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dustinm_vmware
Contributor
Contributor

installing first expansion card (NIC), not recognized. Help? :-)

Hello!

Please forgive me as I am a linux and esxi noob. I built an ESX homelab (the baby dragon http://tinyurl.com/8fvlnzh) using a supermicro mainboard, which has two onboard NIC adapters. The onboard  82574L worked immediately, but the onboard 82579LM did not. Using this guide (http://tinyurl.com/cj543gk) I was able to install a custom vmware intel driver to enable the second intel NIC (82579LM) on my mainboard that did not work out of the box. This was successful, and Ive been using both NIC without issue.

The problem I have run into, however, is adding new intel based NIC cards via expansion slots. I am unsure if I am doing something wrong - since this is my first time adding expansion cards - or if my custom driver loaded previously is causing new headaches (and I dont know how to back it out to test - does anyone how?)

The problem:

Now I am trying to install an intel I340-T4 / 82580 quad port NIC I just purchased (http://tinyurl.com/3jlsjtf - on the HCL). My ESXi instance refuses to recognize them.

Below is some output from the walk-through I used to guide me through the installing/updating of a driver for the new pci-e intel quad port nic (82580).

If someone could help me back out the custom driver, or assist me in getting my new NIC recognized, it would be much appreciated! Smiley Happy

======================================
~ # esxcfg-nics -l
Name PCI Driver Link Speed Duplex MAC Address MTU Description
vmnic3 0000:00:19.00 e1000e Up 100Mbps Full 00:25:90:75:cf:53 1500 Intel Corporation 82579LM Gigabit Network Connection
vmnic7 0000:03:00.00 e1000e Up 100Mbps Full 00:25:90:75:cf:52 1500 Intel Corporation 82574L Gigabit Network Connection
======================================
~ # lspci -v
00:00:19.0 Ethernet controller Network controller: Intel Corporation 82579LM Gigabit Network Connection [vmnic3]
Class 0200: 8086:1502 using custom driver

00:01:00.0 Ethernet controller Network controller: Intel Corporation 82580 Gigabit Network Connection [vmnic1]
Class 0200: 8086:150e not seen in NIC adapters, above

00:01:00.1 Ethernet controller Network controller: Intel Corporation 82580 Gigabit Network Connection [vmnic4]
Class 0200: 8086:150e not seen in NIC adapters, above

00:01:00.2 Ethernet controller Network controller: Intel Corporation 82580 Gigabit Network Connection [vmnic5]
Class 0200: 8086:150e not seen in NIC adapters, above

00:01:00.3 Ethernet controller Network controller: Intel Corporation 82580 Gigabit Network Connection [vmnic6]
Class 0200: 8086:150e not seen in NIC adapters, above

00:03:00.0 Ethernet controller Network controller: Intel Corporation 82574L Gigabit Network Connection [vmnic7]
Class 0200: 8086:10d3
========================================

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2 Replies
marcelo_soares
Champion
Champion

The only card really supported is the vmnic7 as per HCL (see VID and DID, in your case 8086:10d3)

http://www.vmware.com/resources/compatibility/detail.php?deviceCategory=io&productid=12703&deviceCat...

All others DIDs are not supported. This means you will need to find out with Intel if there is a way to make this work, or install a supported card on your box. Also you can search the whitebox to check alternative hardware: http://www.vm-help.com//esx40i/esx40_whitebox_HCL.php#NICs

Marcelo Soares
dustinm_vmware
Contributor
Contributor

Thank you for your assistance Marcelo.

I proceeded to the capatibilty list and queried my new nic, here are my results: http://tinyurl.com/ce52jfc

It lists one driver as 'inbox' (i assume that means it is included with ESX5.1) and newer versions are listed as 'async'

ESXi 5.1igb version 2.1.11.1-3vmwN/Ainbox

Since my card was not recognized with whatever was included, I followed the instructions to download and install the latest async driver (igb version 4.0.17). After entering maint mode and installing the VIB file, the console reported installation was successful, but upon rebooting I still only see 2 nic cards identified.

Two of the reviews of my new quad nic reported success with ESX 5.1 out of the box, and ESXi 4.1u1 with updates; is there something I overlooked?

Should I seek help on backing out my custom intel driver for the 82579LM as a test?

Or should I focus more on just returning/selling this quad nic card I purchased and looking for one that is listed only as 'inbox' on the compatibility guide?

Much thanks for your directions.

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