Correct firmware and drivers on ESXi components

[vmwarelicense12]

When upgrading our ESXi Mellanox, HBA300 and NVMe firmware, we want to be sure that the upgrade is on VMwares compatibility list.

To upgrade firmware we use Dell Open Manager. We start upgrading NVMe firmware.

Dell open manager will install version 1.1.2.

Vsan health says that it is not on the Compatibility list. It says that version 1.1.1. should be installed.

When I check her:

https://www.vmware.com/resources/compatibility/detail.php?deviceCategory=io&productid=43428&vcl=true

It says that only version 1.0.4 is compatible with ESXi 6.7.U2.

I am totally confused??

I would like to hear how other ensure that when they upgrade firmware, that it all is on the compatibility list??

[jburen]

I think I would follow the VMware Compatibility Guide. But beware: I/O Adapters in the VMware Compatibility Guide are listed with the minimum firmware version​. So that does not mean that a newer version won't be compatibel. Check the vendor support site for supported combinations.

[birend1988]

I would suggest you to open a case with VMware vSAN team and don't take any risk.

[vmwarelicense12]

I would like to hear what you people use to do when upgrading firmware. Do you just install latest firmware versions, without checking compatibility

[depping]

I/O Adapters in the VMware Compatibility Guide are listed with the minimum firmware version. So that does not mean that a newer version won't be compatibel. Check the vendor support site for supported combinations.

For vSAN this isn't true. You should be using the version listed in the vSAN HCL for NVMe.

[depping · Accepted solution]

You shouldn't be looking at the vSphere HCL when the device is used for vSAN, there's a vSAN HCL. Your device is probably in this list:

VMware Compatibility Guide - vsan

You should always use the version that is on the HCL, that goes for disk controllers and for capacity/cache devices. For NVMe specifically, you should not use a higher version, go with the version listed as that is what we will support.

Also, I would recommend posting vSAN questions in the vSAN forum...

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[jburen]

VMware Compatibility Guide - ssd