Intel X520 10 GbE not loaded in VMware ESXi 6.0
I am running ESXi 6.0 Dell Customized iso U4 (updated to latest build 4600944 – 03.02.2017) on 2x Dell PowerEdge R620 server with two port PCI Intel X520 10 GbE adapter with Intel SFP+ (Intel R8H2F) . The main problem is, that the X520 is not loaded in VMware ESXi 6.0.
I tried:
- Many of reboots
- Reinstall ESXi 6.0 on R620
- Update ixgbe driver to latest ( 4.4.1) – download here
- Unplug SFP+
A closer look
[root@ESXDELL3:~] vmware -l VMware ESXi 6.0.0 Update 2
version of ESXi
[root@ESXDELL3:~] esxcli network nic list Name PCI Device Driver Admin Status Link Status Speed Duplex MAC Address MTU Description ------ ------------ ------ ------------ ----------- ----- ------ ----------------- ---- ------------------------------------------------- vmnic0 0000:01:00.0 igb Up Up 1000 Full b8:ca:3a:60:6c:b4 1500 Intel Corporation I350 Gigabit Network Connection vmnic1 0000:01:00.1 igb Up Up 1000 Full b8:ca:3a:60:6c:b5 1500 Intel Corporation I350 Gigabit Network Connection vmnic2 0000:01:00.2 igb Up Up 1000 Full b8:ca:3a:60:6c:b6 1500 Intel Corporation I350 Gigabit Network Connection vmnic3 0000:01:00.3 igb Up Up 1000 Full b8:ca:3a:60:6c:b7 1500 Intel Corporation I350 Gigabit Network Connection
lists only internal Intel NICs but not the X520 10GbE NIC…
[root@ESXDELL3:/tmp] esxcli software vib list |grep -i ixgb net-ixgbe 4.1.1.1-1OEM.550.0.0.1331820 Intel VMwareCertified 2017-01-26
as i mentioned previously i have latest net-ixbge driver (2017-01-26)
[root@ESXDELL3:/tmp] lspci |grep -i 520 0000:41:00.0 Network controller: Intel(R) Ethernet 10G 2P X520 Adapter [vmnic4] 0000:41:00.1 Network controller: Intel(R) Ethernet 10G 2P X520 Adapter [vmnic5]
interesting is, that X520 card can be seen by PCI bus, but not seen in VMware
iDrac of R620 server – Hardware > Network Devices > NIC Slot 1 – the firmware of X520 is 16.0.21 (11 Mar 2015).
Firmware update
Let’s see if there is a newer firmware – use Service Tag + Dell Support site , i found that, the newest firmware for Intel X520 card is 17.5.10 – (last updated 30.1.2017)
The easiest way, to update X520 firmware, is use LifeCycle controller on your Dell PowerEdge Server (internet connection is needed)
Follow these steps:
- Reboot the server
- Press the F10 key to enter Lifecycle Controller.
- Configure network (Settings >Network Settings )
- In the left navigation pane, click Firmware Update.
- In the main pane click Launch Firmware Update.
- On the Step 1 of 3: Select Update Repository page – select FTP
- On the Step 2 of 3: type Address of FTP server „ftp.dell.com“ and click to „Test Network Connection„
- Wait about 5 min (the Lifecycle Controller contacts the ftp server to download latest update catalog)
- Select update and click to Apply
Latest X520 firmware 🙂
and finally… i see the X520 card in VMware !!!
I’m seeing the same issues that you started with (looks like we may have both bought the special from Curvature). The difference is that I don’t see the card in the iDrac interface. I’ve done the firmware update, but the dell doesnt seem to notice the intel card there. Any ideas?
Check your SFP transceivers are Intel. Intel X520 will not work with non-Intel transceivers at boot.
I say at boot because if you install the non-Intel transceivers after boot, they will work until the server reboots and then the vnic will disappear.
to update the firmware try this https://www.dell.com/support/article/us/en/04/sln296511/updating-dell-poweredge-servers-via-bootable-media-iso?lang=en#2. Its a bootable linux image with the latest firmware on it. Boots up to linux, flashes everything that needs updating then you reboot and you are good to go. I had to update my firmware this way since it wouldn’t work through the lifecycle controller method.