Question about NIC SFP+ HP NC522SFP+

[GeorgiosB]

Hi, i am using proxmox mainly and i am testing esxi 8.0u1 on a server, the server is relatively new Lenovo SR650 and I have a few of the NC522SFP+ nics.
On proxmox, they work out of the box. On esxi, it doesn't see them.
Now, I am new in the esxi and I would like to know how can i use those nics?
Is there any driver pack? If yes, where do I get it and how do I install it?

Kind Regards,
George

[vmngo]

https://www.vmware.com/resources/compatibility/search.php?deviceCategory=io&details=1&keyword=NC522S...

I only see the older NC522SFP supported for the older ESXi 6.7 out of the box. I do not see the + version supported at all. This is not VMware's issue, this is HP or the hardware vendor's fault for not providing the drivers to VMware. It looks like it might be a qlogic card. If you have a HPE support contract, you might be able to find drivers from HPE's site.

[GeorgiosB]

I am not looking to blame anyone (HP or VMWare), i just want to make it run.
If HP has a driver, how do I install it on esxi?

[vmngo]

You can SSH (if you enabled ssh for ESXi) or use the direct console UI (DCUI) to install it following this KB article:

https://kb.vmware.com/s/article/2005205

Basically upload the vib file to a datastore, put host into maintenance mode (requires no VMs to be running on the host) and run the command to the path of the file:

esxcli software vib install –v /path/async-driver.vib

[GeorgiosB]

Thanks for your answer

Do you know if older driver let's say for 6.7 can work on 8.01?

[Alfista_PS]

Hi,

if its Qlogic card, then you have problems.

I have cards from the same company and the drivers was for the ESXi 6.5 max you was able to install it to ESXi 6.7.

In ESXi 7 they made changes in the system and the old drivers doesn't work (I thing the change was from 32but to 64bit). And in ESXi 8 was the security update which unable to install also the old drivers and also many from ESXi 7 too.

I understand you, but you need to thing to upgrade it for a newer one.

[Alfista_PS · Accepted solution]

Hi,

I have check it on HP support but they dropped support for VMware by version 5.5:

https://support.hpe.com/connect/s/product?language=en_US&sp4ts.oid=3913851&kmpmoid=3913851&tab=drive...

And as I have looked its Qlogic but under HP Brand.

https://support.hpe.com/connect/s/product?language=en_US&sp4ts.oid=3913851&kmpmoid=3913851&tab=drive...

So as I wrote you can use it only under Windows or where it has worked for you, but under ESXi not.

They was released in 2010.

Sorry for bad informations - I have some HBAs from Qlogic which I can also put in the trash.

[GeorgiosB]

Any suggestion then for 10gbps nics, ethernet not sfp+ that work with esxi?

[Alfista_PS]

Hi,

Only what I can suggest you that you look to the vendors you prefer and look if they have drivers for ESXi 8.

What I know is that many from the latest NICs are by ESXi supported but you can look here:

https://www.vmware.com/resources/compatibility/search.php?deviceCategory=io&details=1&releases=589&d...

https://www.vmware.com/resources/compatibility/pdf/vi_io_guide.pdf

Hope this help you