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Waiting for loading ipmi_si_drv - disable IPMI on boot?

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juergensmd (5 posts since Aug 10, 2012) Oct 23, 2013 12:04 AM

Hi,

I am using an Supermicro X8SIL (without -F), a Xeon L3426, 16GiB ECC reg., ESXi 5.5!

This board does not support IPMI, and I think there is no way to install an add-on card.

The system is booting fast til the ipmi_si_drv is loading - after 10min. wait time - the system is booting fine and works without any problems.

In the vsphere client the IPMI status is green! That's funny?

Is there any chance to minimize the wait time of the IPMI driver while booting?

Is there a modified ISO?

Is it possible to disable the IPMI driver - I does not need this feature.

Best regards,

Matthias

Correct Answer by MKguy on Oct 23, 2013 1:11 AM

You can uninstall the ipmi_si_drv VIB as follows:

First a test-run to make sure only this VIB is affected:

# esxcli software vib remove --dry-run --vibname ipmi-ipmi-si-drv

Removal Result

   Message: Dryrun only, host not changed. The following installers will be applied: [BootBankInstaller]

   Reboot Required: true

   VIBs Installed:

   VIBs Removed: VMware_bootbank_ipmi-ipmi-si-drv_39.1-4vmw.510.1.12.1065491

   VIBs Skipped:

Now for the actual removal:

# esxcli software vib remove --vibname ipmi-ipmi-si-drv

Then reboot the host.

You might have to put the host into maintenance mode before removing the VIB as well.

Helpful Answer by juergensmd

Correct Answer1. Re: Waiting for loading ipmi_si_drv - disable IPMI on boot?

MKguy (1,077 posts since Sep 24, 2007) Oct 23, 2013 1:11 AM (in response to juergensmd)

You can uninstall the ipmi_si_drv VIB as follows:

First a test-run to make sure only this VIB is affected:

# esxcli software vib remove --dry-run --vibname ipmi-ipmi-si-drv

Removal Result

   Message: Dryrun only, host not changed. The following installers will be applied: [BootBankInstaller]

   Reboot Required: true

   VIBs Installed:

   VIBs Removed: VMware_bootbank_ipmi-ipmi-si-drv_39.1-4vmw.510.1.12.1065491

   VIBs Skipped:

Now for the actual removal:

# esxcli software vib remove --vibname ipmi-ipmi-si-drv

Then reboot the host.

You might have to put the host into maintenance mode before removing the VIB as well.
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Helpful Answer2. Re: Waiting for loading ipmi_si_drv - disable IPMI on boot?

juergensmd (5 posts since Aug 10, 2012) Oct 23, 2013 1:31 AM (in response to MKguy)

Thank you very much,

I will try this tonight.

For putting in maintenance mode:

Alt + F1, root access

# vim-cmd hostsvc/maintenance_mode_enter

then I will follow with your explanation above.

That would be nice, I spent a lot of time last night....

Best regards,

Matthias
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3. Re: Waiting for loading ipmi_si_drv - disable IPMI on boot?

juergensmd (5 posts since Aug 10, 2012) Oct 24, 2013 12:04 AM (in response to MKguy)

Hi,

I have to say: Thank you very, very much!!!

One minute, and all was done! Reboot was quick, ESXi 5.5 was ready in three minutes and working fine!

Thanks a lot!

Best regards,

Matthias
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4. Re: Waiting for loading ipmi_si_drv - disable IPMI on boot?

abrehmc (1 posts since Nov 4, 2013) Nov 4, 2013 3:59 AM (in response to juergensmd)

You can add the ASUS KCMA-D8 motherboard to that list.

I just upgraded to 5.5, and it still hangs (allthough it was slated to be fixed in 5.5).

It WILL continue after 20 minutes or so, but it is still unacceptable to remove the entire Intelligent Platform Management Interface to fix this.

That module should time out quicker and auto disable the functions with a warning.

This problem has been here as long as I can remember - maybe it's time to get it fixed?
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5. Re: Waiting for loading ipmi_si_drv - disable IPMI on boot?

joshuatownsend (116 posts since Apr 17, 2006) Dec 5, 2013 6:40 PM (in response to abrehmc)

Add my home lab Dell C6100 (XS23-TY3) with L5639 to the list with ESXi 5.5 - I waited 24 hours and the boot process remained stuck at loading impi_si_drv... Reinstall and remove the IPMI VIB.... bummer.
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6. Re: Waiting for loading ipmi_si_drv - disable IPMI on boot?

samueltowle (1 posts since Jan 7, 2014) Jan 7, 2014 7:19 AM (in response to joshuatownsend)

Joshua,

I just encounter the same thing on our C6100.

Node 3 had a mauve screen of death. Then would not boot past ipmi_si_drv.

I tried setting the IPMI to "Shared" in the BIOS on your C6100 and it booted normally.

HTH

Sam
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7. Re: Waiting for loading ipmi_si_drv - disable IPMI on boot?

codycook (1 posts since Jan 13, 2014) Jan 13, 2014 8:25 PM (in response to juergensmd)

Ran into about the same but Supermicro X8SIE and 32 GB RAM. We also experience the same issue with a long delay on ipmi_si_drv which was not present in 5.0 or 5.1. We attempted to remove the ipmi_si_drv from install but did not like it. We do not have IPMI options in the BIOS menu, therefore it makes it impossible to toggle anything related to IPMI. Try pressing Shift + O and append noipmiEnabled to the boot args. Once booted, connect with vSphere and add uncheck VMkernel.Boot.ipmiEnabled.
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8. Re: Waiting for loading ipmi_si_drv - disable IPMI on boot?

Midus (7 posts since Jan 11, 2006) Apr 17, 2014 12:19 AM (in response to samueltowle)

My experience was different. It hung if set to "shared", setting it back to "dedicated" solved the issue for me.

I'm on BIOS 1.71, ESM 1.33 and FCB 1.20v2

Message was edited by: Kenneth Chan (midus)

Update 17th April 2014:

Hmmm... on ESXi build 1623387 if "Set BMC NIC" is set to "dedicated" it will hang. Set it to "Shared" as recommended. BTW did try disabling the IPMI .vib (uncheck, set to false for VMkernel.Boot.ipmiEnabled). However, doing so all extended hardware monitoring, fan speeds or temperature, etc, will no longer be visible.