No compatible network adapter found

[arch4672]

I installed ESXi 6.7 on my machine yesterday with no problems and set up a VM.

Today I accidentally turned off the server, but when I reboot it, it now says 'No compatible network adpater found'.

Why would it do this now when it installed and ran perfectly fine yesterday and I haven't made any changes other than install a VM and then reboot the server?

I've also tried reinstalling ESXi, but I get the same/similar message so I can't reinstall it. 

The network card I'm using is the Intel PRO/1000 CT Desktop Adaptor PCI Express, which as far as I'm aware is compatible (the install wouldn't have worked otherwise):

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00BL4PQ9Y

I'm at a complete loss on what I can do to try and fix this so any help would be appreciated.

[arch4672]

Further information:

I tried to install it again and when it stops at the error message I pressed Alt+F1 to open the command line.  I typed

lspci - v | grep "Class 0200" -B 1

to get the list of network cards and I got:

Intel Corporation 82574L Gigabit Network Connection [vmnic01] Class 0200: 8086:20d3

I'm wondering if the [vmnic01] part could point to the reason why it's not working? (I'm clutching at straws here).

Also, if I look in the sys log file when I try to load up ESXi (not from the installer) there are some error messages:

jumpstart [2097561]: PortGroup: NIC vmnic0 does not exist

Does that give any clues as to what might be going wrong?

[SureshKumarMuth]

Since it says vmnic0 does  not exist, it looks like a driver issue for me

can you run the following commands and post the output please

esxcli network nic list

vmkchdev -l |grep vmnic0

esxcli software vib list |grep -i ne1000

[arch4672]

For the first command I got:

IO error: [Errno 111] Connection refused

For the second one:

0000:1d:00.0 8086:10d3 8086:0000 vmkernel vmnic0

And I didn't get anything for the third one.

This was all from the command line when using the installer. I presume that's OK?  When I try and boot ESXi and press Alt+F1 I can't actually type anything in, so I've had to use the installer (if that makes sense).

[SureshKumarMuth]

localcli network nic list    try this command..

[arch4672]

I get a blank table with some headers:

Name   PCI Device    Driver ......

-------------------------------------

[SureshKumarMuth]

give me the output of the following commands

localcli network nic list

localcli software vib list

[arch4672]

That first on is the same command as in your previous reply. So it's just a blank table.

For the second one I get a long list. Is there anything in particular you're looking for in that list?  I can't really write it all down it's too long - unless there's a way to copy the list to a usb or something so I can copy it to here.

[arch4672]

I ran the second command with:

localcli software vib list | grep -i ne1000

and got

ne1000    0.8.4-2vmw.670.2.48.13006603   VMW VMWareCertified

[SureshKumarMuth]

driver is installed but looks like it is not loaded properly... and esxcli commands gives IO error which shows that the OS is not in good shape , some issue is there.

Was the host went down abruptly ? what is the error you are getting when you try reinstalling ?

What is your server make and model ?

I used this detail to find the card in vmware hardware compatibility matrix , I could not find an output with exact match 8086:10d3 8086:0000

However, when I searched with card name I am seeing the device is under supported list. Here, I think the issue is at OS level.

[arch4672]

Yes the host went down abruptly - the power was turned off by accident.

When I try to reinstall I get this message:

So I can't see how I can reinstall it as the only option is to reboot....

The server is one I've built myself - what details would you like to know?

The network card is definitely supported - ESXi installed with it perfectly fine yesterday.

[SureshKumarMuth]

Try to format the harddrive at hardware level and go for fresh installation. Like brand new. Ensure, network card has no hardware issue and it is healthy, check the firmware is upto date before proceeding with ESXi installation.

You may also try to unplug and replug the card, just a try. Before reinstalling the OS.

The network card is definitely supported - ESXi installed with it perfectly fine yesterday.

This doesnt mean the card is supported. Even unsupported hardware works with ESXi but they are not tested and approved by VMware, you will not get support if we use an unsupported card during issues.

[arch4672]

OK thanks, I'd already tried unplugging and replugging the card, so no joy there.

Any idea how I'd go about formatting the hard drive? Not something I've done before.

[SureshKumarMuth]

What is your hardware ? Is the OS installed on SD card or harddisk ?

[arch4672]

The OS was on a SSD. I've wiped it now to try a fresh install, however I still get the error saying no network adapters were found!

It is definitely a supported card:

https://www.vmware.com/resources/compatibility/detail.php?deviceCategory=io&productid=5327

So I have no idea what is going on.  It all installed fine yesterday and now it doesn't....

I've rechecked that the card is attached securely and remade the installer on the usb drive. I'm not sure what else to try now.

[arch4672]

Further to this, just before the box appears with the 'no network adapters were found' message there was a flash of red text, which was too quick to read, but I manaaged to take a picture of:

Does that give a clue as to what is going wrong?

[SureshKumarMuth]

Looks like the driver is unable to read the MAC info from EEPROM. I know it was working before, not sure what went wrong when the server was abruptly went down.

Check the card health state.

Update firmware

Try installing the OS again and check.

if possible, add this card on another server and check if it works well there.

[arch4672]

Unfortunately I haven't got another server to test the card on.

I've ordered another card which should come tomorrow, so hopefully that will work.

[arch4672]

Installed the new network card today and it works now.

Thanks for your help.

[SureshKumarMuth]

Cool...