ESXi 5.1 and NIC firmware version compability

[BigBjorn]

Hello all,

I'm in the process to upgrade to vSphere 5.1 on our HP BL460c G6 blades. I'm a bit confused over the NIC driver compability matrix.

All G6 blades are running Broadcom Corporation NetXtreme II BCM57711E/NC532i 10 Gigabit Ethernet (bnx2x drivers) adapters in a C7000 with Flex-10 environment.

According to the vmware document "HP Flex-10 and Flex-Fabric Supportability" the ESXi5.x and it's adapter firmware for bnx2x driver should be version 7.4.19.

http://partnerweb.vmware.com/programs/hcl/ESX_Flex_config.pdf

I cannot version 7.4.19 anywhere, and as usual, HP site is a nightmare to find stuff on.

If do upgrade a blade with HP Servicepack for Proliant 2012.10 (latest) it do upgrades NIC firmware to version 6.2.10, which is stated in document as supported for ESXi 5.0. Not as I hoped, 7.4.19 which is required for ESXi 5.1.

Is there a 7.4.19 version available? Or are we running unsupported on version 6.2.10?

Thanks

[jrmunday]

Is the attached any good for you?

[BigBjorn]

Thanks but that is the driver, not the firmware.

The driver is already imported i VUM. Still, the firmware for the NIC lags behind the matrix.

/Björn

[spravtek]

If you install the latest PSP from HP (SPP2012.10.0), you will have FW 7.2.55-2 ... If I understand their numbering scheme ... This would mean that the firmware VMware has in the document you're referencing to isn't yet available?

A further reference is the driver versions in the specialized HP ESXi 5.1 ISO... http://h18004.www1.hp.com/products/servers/software/vmware-esxi/driver_version.html

[edit] forgot the link

[BigBjorn]

I have run the SPP2012.10 twice on our BL460c G6 and NIC firmware ends up on version 6.2.10.

But perhaps you are right, it might not been released yet. I have asked in HP forums as well, let's see if I get any answer there.

Thanks.

[BigBjorn]

I found this document, which is btw pretty contradictionary to the other one on some firmware and driver versions. To me that document seem more right and all firmware and drivers are available.

http://vibsdepot.hp.com/hpq/recipes/October2012VMwareRecipe3.0.pdf

[rhupe]

Hi Björn,

what kind of effects or side-effects occur in your enviroment?

We run some BL460 G6 with 1 BCM7711E/NC532i 10GBit and 1 BCM5715S Gbit NICs and if we boot or restart a system with the BCM771E connect to the management-network the machines comes up in a flapping state. The network connection goes up and down for approximately 30 minutes to end up in a stable state. If we disconnect the 10Gbit device and only boot up with the BCM5715S everything is fine.

The network-flapping events effects all VMs on the host as well.

driver: bnx2x

version: 1.72.54.v50.2

firmware-version: bc 6.2.10 phy baa0.105

ESXi 5.1 HP Build 5.11.799733

Ralf

[BigBjorn]

Hello,

No side effects noted, all blades now updated and are running stable. My question was regarding regular maintenance on firmware, drivers supported for vSphere 5.1.

But in your case, I would definetly try to upgrade the driver to bnx2x-1.74.17.v50.1

VMware ESXi 5.x Driver CD for Broadcom NetXtreme II Network/iSCSI/FCoE Driver Set

https://my.vmware.com/group/vmware/details?downloadGroup=DT-ESX5X-Broadcom-bnx2x-17417v501&productId...

Easily deployed with Update Manager but requires an reboot.

Cheers,

/Björn

[rhupe]

Thanks for the suggestion, i performed the updateto bnx2x-1.74.17.v50.1 on one blade but sadly there's no change in the behaviour so far. I guess we've to wait for FW 7.4.19 and cross our fingers..