NIC 0 disconnected

[sw7079399]

Good morning

Two weeks ago, I installed ESXi 3.5 via a USB stick on a new Dell PowerEdge.

The install went well but and I managed to login to the VMware Infrastructure Client. I diidn't bother creating any VM's as I was waiting for Msft licenses to arrive.

Yesterday I tried to login to Infrastructure Client but was unable to.

Using the Direct Console User Interface, I can see that my one NIC, NIC 0, is disconnected.

The strange thing is, when I boot up the server, I get activity lights flashing on the network card and on the network switch - as the VMWare software startup completes, the activity lights go dead so it seems as though the card is ok but VMWare is having issues with it. I am unable to get NIC 0 connected. (tried 3 network leads and multiple ports)

Steve

[AndreTheGiant]

What's the output of those commands?

esxcfg-nics -l

esxcfg-vswitch -l

Andre

[sw7079399]

Hi there Andre

Thanks for replying.

Unfortunately I am new to VMWare - the management console does not appear to have command line access..... (or am I missing something)

[MauroBonder]

in network adapter have link ?

When you login at vmware check a configuration of this adapter with LOCAL CONSOLE , option Configure Management Network > Network Adpater , check too vlan id (if you dont use VLAN id set 0 ) and run a Test Management Network.

Check a configuration of your switch core (port that connect at esx)

*If you found this information useful, please consider awarding points for "Correct" or "Helpful"*

[AndreTheGiant]

the management console does not appear to have command line access.....

Righ, in ESXi is "hidden":

http://www.virtualizationadmin.com/articles-tutorials/vmware-esx-articles/general/how-to-access-the-...

Andre

[sw7079399]

Ardre

using esxcfg-nics -l, get

Name vmnic0

PCI 08:00:00

Driver bnx2

Link Speed Down 0Mbps

Duplex Half

MTU 1500

Description Broadcom NetXtreme ll BCM5708 1000Base-T

for vswitch -l I get

Switch Name vSwitch0

Num Ports 64

Used Ports 4

Configured Ports 63

MTU 1500

Uplinks vmnic0

and also

Portgroup Name VLAN ID Used Ports Uplinks

VM Network 0 0 vmnic0

Managemant Network 0 1 vmnic0

Steve

[AndreTheGiant]

Link Speed Down 0Mbps

Check cable and physical switch.

PS: is your hardware in HCL (http://www.vmware.com/resources/compatibility)?

Andre

[sw7079399]

Hardware is in Compatibilty list

DELL PowerEdge T605 Quad Core AMD Opteron 23xx Quad-core AMD Opteron 2300 series ESXi 3.5 Installable U4

(the server is a T605 with Quad Opteron 2376's.

I have tried multiple leads and switches/hubs. Always the activity lights go out on the network card/switch just as the yellow operator console starts up.

The status on VMNIC0 will not move from Disconnected.

[AndreTheGiant]

Check BIOS configuration is NIC is shared with remote management.

And try to upgrade hardware firmware.

Andre

[sw7079399]

from what I can see, lights on the network card and switch are ok until VMWare does its LVM Driver Load (which seems to be successfull but it disconnects the network card)

[AndreTheGiant]

No other ideas, sorry.

Other people have problem, but with SATA controller (the solution was to disable the SATA CD).

But your problem is very strange.

Install Linux or Windows and use the Dell diagnostic program.

Or call Dell support.

Andre

[alin1]

It looks like your NIC is set to half duplex. Is that the correct setting on your switch?

Try hard setting the speed and duplex.

For example:

esxcfg-nics -s 1000 -d full vmnic0 (I'm on ESX so I am not sure on ESXi.)

or if you use RCLI

vicfg-nics.pl --server 192.168.1.40 username root <span class="style39">speed 1000 --duplex full vmnic0