Package .ko Driver Files over VIB into ESXi

[excelsi]

Hi,

i hope that this Question can be "generally" answered:

I have some .ko Driver Files, they are from the LIS from Microsoft: Download Linux Integration Services Version 4.1 for Hyper-V from Official Microsoft Download Center

I want to try to ingerate these Drivers over an VIB into the ESXi ISO with the Community Packing Tools: VMware Front Experience: ESXi Community Packaging Tools

At the First Step "Creating TGZ File" im not sure which folder structure i should use.

Is it possible to use .ko Files directly in this TGZ Archive or have this drivers to be recompiled on linux first?

Thanks foru your help.

Michael

[Dee006]

Michael,

I believe those drivers need to install in the Hyper-V environment for RHEL OS,what is the actual requirement to embedded those drivers in the esxi host.Mostly when I install ESXi host in the Hyper-v environment with the legacy hardware.

[excelsi]

I want to create and insert this VIB with that drivers so that i can use the native Hyper-V Network Adapter in the ESXi Host, because of performance etc.

But if it requires an running VM on to top of Hyper-V for installation i cannot inject that drivers into that ISO before Installation, so maybe starting with the legacy adapter and change afterwards...

[peetz · Accepted solution]

Hi Michael,

it's very unclear what you are trying to achieve.

Microsoft's Linux Integration Services (LIS) are to be installed on a Linux VM that runs on Hyper-V.

So, are you trying to run ESXi as a VM on Hyper-V?

The .ko files in the LIS are Linux kernel drivers and cannot be used directly on ESXi. If you have their source code available then you could try to adapt and re-compile them for ESXi (a starting point is here: VMware Front Experience: How to build device drivers for ESXi 5.x), but this is a big effort and requires "Linux hacking" skills.

An alternative is to use the Hyper-V legacy adapter for the ESXi VM and install the net-tulip driver on ESXi. For this more info is here: https://vibsdepot.v-front.de/wiki/index.php/Net-tulip

- Andreas

[excelsi]

You're right i used this guide to install a ESXi 6 VM under Hyper-V:

Install a VMWare ESXi 6.0 Hypervisor in a Hyper-V VM | PowerShell, Programming and DevOps

I already used the Hyper-V Legacy Adapter and it's working so far.

So the question was if i can inject the drivers for the native Hyper-V Network Adapter in ESXi 6.

Your answer goes in the same direction, i also thought about. Thanks.