ESXi update 7.0.1 to 7.0.2a fails with no network in F2 menu.

[michele_distasi]

Hi guys, I had a problem updating esxi from version VMware ESXi 7.0.1 build-16850804 (installed with VMware-ESXi-7.0.1.-16850804-LNV-20200917.iso), to version 7.0U2a-17867351 with VMware_ESXi_7.0.2_17867351_LNV_20210717.iso.
I booted from iso and selected update. During the update I only received a warning that the processor may not be compliant with the next versions of esx.
At the end of the update, by accessing the console with F2, the menu offers me only the reset of the network, the creation of a vSwitch or the reset of everything.
I rebooted and rolled back with Shift + R and tried to update via cli: esxcli software vib update -d "/vmfs/volumes/Datastore/DirectoryName/PatchName.zip"
During the update I received a message that VIBs of the async i40en network drivers for ESXi will be reverted to the VMware inbox driver i40enu.
I gave yes but at the end same situation F2 and no network.
Rollback again with Shift+R

The server has 4 on board Broadcom Nextreme II 5719 nic and 2 Intel i350-T4 quad ports.
The drivers and firmware present on the Broadcom nic are
:~] esxcli network nic get -n vmnic0
Advertised Auto Negotiation: true
Advertised Link Modes: Auto, 1000BaseT/Full, 100BaseT/Half, 100BaseT/Full, 10BaseT/Half, 10BaseT/Full
Auto Negotiation: true
Cable Type: Twisted Pair
Current Message Level: 7
Driver Info:
Bus Info: 0000:16:00:0
Driver: ntg3
Firmware Version: bc 1.47 ncsi 1.5.17.0
Version: 4.1.5.0
Link Detected: true
Link Status: Up
Name: vmnic0

for Intel they are:

:~]esxcli network nic get -n vmnic4
Advertised Auto Negotiation: true
Advertised Link Modes: Auto, 1000BaseT/Full, 100BaseT/Full, 100BaseT/Half, 10BaseT/Full, 10BaseT/Half
Auto Negotiation: true
Cable Type: Twisted Pair
Current Message Level: 0
Driver Info:
Bus Info: 0000:81:00:0
Driver: igbn
Firmware Version: 1.63.0:0x80000e0a:1.2585.0
Version: 1.4.11.0
Link Detected: true
Link Status: Up
Name: vmnic4
PHYAddress: 0

[root@:~] esxcli network nic list
Name PCI Device Driver Admin Status Link Status Speed Duplex MAC Address MTU Description
------- ------------ ------ ------------ ----------- ----- ------ ----------------- ---- -----------
vmnic0 0000:16:00.0 ntg3 Up Up 1000 Full 08:94:ef:13:0a:b8 1500 Broadcom Corporation NetXtreme BCM5719 Gigabit Ethernet
vmnic1 0000:16:00.1 ntg3 Up Up 1000 Full 08:94:ef:13:0a:b9 1500 Broadcom Corporation NetXtreme BCM5719 Gigabit Ethernet
vmnic10 0000:0b:00.2 igbn Up Down 0 Half a0:36:9f:8c:b0:ce 1500 Intel(R) I350 Gigabit Network Connection
vmnic11 0000:0b:00.3 igbn Up Up 1000 Full a0:36:9f:8c:b0:cf 1500 Intel(R) I350 Gigabit Network Connection
vmnic2 0000:16:00.2 ntg3 Up Down 0 Half 08:94:ef:13:0a:ba 1500 Broadcom Corporation NetXtreme BCM5719 Gigabit Ethernet
vmnic3 0000:16:00.3 ntg3 Up Up 1000 Full 08:94:ef:13:0a:bb 1500 Broadcom Corporation NetXtreme BCM5719 Gigabit Ethernet
vmnic4 0000:81:00.0 igbn Up Up 1000 Full a0:36:9f:8c:b0:d8 1500 Intel(R) I350 Gigabit Network Connection
vmnic5 0000:81:00.1 igbn Up Down 0 Half a0:36:9f:8c:b0:d9 1500 Intel(R) I350 Gigabit Network Connection
vmnic6 0000:81:00.2 igbn Up Up 1000 Full a0:36:9f:8c:b0:da 1500 Intel(R) I350 Gigabit Network Connection
vmnic7 0000:81:00.3 igbn Up Down 0 Half a0:36:9f:8c:b0:db 1500 Intel(R) I350 Gigabit Network Connection
vmnic8 0000:0b:00.0 igbn Up Up 1000 Full a0:36:9f:8c:b0:cc 1500 Intel(R) I350 Gigabit Network Connection
vmnic9 0000:0b:00.1 igbn Up Up 1000 Full a0:36:9f:8c:b0:cd 1500 Intel(R) I350 Gigabit Network Connection
vusb0 Pseudo cdce Up Up 100 Full 0a:94:ef:13:0a:bf 1500 IBM RNDISEthernet Gadget

Could you please help me to find a solution that allows me to upgrade my servers to ESXi 7.0.2a, thanks.

[DeviVmware]

Are you using customized ISO or Downloaded from VMware portal ?

[michele_distasi]

I tried the first time with Lenovo.iso VMware_ESXi_7.0.2_17867351_LNV_20210717.iso and the second time with standard iso VMware-VMvisor-Installer-7.0U2a-17867351.x86_64.iso, both downloaded from vmware download portal, while for the update via cli I used VMware-ESXi-7.0U2a-17867351-depot.zip always downloaded from vmware download portal

[DeviVmware · Accepted solution]

From your initial post I see nic cards are using async driver, not VMware inbox drivers. Can you uninstall async drivers(get them using inbox driver) and then try upgrade. Other way around would be fresh installation, take one host out of rotation, do a fresh installation and repeat steps for remaining hosts.

[michele_distasi]

Thanks for the reply.
I will uninstall async driver and install :
VMW_bootbank_ntg3_4.1.5.0-0vmw.702.0.0.17867351.vib
VMW_bootbank_igbn_1.4.11.2-1vmw.702.0.0.17867351.vib
then I will try to upgrade, this not before a week.
I will keep you up to date. Thank you.

[michele_distasi]

Hi Dave ,the customer has decided not to upgrade ESXi to 7.0.2 .  Thanks anyway for your support