Navigating the SD Card Dilemma in HPE Servers with ESXi
The reliance on SD cards as boot devices in server environments has been a common practice, particularly for HPE server users. However, the introduction of VMware’s ESXi 7 has brought to light a significant issue with this setup. Let’s explore the challenges that have arisen, the specific ESXi versions affected, and the solutions that HPE server administrators can employ.
The Challenge
ESXi and SD Cards: A Rocky Relationship
With the release of ESXi 7.0, VMware implemented changes that inadvertently caused problems for SD card boot media. The increased IO operations to the ESX-OSData partition led to concerns about the longevity and reliability of SD cards as boot devices. This was particularly problematic for HPE servers, which commonly used SD cards for their simplicity and convenience.
Affected ESXi Versions
The issue was first noted with ESXi 7.0 Update 1 and became more pronounced with subsequent updates, including 7.0 Update 3, where VMware officially stated that a system with only an SD-Card/USB boot device operates in an unsupported state.
The Impact on HPE Servers
HPE’s Response
HPE servers, known for their robustness and reliability, faced a unique challenge with this development. The problem was not isolated to a single model but was reported across various generations, including the HPE Gen10 servers. Administrators encountered issues during routine maintenance and upgrades, such as the system reverting to an older ESXi build after rebooting, indicating potential SD card corruption.
Solutions and Workarounds
VMware’s Recommendations
VMware’s immediate response included a recommendation to upgrade to ESXi 7.0 Update 2c and to reduce IOs to SD Card/USB media. While this provided a temporary fix, it was clear that a long-term solution was needed.
HPE’s Innovative Solutions
1. RAID 1 USB Drive with Dual SD Card Slots: HPE suggested using a RAID 1 USB drive configuration that houses two SD card slots, offering redundancy and mitigating the risk of data loss due to SD card failure.
2. M.2 SATA SSDs on Primary Riser: HPE servers, such as the DL380 Gen10, include a primary riser with two M.2 slots. Utilizing these slots with M.2 SATA SSDs can do the trick. Note that the software RAID provided by HPE Gen10 (S100i), does not provide drivers for ESXi. So, you won’t be able to make RAID1 out of the two M.2 slots. Also note that M.2 Disks should be SATA. SATA disks are nowadays somehow hard to find in the market, whereas NVMe M.2 disks are out there for sale. However, the slots on the riser does not support M.2 NVMe disks.
Conclusion
The SD card issue with ESXi 7 has been a wake-up call for HPE server users, prompting a shift towards more reliable boot media solutions. By embracing the recommended workarounds and exploring HPE’s innovative alternatives, administrators can ensure the integrity and performance of their virtualized environments.
Disclaimer: The information provided is based on the current understanding of the issues and solutions. Always consult with HPE support and refer to VMware documentation for the most accurate and up-to-date guidance.
Source:
(1) ESXi SD-Card/USB boot devices unsupported in 7.0u3. https://vninja.net/2021/09/02/esxi-sd-card-usb-boot-device-unsupported-in-7.0u3/.
(2) HPE Gen10 Server SD Card issues — vBrain.info. https://www.vbrain.info/2021/03/30/hpe-gen10-server-sd-card-issues/.
(3) Document Display | HPE Support Center. https://support.hpe.com/hpesc/public/docDisplay?docId=a00090588en_us&docLocale=en_US.
(5) VMware ESXi 4.x and 5.x on SD Cards? — HPE Community. https://community.hpe.com/t5/bladesystem-virtualization/vmware-esxi-4-x-and-5-x-on-sd-cards/td-p/5480963.
