How to Fix "nfs41client failed to load" Error on ESXi 6
How to Fix "nfs41client failed to load" Error on ESXi 6
If you are trying to install ESXi 6 on your PC or server, you may encounter an error message that says "nfs41client failed to load" and "no network adapters found". This error means that ESXi cannot load the NFS 4.1 client module and cannot detect any network interface cards (NICs) on your system. This can prevent you from completing the installation or booting up the ESXi host.
nfs41client failed to load esxi 6 38
There are several possible causes and solutions for this error, depending on your hardware and configuration. In this article, we will explain some of the common scenarios and how to fix them.
Cause 1: Unsupported NIC
One of the most common reasons for this error is that your NIC is not supported by ESXi 6. ESXi has a limited set of drivers for network devices, and if your NIC is not on the list, it will not be recognized by the installer or the host. This can happen if you are using a desktop PC or a server with an embedded NIC that is not compatible with ESXi.
To fix this issue, you need to either install a NIC that is supported by ESXi 6, or inject the driver for your NIC into the ESXi installation image. You can find a list of supported NICs and drivers on the VMware Compatibility Guide[^1^]. You can also check some online forums and blogs for advice on cheap or compatible NICs[^2^]. To inject the driver into the ESXi image, you can use tools like PowerCLI or ESXi-Customizer-PS. You can find more details on how to do this on VMware documentation or online tutorials[^3^].
Cause 2: NFS Storage Issue
Another possible reason for this error is that your ESXi host has a connection issue with an NFS storage device. This can happen if you have previously configured an NFS datastore on your host, but the NFS server or network is not available during boot up. This can cause the NFS 4.1 client module to fail to load and hang the host.
To fix this issue, you need to either restore the connection to the NFS server or network, or remove the NFS datastore from your host configuration. You can do this by booting up your host in recovery mode or using another ESXi host that has access to the same storage device. You can find more details on how to do this on VMware documentation or online forums.
Cause 3: RDM LUN Issue
A third possible reason for this error is that your ESXi host has a reservation issue with a raw device mapping (RDM) logical unit number (LUN). This can happen if you have presented an RDM LUN to a virtual machine (VM) on your host, but the LUN is not properly reserved by the host during boot up. This can cause the host to scan the LUN repeatedly and delay the loading of other modules.
To fix this issue, you need to enable perennial reservation on the RDM LUNs on your host. This will tell the host not to scan the LUNs every time it boots up, and speed up the loading process. You can do this by using esxcli commands or editing the esx.conf file on your host. You can find more details on how to do this on VMware documentation.
Conclusion
In this article, we have explained some of the common causes and solutions for the "nfs41client failed to load" error on ESXi 6. We hope this article has helped you resolve your issue and successfully install or boot up your ESXi host. If you have any questions or feedback, please leave a comment below. e0e6b7cb5c