How to add VMXNet3 adapter on VSphere 4.1?

[iamxCPx]

Hi all,

I'm trying to switch our network adapter from E1000 to use VmxNet3 on all of our VMs

The vSphere version is ESX 4.1.0, 320092.

For some reason under adapter type I only see two adapters E1000 and Vmxnet2 (Enhanced) on most of our VMs.

I have only 4 VMs that has the vmxnet3 option from the drop down.

The guest operating system on those four are Windows Server 2008 (64-bit), Windows Server 2003 Standard (64-bit) and (2) Windows XP Professional (32-bit).

What's weird about is that most of our VMs are Windows Server 2008 (64-bit) and Windows XP Professional (32-bit) but only a few of them that has the vmxnet3 options.

I tried to switch the OS to something else (based on the VMware KB about a bug on this) and then go back to Windows 2008 (64-bit) and it still didn't work.

Anyone else experiencing this problem?

I'm about to open a case with VM but would like to see if any expert here has some advice.

TIA.

[DSTAVERT · Accepted solution]

Are they hardware version 7?

[iamxCPx]

You were correct.

I totally forgot about that.

The VMs that has vmxnet3 options were a new created VM.

Thanks a lot.

Another question but related topic.

About the upgrade to 7, what do you think about this blog?

http://blog.scottlowe.org/2009/06/01/vsphere-virtual-machine-upgrade-process/

Should I follow that or follow VMware KB instead?

http://kb.vmware.com/selfservice/microsites/search.do?cmd=displayKC&externalId=1010398

It's saying something about paravirtualization isn't supported on the guest OS.

OR

Should I just use the VM Update Manager to upgrade the hardware to 7?

Thanks,

CP

[DSTAVERT]

You just need to shut down the VMs and right click on the VM and select upgrade virtual hardware. Start the VM. If necessary update vmware tools.

[Troy_Clavell]

I would advise to upgrade to tools prior to doing the virtual hardware.  If the virtual hardware gets upgrade first, then the tools, this could be quite messy.  Also, you could always snapshot the guest prior, just in case.

...and for M$ guests, you will need to remove all the "ghosted drivers"  You can do this following the steps below

1. Click Start, click Run, type cmd.exe, and then press ENTER.
2. Type set devmgr_show_nonpresent_devices=1, and then press ENTER.
3. Type Start DEVMGMT.MSC, and then press ENTER.
4. Click View, and then click Show Hidden Devices.

[iamxCPx]

Thanks guys.

Btw, I did uninstall the ghost drivers but I didn't check the box that says delete drivers.

Is that bad?

[DSTAVERT]

Probably not an issue once they are installed.

[Osm3um]

I prefer the registry key.  I pass it ou via GPO to all computers on my network:

System Key: [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\
Environment]
Value Name: DEVMGR_SHOW_NONPRESENT_DEVICES
Data Type: REG_SZ (String Value)
Value Data: (1 = show all hidden devices)

Bob