SmartArrayは無かったことに、そして3wareですよ

仮想化技術 VMware

結論から言うとどうやら3wareのPCIeなRAIDカードがVMのHCLに載ってるわけじゃないが、3wareとしての動作確認が取れてドライバ類も公開されてる模様。よっし。（9650SE)
ちなみに3wareのSATA-RAIDカードはかれこれ4年ほどファイルサーバで使ってるし老舗メーカーかつ鉄板なので個人的には信用している。
http://www.3ware.com/KB/article.aspx?id=14922

http://www.3ware.com/support/download.asp

9.5.1-VmwareEsx3.5-update2-Codeset-Complete.iso
48.9 MB
324bccb9261fee5df9c7a100edab9786
Complete Codeset VMware ESX3.5-update2

素晴らしい。

Readme.txtから引用すると

A) To use the driver CD as a Boot CD to enable device for new ESX Server
installations only:

The Driver CD should be used as a Boot CD when the new driver is required
to enable the target device on which the ESX Server will be installed.

1. Place the Driver CD in the CD drive of the server.
2. Boot the server.
3. When prompted for an upgrade or installation method, press Enter
for graphical mode.
4. Choose your language.
5. Select a keyboard type.
6. If the Driver CD loads successfully, you will be prompted to swap the
Driver CD with the ESX Server CD.
7. Continue with ESX Server installation. (For detailed instructions, please
refer to the ESX "Installation and Upgrade Guide".)
8. After the ESX Server is installed and the system reboots, log into the
ESX server and verify that the driver has been installed successfully
a. Run "esxupdate -l query" command and observe that information about
the driver is mentioned in the resulting message.
b. View the PCI ID XML file
/etc/vmware/pciid/3w-9xxx.xml
The driver information should be included in the file.
c. Check for the latest version of the driver module in
/usr/lib/vmware/vmkmod/
9. Verify that the driver is loaded and running:
a. Run the vmkload_mod command
vmkload_mod -l
You should see the driver listed.

他にも既存ESXに対しての適用もできるようだ。初期インストール時の場合は途中でCD交換。
光が見えてきたッ・・・・既に購入したSATA-500GBx2を無駄にしたくないからなぁ。SAS買わずに済んだかも。