Multi-Gig (2.5/5GBe) Support in VMware ESX 7 for the Intel X550-T1/T2

[BogBeast]

Hello.

I have installed an Intel X550-T2 in my ESX 7 home lab and I want to connect using multi-gig to a Netgear MS510TX switch.

I can connect and get 1Gbe or connect to the 10Gbe port and get 10GBe. I can't get a link at 2.5/5Gbe.

If I plug the card into a windows machine, it links fine at 5GBe

I have used the driver that comes with ESX 7 Update 1 (Intel-ixgben_1.7.1.28-1vmw.701.0.0.16850804) and also found an updated driver on the VMware HCL (version 1.8.9.0 )

I have looked at the driver settings and can only see the options shown in the attached s/shot.

Can someone confirm the status of multi-gig support on this card with ESX? If it is not supported, when is it likely to be?

Thanks

[Lalegre]

Hey @BogBeast,

Definitely the reason behind this issue is that the ESXi does not support natively this functionality. I know that there is a fling going around and I think is mentioned here: https://www.virtuallyghetto.com/2019/09/usb-native-driver-fling-for-esxi-adds-support-for-multi-gig-....

If this is now a production environment and you need this for a Lab, maybe you can use it.

[BogBeast]

Thanks @Lalegre 

I was aware of the Fling however I thought it only was only really relevant to USB adapters and/or the chipset listed on the fling website

I am not sure it adds or enables support for Multi-Gig, I am fairly sure that is a feature of the driver.

I asked this question over at the Intel forums and was told there that "technical support for VMware driver and operating system issues are provided by VMware Support or through the VMware Communities."

So according to Intel, VMware supports the Intel drives in ESX, hence I was hoping for some help here.

[BogBeast]

So anyone from VMware got in info on this?

[Lalegre]

So I just asked in the vExpert Slack Channel and it seems that there is not support for those speeds but with using that fling. However this do not work for your case as you clearly do not use USB adapters.

[BogBeast]

For the benefit of anyone who arrives here via Google .... 

William over at virtuallyghetto was very helpful.

https://www.virtuallyghetto.com/2021/01/esxi-on-11th-gen-intel-nuc-panther-canyon-tiger-canyon.html#... 

It appears there is no official support yet, but there is the possibility of a fling coming that will add support, at least for test and homelab environments.