pNIC Firmware version(s)

[rb51]

hi all,

still running classic ESX4.1U2, soon to migrate to ESXi5.5U1

Dell R710 hosts, running with following physical NICs:

Broadcom Corporation PowerEdge R710 BCM5709 Gigabit Ethernet

000:001:00.0 14e4:1639 1028:0235 vmkernel vmnic0

Intel Corporation 82576 Gigabit Network Connection

8086:10e8 8086:a02c vmkernel vmnic7

I have downloaded the latest drivers from VMware compatibility website as follows (ESX4.1U2):

Broadcom - bnx2 version 2.2.3m.v41.2

Intel - igb version 3.2.10

However when I update the hosts using these drivers the firmware version comes with different version (Broadcom NICs only) - see SSH output below:

I would appreciate comments.

[root@HOST1 ~]# ethtool -i vmnic0

driver: bnx2

version: 2.2.3m.v41.2

firmware-version: 6.0.1 bc 5.2.3 NCSI 2.0.10

bus-info: 0000:01:00.0

[root@HOST1 ~]# ethtool -i vmnic4

driver: igb

version: 3.2.10

firmware-version: 1.5-1

bus-info: 0000:06:00.0

[root@HOST4 ~]# ethtool -i vmnic0

driver: bnx2

version: 2.2.3m.v41.2

firmware-version: 5.2.7 bc 5.2.2 NCSI 2.0.8

bus-info: 0000:01:00.0

[root@HOST4 ~]# ethtool -i vmnic4

driver: igb

version: 3.2.10

firmware-version: 1.5-1

bus-info: 0000:06:00.0

[Jayden56]

Hi

Welcome to communities.

just use one prior version of driver or test with default driver.

[a_p_]

If you want to have the same firmware, you need to update it separately. Anyway, both versions you mentioned are listed as compatible to ESX 4.1 at http://ftp.dell.com/published/Pages/poweredge-r710.html.

André

[rb51]

andre,

do you mean downloading the package from dell and updating the same as you update BIOS, etc???

I thought by downloading the drivers of VMware site it would also update the NIC firmware.

Ric

[a_p_]

Firmware and drivers are two separate things, with only a few exceptions, where the firmware is loaded from the driver like for some Qlogic HBAs.

Anyway, BIOS/Firmware Updates are provided by either the specific device's vendor or - in case of an OEM'd product - the system vendor who uses these devices (Dell in your case).

André