I have vmware esxi 4.1.0, 800380
and see
tail -f /var/lof/messages

Mar 13 01:15:01 vmkernel: 0:00:31:32.841 cpu0:15573)<4>mpt2sas0: log_info(0x30030101): originator(IOP), code(0x03), sub_code(0x0101)
Mar 13 01:15:01 vmkernel: 0:00:31:32.841 cpu0:15573)<4>mpt2sas0: log_info(0x30030101): originator(IOP), code(0x03), sub_code(0x0101)
Mar 13 01:15:01 vmkernel: 0:00:31:32.842 cpu0:15573)<4>mpt2sas1: log_info(0x30030101): originator(IOP), code(0x03), sub_code(0x0101)
Mar 13 01:15:01 vmkernel: 0:00:31:32.842 cpu0:15573)<4>mpt2sas1: log_info(0x30030101): originator(IOP), code(0x03), sub_code(0x0101)
Mar 13 01:15:01 vmkernel: 0:00:31:32.852 cpu0:4100)<4>mpt2sas0: log_info(0x30030101): originator(IOP), code(0x03), sub_code(0x0101)
Mar 13 01:15:01 vmkernel: 0:00:31:32.852 cpu0:4100)<4>mpt2sas0: log_info(0x30030116): originator(IOP), code(0x03), sub_code(0x0116)
Mar 13 01:15:01 vmkernel: 0:00:31:32.852 cpu0:4100)<4>mpt2sas0: log_info(0x3003010a): originator(IOP), code(0x03), sub_code(0x010a)
Mar 13 01:15:01 vmkernel: 0:00:31:32.855 cpu0:4100)<4>mpt2sas0: log_info(0x3003010a): originator(IOP), code(0x03), sub_code(0x010a)
Mar 13 01:15:01 vmkernel: 0:00:31:32.855 cpu0:4100)<4>mpt2sas0: log_info(0x30030116): originator(IOP), code(0x03), sub_code(0x0116)
Mar 13 01:15:01 vmkernel: 0:00:31:32.855 cpu0:4100)<4>mpt2sas0: log_info(0x30030108): originator(IOP), code(0x03), sub_code(0x0108)
Mar 13 01:15:01 vmkernel: 0:00:31:32.855 cpu0:4100)<4>mpt2sas0: log_info(0x30030101): originator(IOP), code(0x03), sub_code(0x0101)
Mar 13 01:15:01 vmkernel: 0:00:31:32.855 cpu0:4100)<4>mpt2sas0: log_info(0x30030101): originator(IOP), code(0x03), sub_code(0x0101)
Mar 13 01:15:01 vmkernel: 0:00:31:32.855 cpu0:4100)<4>mpt2sas0: log_info(0x30030101): originator(IOP), code(0x03), sub_code(0x0101)
Mar 13 01:15:01 vmkernel: 0:00:31:32.855 cpu0:4100)<4>mpt2sas0: log_info(0x30030116): originator(IOP), code(0x03), sub_code(0x0116)
Mar 13 01:15:01 vmkernel: 0:00:31:32.855 cpu0:4100)<4>mpt2sas0: log_info(0x3003010a): originator(IOP), code(0x03), sub_code(0x010a)
Mar 13 01:15:01 vmkernel: 0:00:31:32.858 cpu0:4100)<4>mpt2sas0: log_info(0x3003010a): originator(IOP), code(0x03), sub_code(0x010a)
Mar 13 01:15:01 vmkernel: 0:00:31:32.858 cpu0:4100)<4>mpt2sas0: log_info(0x30030116): originator(IOP), code(0x03), sub_code(0x0116)
Mar 13 01:15:01 vmkernel: 0:00:31:32.858 cpu0:4100)<4>mpt2sas0: log_info(0x30030108): originator(IOP), code(0x03), sub_code(0x0108)
Mar 13 01:15:01 vmkernel: 0:00:31:32.858 cpu0:4100)<4>mpt2sas0: log_info(0x30030101): originator(IOP), code(0x03), sub_code(0x0101)
Mar 13 01:15:01 vmkernel: 0:00:31:32.858 cpu0:4100)<4>mpt2sas0: log_info(0x30030101): originator(IOP), code(0x03), sub_code(0x0101)
Mar 13 01:15:01 vmkernel: 0:00:31:32.858 cpu0:4100)<4>mpt2sas1: log_info(0x30030101): originator(IOP), code(0x03), sub_code(0x0101)
Mar 13 01:15:01 vmkernel: 0:00:31:32.858 cpu0:4100)<4>mpt2sas1: log_info(0x30030116): originator(IOP), code(0x03), sub_code(0x0116)
Mar 13 01:15:01 vmkernel: 0:00:31:32.858 cpu0:4100)<4>mpt2sas1: log_info(0x3003010a): originator(IOP), code(0x03), sub_code(0x010a)
Mar 13 01:15:01 vmkernel: 0:00:31:32.861 cpu0:4100)<4>mpt2sas1: log_info(0x3003010a): originator(IOP), code(0x03), sub_code(0x010a)
Mar 13 01:15:01 vmkernel: 0:00:31:32.861 cpu0:4100)<4>mpt2sas1: log_info(0x30030116): originator(IOP), code(0x03), sub_code(0x0116)
Mar 13 01:15:01 vmkernel: 0:00:31:32.861 cpu0:4100)<4>mpt2sas1: log_info(0x30030108): originator(IOP), code(0x03), sub_code(0x0108)
Mar 13 01:15:01 vmkernel: 0:00:31:32.861 cpu0:4100)<4>mpt2sas1: log_info(0x30030101): originator(IOP), code(0x03), sub_code(0x0101)
Mar 13 01:15:01 vmkernel: 0:00:31:32.861 cpu0:4100)<4>mpt2sas1: log_info(0x30030101): originator(IOP), code(0x03), sub_code(0x0101)
Mar 13 01:15:01 vmkernel: 0:00:31:32.861 cpu0:4100)<4>mpt2sas1: log_info(0x30030101): originator(IOP), code(0x03), sub_code(0x0101)
Mar 13 01:15:01 vmkernel: 0:00:31:32.861 cpu0:4100)<4>mpt2sas1: log_info(0x30030116): originator(IOP), code(0x03), sub_code(0x0116)
Mar 13 01:15:01 vmkernel: 0:00:31:32.861 cpu0:4100)<4>mpt2sas1: log_info(0x3003010a): originator(IOP), code(0x03), sub_code(0x010a)
Mar 13 01:15:01 vmkernel: 0:00:31:32.864 cpu0:4100)<4>mpt2sas1: log_info(0x3003010a): originator(IOP), code(0x03), sub_code(0x010a)
Mar 13 01:15:01 vmkernel: 0:00:31:32.864 cpu0:4100)<4>mpt2sas1: log_info(0x30030116): originator(IOP), code(0x03), sub_code(0x0116)
Mar 13 01:15:01 vmkernel: 0:00:31:32.864 cpu0:4100)<4>mpt2sas1: log_info(0x30030108): originator(IOP), code(0x03), sub_code(0x0108)
Mar 13 01:15:01 vmkernel: 0:00:31:32.864 cpu0:4100)<4>mpt2sas1: log_info(0x30030101): originator(IOP), code(0x03), sub_code(0x0101)
Mar 13 01:15:01 vmkernel: 0:00:31:32.864 cpu0:4100)<4>mpt2sas1: log_info(0x30030101): originator(IOP), code(0x03), sub_code(0x0101)

I update the mpt2sas driver (v15.00.01.00.1vmw) :
1. upload zip to datastore.
~ # esxupdate --bundle=lsi-mpt2sas-15.00.01.00-offline_bundle-959804.zip update
or vihostupdate <conn_options> --install --bundle  lsi-mpt2sas-15.00.01.00-offline_bundle-959804.zip
2. enter in maintenance mode.
3. reboot.


~ # vmkload_mod -s mpt2sas |grep Version
 Version: Version 15.00.01.00.1vmw, Build: 00000, Interface: 9.0, Built on: Nov 22 2012

The error remains. 
Vmware ESXi4.1U3 incompatible with IBM DS3500

http://www.vmware.com/resources/guides.html
http://kb.vmware.com/selfservice/microsites/search.do?language=en_US&cmd=displayKC&externalId=1003327