NetXen NXB-10GCX4 on ESXi 5.5

[jl3128]

Hello!

The NetXen 10G card with part number NXB-10GCX4 is listed on the VMware HCL but only through ESXi 4.1.  Is there any way to get this card working on ESXi 5.5? I don't care how unsupported it is, this is just a large performance testing lab.

# lspci

0000:05:00.0 Network controller: NetXen 10G Ethernet PCI Express CX [vmnic2]

but esxcfg-nics -l does not show vmnic2

I saw this, but it just tells me to look at the HCL: VMware Compatibility Guide - IO Driver/Device Details

Do I need to build my own vib?  Could I get the old vib off of a 4.1 install and install it on 5.5? Where does one find vibs? Could I export the vib from 4.1 and import it in 5.5?  can i just copy the net_nx_n.v00 file from one to another?

4.1: VMware_bootbank_net-nx-nic_4.0.558-3vmw.510.0.0.799733

5.5: VMware_bootbank_net-nx-nic_5.0.621-1vmw.550.0.0.1331820

Any advice, or help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

[gerwalt]

I have the exact same question:

Please help.. Trying to determine if an HP NC510F / NC510C (Nextgen/Qlogic NXB-10GXSR, NXB-10GCX4) w...

Did you figure anything out?

[gerwalt]

Please help.. Trying to determine if an HP NC510F / NC510C  (Nextgen/Qlogic NXB-10GXSR, NXB-10GCX4) will work with Vmvware 5.5...

The compatibility guide states that esxi  up to 4,1 U3 supports it.  But I cannot find anything regarding 5.0, or 5.5 working with this card.  I'm guessing that unfortunately I am out of luck and the support for this card has been taken out of 5.0 and above.  But as I've discovered for example, a lot of servers that are no longer listed on the 5.0+ compatibility charts that use to be listed on the 3.x and 4.x charts still work.  I'm hoping that this is the case for this card also.. (via a firmware update from Qlogic)  Does anyone have any experience with these fiber cards on 5.x?

He asked above the following question:

"Do I need to build my own vib?  Could I get the old vib off of a 4.1 install and install it on 5.5? Where does one find vibs? Could I export the vib from 4.1 and import it in 5.5?  can i just copy the net_nx_n.v00 file from one to another?

4.1: VMware_bootbank_net-nx-nic_4.0.558-3vmw.510.0.0.799733

5.5: VMware_bootbank_net-nx-nic_5.0.621-1vmw.550.0.0.1331820 "

Is this solution a possibility?