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Zade
Enthusiast
Enthusiast

Upgrade Network Card Drivers on ESXi Host

I am unsure how to go about this, what are the steps to upgrade your Network drivers on ESXi 5.5?

4 Replies
a_p_
Leadership
Leadership

Once you have supported network drivers (either as .vib files, or packed in a .zip file) you can either install them using Update Manager (in case you are managing the hosts with vCenter Server), or you can install them manually from the host's command line using e.g. the esxcli software vib update ... command.

André

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JagadeeshDev
Hot Shot
Hot Shot

and here is an article for your reference.

Find compatible drivers :  VMware Compatibility Guide: System Search

Steps to install the drivers : VMware KB: Installing async drivers on VMware ESXi 5.0, 5.1, and 5.5

http://www.myitblog.in/
satishchirala
Enthusiast
Enthusiast

Please find the document for nic driver update process, before doing this

Step:

1) check you firmware upto date ... firmware and bios is not upgraded please do it first after that you can do nic drivers upgrade attached in the document .

TomHowarth
Leadership
Leadership

Andre has said it succinctly,  first make sure that you have "SUPPORTED" NIC drivers.

personally I do not update any host hardware drivers outside of VMware updates.  (firmware is also a moot case too)

the biggest thing here is if your are going to update a particular peice of hardware in your host out side of a standard vSphere upgrade cycle or patch, you must test, test and then test again.  you end up in a non-supported configuration if your just upgrade your drivers for the fun of it.

Tom Howarth VCP / VCAP / vExpert
VMware Communities User Moderator
Blog: http://www.planetvm.net
Contributing author on VMware vSphere and Virtual Infrastructure Security: Securing ESX and the Virtual Environment
Contributing author on VCP VMware Certified Professional on VSphere 4 Study Guide: Exam VCP-410