VMware Cloud Community
DarkerJ01
Contributor
Contributor
Jump to solution

ESXi 6.5 Not connecting to any network

Hello, I've recently installed ESXi 6.5 onto a Dell PowerEdge R710 (2x X5660, VT-d enabled) server I recently acquired, with the intent on running 2 Windows Server VMs on it. However, I'm stuck at a rather large snag: ESXi will not connect to any network over the built in ethernet ports. I've tried plugging it in directly into a computer, and then a spare wifi router (used as a switch in this case) and it simply refuses to connect. It doesn't show up at all in the router's "Attached Devices" panel. I've tried moving to a different interface to no avail, and setting the IP Address to both Static and DHCP with no avail. Any inbound or outbound connections to or from it respectively simply fail. I can't set up the server if I can't get to it's management

Any help would be appreciated!

Tags (1)
Reply
0 Kudos
1 Solution

Accepted Solutions
daphnissov
Immortal
Immortal
Jump to solution

You should be using the Dell customized ISO, not the general ESXi ISO. But if that interface appears and shows connected, then you must have an external switching/routing problem.

View solution in original post

Reply
0 Kudos
3 Replies
daphnissov
Immortal
Immortal
Jump to solution

I have a few of these in my lab and they work just fine with ESXi 6.5, however I'll go ahead and state that it isn't officially supported.

Can you show your network devices in ESXi? Are they showing up? Is this ESXi standalone or with vCenter? Did you use the Dell-customized ISO to install this system?

Reply
0 Kudos
DarkerJ01
Contributor
Contributor
Jump to solution

I got ESXi 6.5 directly from the free vSphere Hypervisor link. I didn't use the official Dell ISO, however I'll have a look into it.

As for all the network interfaces, they all appear fine to me, only the one network interface I'm plugged into (port 2) is showing as connected, as to be expected. They are all on vSwitch0.

Reply
0 Kudos
daphnissov
Immortal
Immortal
Jump to solution

You should be using the Dell customized ISO, not the general ESXi ISO. But if that interface appears and shows connected, then you must have an external switching/routing problem.

Reply
0 Kudos