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Lab: Installing Nutanix on Dell VxRail nodes (r640)

  • July 10, 2026
  • 10 replies
  • 260 views
K
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Hi all,

I am trying to install Nutanix on a former Dell VxRail node. The server is a Dell PowerEdge R640, and it has been re-branded back to a standard Dell R640 in iDRAC - the installation is only for Lab/testing, not for production.

I have tried several installation combinations:

  • Latest available AOS/AHV versions — although I understand these may not be supported on this older hardware
  • Latest supported combination I could find for this platform:
    • AOS 6.5.1.8
    • AHV 20220304.336

In all attempts, Foundation fails during the installation with the following error:
CRITICAL svm_rescue: No suitable SVM boot disk found

AOS installation failed. Reason: None

The node boots successfully into Phoenix, downloads the AOS package, AHV ISO, Anaconda bits and driver package, but fails when the CVM/SVM installation begins.

Model: Dell PowerEdge R640 / R640-10

Boot mode: Legacy BIOS

Secure Boot: Disabled

iDRAC: iDRAC9

Storage controller: HBA330

Boot device: Dell BOSS-S1 RAID1

BOSS virtual disk size: approx. 240 GB

Data disks:

- Disk 1: approx. 3.84 TB SSD

- Disk 2: approx. 400 GB SSD

 

The BOSS disk is detected as the host boot disk:
Host boot_disk: sdc
sdc: approx. 223.5G

Visible disks:
 

sda 3.5T

sdb 372.6G

sdc 223.5G (BOSS RAID1)

 

Any idea why this deployment is failing?

https://vMoller.dk
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10 replies

JeroenTielen
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You need (minimum) two identical disks. So try to remove the 400GB disk and add an additional 3,84TB SSD. I cant guarantee this is the solution so I hope you got an extra disk laying around to test this. 

Nutanix NTC 2022+2023+2024+2025+2026 || Community Excellence Award 2025+2026 || Nutanix NUG Champion || Nutanix Certified Instructor
    K
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    • krede
    • Author
    • Adventurer
    • July 10, 2026

    You need (minimum) two identical disks. So try to remove the 400GB disk and add an additional 3,84TB SSD. I cant guarantee this is the solution so I hope you got an extra disk laying around to test this. 

    I have 4 nodes - Ill try to move one disk from node 4 to node 1, to see if that solves it (on that Node) - thanks for the reply :-)

    https://vMoller.dk
    JeroenTielen
    Forum|alt.badge.img+8

    ah that is nice. Yes try that. 

    Nutanix NTC 2022+2023+2024+2025+2026 || Community Excellence Award 2025+2026 || Nutanix NUG Champion || Nutanix Certified Instructor
    Z
    • zwaapusff
    • Voyager
    • July 12, 2026

    Hey we had a similar issue as well on our dell VxRail E660F. Are you installing using a USB or sending the ISO over ? We found that the only way to get it installed was to uses the AOS and USB. 

    This was the method we use - Community Edition CE 2.1 - Preparing Installation Media setting the usb with the GPT method. 

    Let us know how you get on. We followed the USB build to a T, even using Rufus 3.21

    JeroenTielen
    Forum|alt.badge.img+8

    Hey we had a similar issue as well on our dell VxRail E660F. Are you installing using a USB or sending the ISO over ? We found that the only way to get it installed was to uses the AOS and USB. 

    This was the method we use - Community Edition CE 2.1 - Preparing Installation Media setting the usb with the GPT method. 

    Let us know how you get on. We followed the USB build to a T, even using Rufus 3.21

    That is the CE method. Looks like ​@krede wants to install the official bits. 

    Nutanix NTC 2022+2023+2024+2025+2026 || Community Excellence Award 2025+2026 || Nutanix NUG Champion || Nutanix Certified Instructor
      K
      Forum|alt.badge.img+3
      • krede
      • Author
      • Adventurer
      • July 13, 2026

      Hey we had a similar issue as well on our dell VxRail E660F. Are you installing using a USB or sending the ISO over ? We found that the only way to get it installed was to uses the AOS and USB. 

      This was the method we use - Community Edition CE 2.1 - Preparing Installation Media setting the usb with the GPT method. 

      Let us know how you get on. We followed the USB build to a T, even using Rufus 3.21

      That is the CE method. Looks like ​@krede wants to install the official bits. 

      ​@zwaapusff / ​@JeroenTielen 
      Yes - I’m trying to install with the official bits and not CE :-)
      Hopefully I will have an update on this on Wednesday! 

      https://vMoller.dk
      USTradeSupplies

      Hi,

      Interesting lab project. We recently worked on a few refurbished Dell PowerEdge R640 systems for virtualization and lab deployments.

      One thing worth checking is whether the HBA330 is running in true HBA mode and that the BOSS-S1 virtual disk is being detected correctly during the SVM installation. We've also seen installation issues caused by outdated BIOS, iDRAC, or storage controller firmware.

      If you're using repurposed VxRail hardware, clearing the previous RAID configuration completely before installation can also help.

      If it helps, we recently published a practical guide covering refurbished Dell PowerEdge servers, storage controllers, and enterprise hardware considerations:
      https://www.ustradesupplies.com/

      Hopefully you get the lab running—I'd be interested to hear what finally resolves the issue.

      K
      Forum|alt.badge.img+3
      • krede
      • Author
      • Adventurer
      • July 15, 2026

      You need (minimum) two identical disks. So try to remove the 400GB disk and add an additional 3,84TB SSD. I cant guarantee this is the solution so I hope you got an extra disk laying around to test this. 

      So, I managed to install by having two large SSD and one small (2 x 3.84TB and 1 x 400GB) in the system. But it seems like the disk HCL is very restrictive on the types.  
      The following disk are in the system:
      3,84TB Samsung
      3,84TB Intel
      400GB Toshiba

      Only the Intel disk is used, and an alert is raised that the two others are “unqualified”.
      Is there perhaps a way to overrule and make the unqualified disk work (without going the CE way) ?

      https://vMoller.dk
      JeroenTielen
      Forum|alt.badge.img+8

      Nope. If you dont have hardwate which is on the HCL you need to go the CE route. 

      Nutanix NTC 2022+2023+2024+2025+2026 || Community Excellence Award 2025+2026 || Nutanix NUG Champion || Nutanix Certified Instructor
      K
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      • krede
      • Author
      • Adventurer
      • July 19, 2026

      Okay - I'll look for some more supported disks then 😊. 

      I have one node running at the moment  - the process is documented on my blog:
      Nutanix AHV on a Dell VxRail server (Lab usage!) – vMoller.dk

      https://vMoller.dk
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