ESX 2.5.3 is quite stable. I've been running that since it was released and nave no complaints. Try running a linux live CD and see if you can use the hardware correctly to determine if you have a hardware problem or not. Two that come to mind are grml.org or sysresccd.org As far as reinstalling something, if you feel you must, you can reinstall the 2.5.3 "patch" over top itself rather than trying to jump versions and exposing yourself to any changes. Good luck. wilson -----Original Message----- From: redhat-list-bounces@xxxxxxxxxx [mailto:redhat-list-bounces@xxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Ben Kevan Sent: Friday, December 26, 2008 10:14 AM To: General Red Hat Linux discussion list Subject: Re: ESX 2.5.3 hanged while booting up at "VM Kernel" On Fri, 26 Dec 2008 06:12:43 -0800, sunhux G <sunhux@xxxxxxxxx> wrote: > Our VMWare server ESX 2.5.3 self-crashed & failed to boot up. > It stopped at the point "VM Kernel ..." while booting up > > Is this a hardware or ESX OS fault? > > If OS fault, is there any way to copy over a good kernel or > boot up from single user to recover from it? > > We don't have any backup of the ESX, only the Wintel clients > (ie the VMs are the only ones with backup) > > I was told in the past we just need to reinstall ESX but now > we can't even find the old ESX 2.5.3 media (just shifted office/ > datacentre). Can we use the ESX 3.5.3 media (but was told > we don't have the licence) http://www.vmware.com/download/esx/ I would download vmwre 2.5.5 and install overtop (without formating vmfs volumes). Sounds unlikely to be a hardware fault. -- Ben Kevan I say never be complete. I say stop being perfect. I say let's evolve. Let the chips fall where they may. - Fight Club -- redhat-list mailing list unsubscribe mailto:redhat-list-request@xxxxxxxxxx?subject=unsubscribe https://www.redhat.com/mailman/listinfo/redhat-list Notice: This e-mail message, together with any attachments, contains information of Merck & Co., Inc. (One Merck Drive, Whitehouse Station, New Jersey, USA 08889), and/or its affiliates (which may be known outside the United States as Merck Frosst, Merck Sharp & Dohme or MSD and in Japan, as Banyu - direct contact information for affiliates is available at http://www.merck.com/contact/contacts.html) that may be confidential, proprietary copyrighted and/or legally privileged. It is intended solely for the use of the individual or entity named on this message. If you are not the intended recipient, and have received this message in error, please notify us immediately by reply e-mail and then delete it from your system. -- redhat-list mailing list unsubscribe mailto:redhat-list-request@xxxxxxxxxx?subject=unsubscribe https://www.redhat.com/mailman/listinfo/redhat-list