[CentOS] R730xd & SD card identfication

Mon Mar 8 14:32:35 UTC 2021
Gregory P. Ennis <PoMec at PoMec.Net>

On Sun, 7 Mar 2021 at 18:39, Pete Biggs <pete at biggs.org.uk> wrote:

> On Sun, 2021-03-07 at 11:17 -0600, Gregory P. Ennis wrote:
> > Everyone,
> > 
> > We have migrated a platform to a Centos 8 host using kvm guest
> > machines
> > 
> > Recently I tried to copy one of the guests to the external SD card
> > on
> > the back of the Dell R730xd, but I have not been able to get the
> > Centos
> > 8 host to recognize the SD card.
> > 
> > I can use DRAC interface of the R730xd to see that the SD card is
> > being
> > recognized and the status of the external SD slot is turned from
> > inactive to active when the card is inserted.
> > 
> 
> I have a nagging feeling at the back of my mind that that slot is
> associated with the iDrac system and not the main board.
> 
> In any case doesn't that need a vFlash card not a standard SD/SDHC
> card? From Wikipedia:
> 
> 

I think the SD card on the back of the IDRAC7 systems on the Dell 730xd
are
similar to this. They are accessible by the IDrac and dell software and
are
primarily there for emergency install of the hardware from known good
media. I believe that vmware has a module which talks to the card so
you
can install software in vm's from said known good media.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Simeon,

You have anticipated what I am trying to do.  I have been using Centos
8 as a host on a 730xd machine, for some Centos 7 guests. With the end
of life of Centos 8 only 9 months away I decided to try to migrate
everything to vmware.  I purchased a sister 730xd to use as a lab
computer, and am working on the skill sets necessary  to migrate
everything to vmware. I have really grown to like kvm and am still
disappointed RedHat/IBM is backing away from Centos.  

I certainly have not been able to get Centos 8 to recognize the SD
card, and have also not been able to get vmware on the sister machine
to recognize either the SD card in the back slot or even when I have it
plugged into a usb converter.  The vmware problem is more likely
related to my lack of experience with vmware; this is my first time to
use it. 

Thank you for your help!!!!!

Greg