ESXi 5.1.0 Build 1312873 and Macmini 6,2 and StarTech Ethernet Adapter

[Kejoki]

I have ESXi 5.1.0 Build 1312873 working on my MacMini 6,2 (16 GB, i7@2.3, 1 TB SSD)

I am able to follow all of the guidance to get the StarTech Dual USB Gigabit Adapters seen.

I am using the ax88179vz024/025/026 and usbnetvz0024/25/26 drivers.

I can successfully load up the drivers and then attach the NIC(s) to vSwitches.

My problems are the following:

1) For some reason, if I make a directory (as root) on the MacMini's root directory, on reboot the directory is removed.

     What is the proper path and permissions that I need to have to keep the driver files around? Right now, I just load them from the local datastore (/vmfs/volumes/datastore/tweaks/).

2) What is the proper way to edit the system's boot file(s) to have the drivers load on boot and then call the esxcli network command to attach the NIC interfaces to the appropriate vSwitches all of the time?

3) Finally, and the strangest thing. The NICs only seem to connect at 100/Full, not 1000/Full. Is there a soft switch someplace that I need to set to force a Gig connection?

Thanks for any guidance

[tomtom901]

You can set the speed of the NIC in the vSphere client.  The complete vSphere partition setup is resetup at boot, so creating a local directory won't work. You need to source the drivers from a datastore as you already do. I'll also look in the boot files for you.

Which command do you use to add the drivers so I can do some testing with the boot files?

[Shaw_Way]

Where can I get the drivers from?

[imarkets]

Any chance you or anyone else can post the actual driver links?

1.  Driver for: ax88179vz024/025/026

2.  Driver for: usbnetvz0024/25/26