VMTN

As I see it, comparing the Offline Bundles from HPE HPE Custom Image for VMware ESXi 6.5 U1 Offline Bundle  and HPE Custom Image for VMware ESXi 6.5 Offline Bundle

That

bnxtroce--20.8.3.0-1OEM.650.0.0.4598673--BCM--VMwareCertified--2017-05-10

i40en--1.5.6-1OEM.650.0.0.4598673--INT--VMwareCertified--2017-05-10

igbn--1.4.1-1OEM.600.0.0.2768847--INT--VMwareCertified--2017-05-10

ixgben--1.6.5-1OEM.600.0.0.2768847--INT--VMwareCertified--2017-05-10

lsi-mr3--7.702.17.00-1OEM.650.0.0.4598673--Avago--VMwareCertified--2017-05-10

qcnic--1.0.10.0-1OEM.650.0.0.4598673--QLC--VMwareCertified--2017-05-10

qedrntv--3.0.7.5.1-1OEM.650.0.0.4598673--QLC--VMwareCertified--2017-05-10

qfle3--1.0.60.0-1OEM.650.0.0.4240417--QLC--VMwareCertified--2017-05-10

qfle3f--1.0.45.0-1OEM.650.0.0.4598673--QLC--VMwareCertified--2017-05-10

qfle3i--1.0.13.0-1OEM.650.0.0.4598673--QLC--VMwareCertified--2017-05-10

are new in U1

and

misc-cnic-register--1.713.30.v60.1-1OEM.600.0.0.2494585--QLogic--VMwareCertified--2017-02-02

net-bnx2--2.2.6b.v60.2-1OEM.600.0.0.2494585--QLogic--VMwareCertified--2017-02-02

net-bnx2x--2.713.30.v60.9-1OEM.600.0.0.2494585--QLogic--VMwareCertified--2017-02-02

net-cnic--2.713.30.v60.6-1OEM.600.0.0.2494585--QLogic--VMwareCertified--2017-02-02

net-ixgbe--4.5.2-1OEM.600.0.0.2494585--INT--VMwareCertified--2017-02-02

scsi-bnx2fc--1.713.30.v60.6-1OEM.600.0.0.2494585--QLogic--VMwareCertified--2017-02-02

scsi-bnx2i--2.713.30.v60.5-1OEM.600.0.0.2494585--QLogic--VMwareCertified--2017-02-02

are missing in U1 but present in "U0"

So is the road forward to take the U1 Offline Bundle and add these 7 drives from "U0" to a new U1 Offline bundle or ?

/Peter

Hello André.

I'll go ahead and open a support case with HP.

I'll report back here with whatever findings HP may provide me with.

Best Regards

Peter

Hello André.

As promised the answer from HP:

"

Looking at the detailed description you provided I do see one thing to note. As mentioned, you're using the 536FLB adapter (QLogic 57840 10 Gigabit Ethernet Adapter).
This adapter used to use the bnx2x driver but since February this year it's no longer supported when using ESXi 6.5.
Instead the native driver qfle3 should be used. You can find information regarding this change and corrective action in the following article on how to replace the driver https://support.hpe.com/hpsc/doc/public/display?docId=emr_na-a00044039en_us&docLocale=en_US. This is the reason why it's not included in the later releases of the HPE custom image.

I would recommend that you proceed with replacing the bnx2x driver with the native driver and test if you're able to proceed with the update to 6.5 U1 or if it still fails.

"

I try going down that path tomorrow. The current version of qfle3 is 1.0.2.7, so I'd better upgrade that one first.

/Peter

Not the proper way to go.

Activating qfle3 makes the Host lose contact to all the datastores.

So HPE writes:

“

This adapter used to use the bnx2x driver but since February this year it's no longer supported when using ESXi 6.5.
Instead the native driver qfle3 should be used. You can find information regarding this change and corrective action in the following article on how to replace the driverhttps://support.hpe.com/hpsc/doc/public/display?docId=emr_na-a00044039en_us&docLocale=en_US. This is the reason why it's not included in the later releases of the HPE custom image.

I would recommend that you proceed with replacing the bnx2x driver with the native driver and test if you're able to proceed with the update to 6.5 U1 or if it still fails.

“

But a newer bnx2x driver is available in VMwares own Offline Bundle for ESXi 6.5 Update 1.

Feels like a Catch-22. Why does HPE not support bnx2x but VMware does and https://kb.vmware.com/s/article/2147565 describes that not all functions of bnx2x are replaced in qfle3?

If I use qfle3, I can’t see the datastores. If I use bnx2x I’m on an unsupported setup from HPEs point-of-view.

Any ideas on how to proceed?

/Peter

My fault!

HPE Support document - HPE Support Center shows that

"

• The HPE QLogic NX2 10/20 GbE Multifunction Driver for VMware vSphere 6.5 version 2018.02.12 contains an offline bundle and within the offline bundle are multiple VIBs. Do not just install the individual qfle3 VIB; but install the component pack or the offline bundle. Installing either the component pack or the offline bundle will install all the VIBs. The offline bundle contains the following VIBS:
  • qfle3 Version 1.0.60.0
  • qcnic Version 1.0.10.0
  • qfle3i Version 1.0.13.0
  • qfle3f Version 1.0.45.0

"

So since we use both Network connect and Fiber Channel all four drivers must be installed.

Sigh.

/Peter