ESXi 5.5 installer does not detect network adaptor

[m1xed0s]

Hey, Guys

Downloaded ESXi 5.5 this afternoon and burned a CD to upgrade my ESXi 5.1u1. But after the installer loaded, it prompted me that ESXi can not detect my network adaptor...

It works just fine with ESXi 5.1u1...Maybe I downloaded ISO wrong...

Here below is the output of the NIC from my ESXi version 5.1 update 1:

~ # lspci | grep -i net

00:03:05.0 Network controller: Realtek Realtek 8169 Gigabit Ethernet [vmnic0]

Please advise.

Thanks,

/S

[marcelo_soares]

Realtek cardsare not supported under any version of ESXi. You were lucky it was workingon 5.1.

Just curious... can you do the following command while running 5.1: "lspci -p | grep vmnic"

And paste results here if possible. Always check hardware copmpatibility on www.vmware.com/go/hcl

[m1xed0s]

The version 5.1u1 has been running on my lab server for months now and I do not even remember how did I installed it...

I might install the esxi on SD card when plugin to another server then move the SD card back to my lab server...but even that is the case, how does the installed OS detects my NIC and use it to send traffic...

[m1xed0s · Accepted solution]

Found this article on web while waiting for answer from you experts.

http://www.bussink.ch/?p=1228

It seems like 5.5 removed Realtek 8169 driver.

With customized ISO and I am running ESXi 5.5 at home now

~ # lspci -p | grep vmnic

0000:03:05.0 10ec:8167 1458:e000   5/  5/0x2b A V r8169        vmnic0

~ # lspci | grep vmnic

0000:03:05.0 Network controller: Realtek Realtek 8169 Gigabit Ethernet [vmnic0]

~ # uname -ar

VMkernel ESXi550 5.5.0 #1 SMP Release build-1331820 Sep 18 2013 23:08:31 x86_64 GNU/Linux

[Tuno]

Had the same problem upgrading from VMware Hypervisor 5.1 to 5.5 with Realtek 8111E Gigabit LAN controller using Asus M4A89GTD PRO/USB3 motherboard.

See http://www.tinkertry.com/install-esxi-5-5-with-realtek-8111-or-8168-nic/ for my solution.

[srijits]

Could you try the following links to add realtek driver in esxi 5.5 and see if this fixes the issue.

TinkerTry IT @ home | Install ESXi 5.5 with Realtek 8111/8168 NIC

http://www.bussink.ch/?p=1228

[pbraren]

Thanks for adding the link to my article, srijits! It's apparently helped a lot of folks, with nearly all comments reporting success under my post.

Credit goes to Andreas Peetz and Erik Bussink of course, for all their help in getting the right pieces documented and available online, so that I could pull that article together. Sure seems that Realtek is still very common on a variety of motherboards these days. Wow, take a look at how many folks are reading this discussion thread, 58,757!

[Grim192]

I've had this problem in my test lab too as I have 1x Broadcom, 2x Realtek and 4x Intel NICs and installing v5.5 or v6.0 doesn't support the Realtek NICs. However if you install v5.1 and upgrade to v5.5 the drivers are persistent and the NICs work but upgrading to v6.0 the drivers aren't persistent

[shihabkbasheer]

Hi Guys,

I’m facing some troubles on ESXi 5.5 test labs. I’m using two NIC cards, Realtek 8168  and  D-Link DGE-560T PCI Express. At present I sorted out Realtek 8168 NIC issue but unfortunately i cant find VIB file for D-Link DGE-560T. Please help me to sort out.

Where can I download VIB file for DLink DGE-560T.

~ # lspci | grep nic

0000:02:00.0 Network controller: Realtek Realtek 8168 Gigabit Ethernet [vmnic0]

~ # lspci | grep Net

0000:02:00.0 Network controller: Realtek Realtek 8168 Gigabit Ethernet [vmnic0]

0000:03:00.0 Network controller: D-Link System Inc DGE-560T PCI Express (x1) Gigabit Ethernet Adapter

~ # uname -ar

VMkernel ***  5.5.0 #1 SMP Release build-1331820 Sep 18 2013 23:08:31 x86_64 GNU/Linux

Please advise

Regards,

Shihab