Nested ESXi installing on HCI 5

good day, I wanted to try installing an ESXi on a virtual machine running in my HCI environment.

At the first test, it refused to boot because the CPU was "not supported".
I solved this enabling the "Use CPU from host" setting.

Now ESXi refuses to boot because it cannot find any network adapter. I tried changing the eth0 type to E1000 but it did not solve the issue.

Has someone managed to install ESXi some way?
Thanks

can you please share some screenshot. because i have tried this in a VM and its working perfectly fine.

To successfully install ESXi as a nested virtual machine within your HCI environment, ensure that you've enabled the "Use CPU from host" setting to address the initial CPU compatibility issue. To resolve the network adapter problem, try changing the virtual NIC type to E1000E instead of E1000, as E1000E is often better supported by ESXi. Verify that virtualization features such as VT-x or AMD-V are enabled in your host system's BIOS settings. If the issue persists, you may need to experiment with different virtual NIC types or consult VMware's documentation for specific recommendations on nested ESXi configurations.

much be better if you can provide more details so we can better understand your concern. However it seems like you are having some issues with the network adapter while trying to run ESXi on a VM within your HCI environment. You may also try suggestions below.

- Check network adapter compatibility and ensure that the network adapter you have selected for the VM is compatible with ESXI. ESXi usually works with E1000 or VMXNET3 network adapters. You may try VMXNET3 since you mentioned that E1000 doesnt work
- check network settings in VM and confirm that the network settings within VM are configured correctly. You may also want to set it to "bridged mode" to allow VM to access physical network
- check ESXi compatibility and verify if the version you are trying to install is compatible with the virtual hardware and the hardware of your HCI. Please refer to the VMWare compatibility guide to check compatibility

Hi,
which version of ESXi are you using?
You can see all supported hardware on every ESXi version by checking on this link https://www.vmware.com/resources/compatibility/search.php .
It seems that both e1000 and e1000e are not listed as supported hardware  on ESXi.
Unfortunately ESXI sees only certain network adapter.
You can try anyway to edit your virtual machine and set E1000E adapter.
After that, try again to install VMware ESXi.

Here are some steps you might want to Explore:

    Verify Virtual Network Adapter:
        Ensure the virtual network adapter is properly connected to a virtual switch within Sangfor HCI.
        Confirm the virtual switch itself has a connection to physical network resources.
        Image: [Include a screenshot of the virtual network adapter settings in Sangfor HCI, highlighting key configuration options.]

    Try Different Adapter Types:
        Experiment with various virtual network adapter types (e.g., VMXNET3, E1000E). ESXi might have better compatibility with certain types.
        Image: [Include a screenshot of the adapter type selection in Sangfor HCI, displaying available options.]

    Check for Driver Updates:
        If using E1000, ensure you have the latest E1000 drivers for ESXi. These might not be included by default.
        Consult Sangfor HCI documentation for instructions on updating drivers.
        Image: [Include a screenshot of the driver update process in Sangfor HCI, if applicable.]

    Review ESXi Logs:
        Examine ESXi logs during boot for specific error messages related to network adapter detection. This can provide valuable clues.
        Image: [Include a screenshot of relevant ESXi log entries, highlighting potential errors.]

    Consult Sangfor Documentation:
        Refer to official Sangfor HCI documentation for supported virtual network adapters and any specific configurations for ESXi compatibility.
        Image: [Include a link to the relevant Sangfor HCI documentation section.]

    Engage Sangfor Support:
        If issues persist, reach out to Sangfor technical support for assistance. They can provide guidance tailored to your environment and configuration.

Additional Considerations:

    Nested Virtualization Limitations: Be mindful of potential limitations or compatibility issues when running ESXi within a virtualized environment.
    Alternative Approaches: Consider alternative hypervisors specifically designed for nested virtualization or alternative deployment strategies if ESXi proves challenging.

HiHi,

For the integration of VMware, please consult the reference link provided below:

https://knowledgebase.sangfor.com/detailPage?articleData=%7B%22articleType%22%3A1,%22articleId%22%3A%226705f08e083f4ae48f018a0ba030d55d%22,%22keyword%22%3A%22%22%7D

Ensure that the virtual machine's hardware version is compatible with the ESXi version you are trying to install. Use a version that is supported by both your virtualization platform and ESXi.

While enabling "Use CPU from host" can address some issues, it might be worth checking if the CPU features exposed to the virtual machine are sufficient for ESXi. In some cases, you might need to manually configure CPU settings, such as enabling virtualization extensions (VT-x/AMD-V) in the VM settings.

Instead of changing the network adapter type to E1000, consider using the VMXNET3 adapter, which is recommended for improved performance. Make sure to install VMware Tools after ESXi is installed to get the necessary drivers