IBM Support

VMware ESX server I/O errors under heavy load with Linux - Servers

How To


Summary

On VMware ESX Server, when running a Linux Virtual Machine under heavy I/O load, you see I/O errors inside the Virtual Machine only, not on the VMware ESX Server host or inside other Virtual Machines.

Steps

Source

RETAIN tip: H186432

Symptom

On VMware ESX Server, when running a Linux Virtual Machine under heavy I/O load, you see I/O errors (inside the Virtual Machine only, not on the VMware ESX Server host or inside other Virtual Machines).

Affected configurations

The system may be any of the following IBM System x servers:

  • System x3950 E, Type 8874, any model
  • System x3950, Type 8872, any model
  • System x3850, Type 8863, any model
  • System x3800, Type 8865, any model

The system may be any of the following IBM servers:

  • BladeCenter, Type 8677, any model
  • BladeCenter HS40, Type 8839, any model
  • BladeCenter HS20, Type 8678, any model
  • BladeCenter HS20, Type 8832, any model
  • BladeCenter HS20, Type 8843, any model
  • BladeCenter LS20, Type 8850, any model
  • BladeCenter T, Type 8730, any model
  • BladeCenter T, Type 8720, any model
  • xSeries MXE-460, Type 8874, any model
  • xSeries 460, Type 8872, any model
  • xSeries 445, Type 8870, any model
  • xSeries 440, Type 8687, any model
  • xSeries 370, Type 8681, any model
  • xSeries 365, Type 8862, any model
  • xSeries 365, Type 8861, any model
  • xSeries 360, Type 8686, any model
  • xSeries 350, Type 8682, any model
  • xSeries 346, Type 8840, any model
  • xSeries 345, Type 8670, any model
  • xSeries 340, Type 8656, any model
  • xSeries 336, Type 8837, any model
  • xSeries 335, Type 8830, any model
  • xSeries 335, Type 8676, any model
  • xSeries 330, Type 8675, any model
  • xSeries 330, Type 8674, any model
  • xSeries 330, Type 8654, any model
  • eServer 325, Type 8835, any model
  • xSeries 260, Type 8865, any model
  • xSeries 255, Type 8685, any model
  • xSeries 235, Type 8671, any model

The system may be any of the following IBM Netfinity servers:

  • Netfinity 8500R server, Type 8681, any model
  • Netfinity 6000R server, Type 8682, any model

The following NOS(es) are affected:

  • VMware ESX Server version 2.x

Note: This does not imply that the network operating system will work under all combinations of hardware and software.

Please see the compatibility page for more information:

http://www.ibm.com/servers/eserver/serverproven/compat/us/
Solution

None.

Workaround

Please ensure you are using the vmxlsilogic virtual SCSI controller in your Virtual Machine.

DO NOT USE vmxbuslogic.

Additional Information

There is a known issue in VMware ESX Server version 2.x where the vmxbuslogic virtual SCSI controller will fail in a Linux VM, causing I/O errors. This is a problem in VMware ESX Server and is not specific to IBM Hardware.

VMware has no plans to resolve this issue in the vmxbuslogic driver at this time.

Document Location

Worldwide

Operating System

BladeCenter:VMware ESX Server

System x:VMware ESX Server

Older System x:VMware ESX Server

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Document Information

Modified date:
17 April 2023

UID

ibm1MIGR-63808

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