware
• HPE Superdome Flex Server User Guide

Last modified date Revision changes

Dec-13-2022 a00043141ENW, Rev. 18

Added support for ESXi 8.0

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© Copyright 2022 Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP. The information contained herein is subject to change without
notice. The only warranties for Hewlett Packard Enterprise products and services are set forth in the express warranty statements
accompanying such products and services. Nothing herein should be construed as constituting an additional warranty.
Hewlett Packard Enterprise shall not be liable for technical or editorial errors or omissions contained herein.

Intel and Intel Xeon are trademarks of Intel Corporation or its subsidiaries in the U.S. and/or other countries. PowerShell is
either a registered trademark or trademark of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. VMware vSphere,
VMware vSphere Hypervisor, VMware vSphere PowerCLI, VMware, and VMware ESXi are registered trademarks or trademarks
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respective owners.

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