Adding driver for NIC into ESX 3.5

[GregecSLO]

Hello all!

Firs of all let me say that this are great forums, with lots of knowledge and lots of people willing to help.

So I haope someone can help me out here...

Well my problem is that I have NIC`s D-link DGE-528T which are NOT supported in Vmware ESX 3.5 Update 2. So I decided to load drivers...

All went fine, I compiled it, loaded it without an error but I still cannot see my NIC in console...

It has something to do with Unresolved symbols...

Kernel output:

depmod: *** Unresolved symbols in /lib/modules/2.4.21-57.ELvmnix/kernel/drivers/net/dge528.o

I am aware that it would not be easy as import/compile driver like on other linux distros, but anyway, can someone

assist me with this?

I do not have Intel/Broadcom NICs around and as this is experimental system only I would not like to buy them because I dont really need them...

I would like to use theese 1Gbit NICs as I have 4 of them

Thanks for reply!

[weinstein5]

What drivers did you load? If they did not come VMware they will not work - it is vmware that is responsible for writing the drivers (or approving those coming form partners) for hardware supported that is why the using hardware from the HCL is crucial -

[GregecSLO]

Hi!

I used driver for linux from offical downlad site from Dlink... I know that generic Linux drivers should not work,I`m just asking if there is a way to add it in?

[jkruger]

I don't know how much this will help but since your NIC (or any Realtek based NIC) is not supported by ESX it won't hurt to try. Your NIC is based on the Realtek 8159 or 8169 chip (I think it is the 8169S). These are the steps you can try to get it to work:

1. boot your ESX into troubleshooting mode (third option on boot)

2. login as root and run 'lspci'

3. make note of your NICs location (the xx:xx.x number in front of the description)

4. run 'lspci -n' and look for your NICs location

5. make note of the vendor and device IDs (for D-Link it should be 1186:xxxx)

6. edit the the vmware-devices.map file 'vi /etc/vmware/vmware-devices.map'

7. in the vendor section add D-Link to the list by following the current list as an example of correct format (ex. 'vendor,0x1186,D-Link,D-Link System Inc')

8. scroll down to the device section and add your device by order of vendor id so it is easy to find later (ex. 'device,0x1186,0xXXXX,nic,D-Link DGE-528T,dge528.o' where XXXX is the device ID from #5)

9. save and exit

10. reboot server normally and test

This does not always work but it might. If it does work there are two things to remember: first, the vmware-device.map file will get overwritten if you run esxcfg-pciid or if you upgrade your ESX host. second, this is not supported by VMware at all so don't ask them for help if you have problems. If it doesn't work you can reboot your server back to troubleshooting mode and remove the lines you added to the vmware-devices.map file. Good luck.

Jon

[GregecSLO]

Thanks but no luck...

I guess I will have to go and buy Intel or Broadcom gigabit network cards

[Dave_Mishchenko]

I use Intel Pro 1000 GT cards in situations like this. They're not supported, but are recognize by ESX and ESXi and work fine.

The vmkernel of ESX is not based on Linux and that's why you can't just added any Linux driver to the system and get it to work. While some drivers are based on Linux drivers, they have to be modified to work with ESX.

[Texiwill]

Hello,

You would need access to the VMware DDK (no idea how to get this access) to get a driver for the vmkernel built and usable. In general this is just not possible. You can build a module for the SC anytime you want, but ESX which is the vmkernel will not recognize it.

Note, vmkernel boots first, creates a VM, boots the SC Kernel. Therefore loading a driver into the SC Kernel does not grant it access to the vmkernel, which is where the driver should be loaded.

Best regards,

Edward L. Haletky

VMware Communities User Moderator

====

Author of the book 'VMWare ESX Server in the Enterprise: Planning and Securing Virtualization Servers', Copyright 2008 Pearson Education.

CIO Virtualization Blog: http://www.cio.com/blog/index/topic/168354

As well as the Virtualization Wiki at http://www.astroarch.com/wiki/index.php/Virtualization

[GregecSLO]

Hi!

Thank you all for your input!

I`ve decided to buy this network cards: Intel® PRO/1000 GT Desktop Adapter http://www.intel.com/products/desktop/adapters/pro1000gt/pro1000gt-overview.htm

In Vmware esx IO guide it is supported but there says "server" and I will buy "desktop". I do belive that it does not matter

they should be using same driver, right?

Thanks!

[Dave_Mishchenko]

That's the one I use - http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=15706&vpn=PWLA8391GTBLK&manufacture=Intel. These aren't supported, but ESX will recognize them and they work fine.

[GregecSLO]

Yeah, I will buy the same card... Its not expensive and it is supported / recognized by ESX...

Thanks!

[trxman]

will this NIC work with ESXi 3.5u2 ?

Intel PRO/1000MT Gigabit Ethernet PCI 10/100/1000Mb/s

[Texiwill]

Hello,

If it is not on the HCL for the version of ESXi then it may not work. I use these NICs with no problems however.

Best regards,

Edward L. Haletky

VMware Communities User Moderator

====

Author of the book 'VMWare ESX Server in the Enterprise: Planning and Securing Virtualization Servers', Copyright 2008 Pearson Education.

CIO Virtualization Blog: http://www.cio.com/blog/index/topic/168354

As well as the Virtualization Wiki at http://www.astroarch.com/wiki/index.php/Virtualization

[trxman]

bought it - it works.

thx.

[samansalehi]

Dear friends;

Use this link: http://futurearchives.blogspot.com/2010/04/using-d-link-dge-530t-gigabit-network.html

I want to try it and tell u the reslut.

Saman