Intel 82579LM and 82579V

Amazing work Chilly and peetz! This is a big step towards whitebox ESXi 5.

Are you presently working on an updated version of the driver or is the first release considered relatively stable by everyone here?
 
Hello Everyone :)

Chilly and Peetz Thanks for doing wonderful work :cool:

I am planning to build home lab :) can i build lab with normal intel desktop motherboard with intel i5 CPU? Will i able to test all feature like vMotion , FT , HA/DRS ?

Or i have to buy Server Motherboard & Xeon CPU?

Thanks
 
PRAVIN1CA said:
Hello Everyone :)

Chilly and Peetz Thanks for doing wonderful work :cool:

I am planning to build home lab :) can i build lab with normal intel desktop motherboard with intel i5 CPU? Will i able to test all feature like vMotion , FT , HA/DRS ?

Or i have to buy Server Motherboard & Xeon CPU?

Thanks
Click to expand...

Whichever components on the motherboard are listed as supported by VMware will work. Simple as that.
 
Chilly and Peetz, just want to give both of you a big THANK YOU for all your hard work! It's been smooth sailing for almost two weeks here. If only the commercial vendors were as quick to support ESXi 5 :)
 
Thanks for reply Kurian..Of Borg.

My OLD Laptops & Desktop Intel Core2-Duo work great with ESXi-5 & they have not listed on VMWARE HCL!!! but not tested for vMOTION / FT/ DRS

Here i need guidence from great people...should i build lab with deskop hardware & vMotion , FT , HA/DRS will? or Server Hardware!!!

Thanks
 
You definitely need to create a new thread. This one is for the drivers that Chilly created.
 
peetz said:
...1. Install your machine(s) with the vanilla ESXi 5.0 ISO.
2. Log on to the console (or via ssh) of one of the machines and install the vib file by using the following commands:
esxcli software acceptance set --level=CommunitySupported
esxcli software vib install -v http://files.v-front.de/net-e1001e-1.0.0.x86_64.vib
3. reboot, configure all NICs, and try to enable FDM then

...
Click to expand...

This worked for me. ESXi 5.0 on an X9SCM-F with Intel 82579LM. Very much appreciated Chilly and peetz, thank you
 
Finally got my SAS card flashed and started to transfer some files over to my NAS VM.

Using the driver provided here, I've transferred 35GB+ so far. It hasn't been under any intense load as I've only been sending the files over my wireless so far, but it hasn't hiccupped yet :)
 
I'm using the chilli's version for

000:000:25.0 Ethernet controller Network controller: Intel Corporation 82579LM Gigabit Network Connection [vmnic0]
Class 0200: 8086:1502

Could be sometimes unstable?

I found my esx crashed after some network interruptions.
 
Tried installing the driver via this method below:

Please try the following:
1. Install your machine(s) with the vanilla ESXi 5.0 ISO.
2. Log on to the console (or via ssh) of one of the machines and install the vib file by using the following commands:
esxcli software acceptance set --level=CommunitySupported
esxcli software vib install -v http://files.v-front.de/net-e1001e-1.0.0.x86_64.vib
3. reboot, configure all NICs, and try to enable FDM then
Click to expand...

Like Vader I got a similar error, when I put in the second command:

The transaction is not supported: VIB Chilly_bootbank_net-e1001e_1.0.0 cannot be live installed.

I tried entering this both in and out of maintenance mode via ssh. Any idea how to fix this?
 
This should definitely work when the system is in maintenance mode and/or not running any VMs.
Make sure that this is the case, and if it still doesn't work please post the relevant contents of the log file /var/log/esxupdate.log

- Andreas
 
Here is what part of my log file looks like. I left out the repeated attempts of trying to install the driver (the code was the same). Thanks for the help.

Code: 
2012-01-14T20:58:11Z esxupdate: vmware.runcommand: INFO: runcommand called with: args = '['/sbin/esxcfg-advcfg', '-q', '-g', '/UserVars/EsximageNetTimeout']', outfile = 'None', returnoutput = 'True', timeout = '0.0'.
2012-01-14T20:58:11Z esxupdate: vmware.runcommand: INFO: runcommand called with: args = '['/sbin/esxcfg-advcfg', '-q', '-g', '/UserVars/EsximageNetRetries']', outfile = 'None', returnoutput = 'True', timeout = '0.0'.
2012-01-14T20:58:11Z esxupdate: vmware.runcommand: INFO: runcommand called with: args = '['/sbin/esxcfg-advcfg', '-q', '-g', '/UserVars/EsximageNetRateLimit']', outfile = 'None', returnoutput = 'True', timeout = '0.0'.
2012-01-14T20:58:11Z esxupdate: root: INFO: Command = acceptance.set
2012-01-14T20:58:11Z esxupdate: root: INFO: Options = {'profile': None, 'nosigcheck': False, 'force': False, 'level': 'CommunitySupported', 'nomaintmode': False, 'downgrade': None, 'updateonly': False, 'proxy': None, 'viburl': None, 'dryrun': False, 'depot': None, 'nameid': None, 'noliveinstall': False, 'pending': None, 'oktoremove': False}
2012-01-14T20:58:11Z esxupdate: HostImage: INFO: Installer <class 'vmware.esximage.Installer.BootBankInstaller.BootBankInstaller'> was not initiated - reason: altbootbank is invalid: Error in loading boot.cfg from bootbank /bootbank: Error parsing bootbank boot.cfg file /bootbank/boot.cfg: [Errno 2] No such file or directory: '/bootbank/boot.cfg'
2012-01-14T20:58:11Z esxupdate: vmware.runcommand: INFO: runcommand called with: args = '['/sbin/bootOption', '-rp']', outfile = 'None', returnoutput = 'True', timeout = '0.0'.
2012-01-14T20:58:11Z esxupdate: HostImage: INFO: BootbankInstaller is not initialized, no need to keep LockerInstaller
2012-01-14T20:58:11Z esxupdate: vmware.runcommand: INFO: runcommand called with: args = '['/sbin/esxcfg-advcfg', '-U', 'host-acceptance-level', '-G']', outfile = 'None', returnoutput = 'True', timeout = '0.0'.
2012-01-14T20:58:12Z esxupdate: HostImage: INFO: Attempting to change the host acceptance level from partner to community
2012-01-14T20:58:12Z esxupdate: vmware.runcommand: INFO: runcommand called with: args = '['/sbin/esxcfg-advcfg', '-U', 'host-acceptance-level', '-S', 'community']', outfile = 'None', returnoutput = 'False', timeout = '0.0'.
2012-01-14T20:58:29Z esxupdate: vmware.runcommand: INFO: runcommand called with: args = '['/sbin/esxcfg-advcfg', '-q', '-g', '/UserVars/EsximageNetTimeout']', outfile = 'None', returnoutput = 'True', timeout = '0.0'.
2012-01-14T20:58:29Z esxupdate: vmware.runcommand: INFO: runcommand called with: args = '['/sbin/esxcfg-advcfg', '-q', '-g', '/UserVars/EsximageNetRetries']', outfile = 'None', returnoutput = 'True', timeout = '0.0'.
2012-01-14T20:58:29Z esxupdate: vmware.runcommand: INFO: runcommand called with: args = '['/sbin/esxcfg-advcfg', '-q', '-g', '/UserVars/EsximageNetRateLimit']', outfile = 'None', returnoutput = 'True', timeout = '0.0'.
2012-01-14T20:58:29Z esxupdate: root: INFO: Command = vib.install
2012-01-14T20:58:29Z esxupdate: root: INFO: Options = {'profile': None, 'nosigcheck': False, 'force': False, 'level': None, 'nomaintmode': False, 'downgrade': None, 'updateonly': False, 'proxy': None, 'viburl': ['http://files.v-front.de/net-e1001e-1.0.0.x86_64.vib'], 'dryrun': False, 'depot': None, 'nameid': None, 'noliveinstall': False, 'pending': None, 'oktoremove': False}
2012-01-14T20:58:29Z esxupdate: HostImage: INFO: Installer <class 'vmware.esximage.Installer.BootBankInstaller.BootBankInstaller'> was not initiated - reason: altbootbank is invalid: Error in loading boot.cfg from bootbank /bootbank: Error parsing bootbank boot.cfg file /bootbank/boot.cfg: [Errno 2] No such file or directory: '/bootbank/boot.cfg'
2012-01-14T20:58:29Z esxupdate: vmware.runcommand: INFO: runcommand called with: args = '['/sbin/bootOption', '-rp']', outfile = 'None', returnoutput = 'True', timeout = '0.0'.
2012-01-14T20:58:29Z esxupdate: HostImage: INFO: BootbankInstaller is not initialized, no need to keep LockerInstaller
2012-01-14T20:58:29Z esxupdate: vmware.runcommand: INFO: runcommand called with: args = '['/sbin/esxcfg-advcfg', '-U', 'host-acceptance-level', '-G']', outfile = 'None', returnoutput = 'True', timeout = '0.0'.
2012-01-14T20:58:29Z esxupdate: downloader: DEBUG: Downloading from http://files.v-front.de/net-e1001e-1.0.0.x86_64.vib...
2012-01-14T20:58:30Z esxupdate: Transaction: INFO: Skipping installed VIBs
2012-01-14T20:58:30Z esxupdate: Transaction: INFO: Final list of VIBs being installed: Chilly_bootbank_net-e1001e_1.0.0
2012-01-14T20:58:30Z esxupdate: imageprofile: INFO: Adding VIB Chilly_bootbank_net-e1001e_1.0.0 to ImageProfile ESXi-5.0.0-469512-standard
2012-01-14T20:58:31Z esxupdate: HostImage: DEBUG: Staging image profile [(Updated) ESXi-5.0.0-469512-standard]
2012-01-14T20:58:31Z esxupdate: HostImage: DEBUG: VIBs in image profile: VMware_bootbank_net-ixgbe_2.0.84.8.2-10vmw.500.0.0.469512, VMware_bootbank_ehci-ehci-hcd_1.0-3vmw.500.0.0.469512, VMware_bootbank_ata-pata-atiixp_0.4.6-3vmw.500.0.0.469512, VMware_bootbank_scsi-megaraid2_2.00.4-9vmw.500.0.0.469512, VMware_bootbank_uhci-usb-uhci_1.0-3vmw.500.0.0.469512, VMware_bootbank_net-r8168_8.013.00-3vmw.500.0.0.469512, VMware_bootbank_ohci-usb-ohci_1.0-3vmw.500.0.0.469512, VMware_bootbank_scsi-qla4xxx_5.01.03.2-3vmw.500.0.0.469512, VMware_bootbank_ata-pata-sil680_0.4.8-3vmw.500.0.0.469512, VMware_bootbank_scsi-megaraid-sas_4.32-1vmw.500.0.0.469512, VMware_bootbank_scsi-aic79xx_3.1-5vmw.500.0.0.469512, VMware_bootbank_net-bnx2_2.0.15g.v50.11-5vmw.500.0.0.469512, VMware_bootbank_ata-pata-serverworks_0.4.3-3vmw.500.0.0.469512, VMware_bootbank_sata-sata-promise_2.12-3vmw.500.0.0.469512, VMware_bootbank_scsi-fnic_1.5.0.3-1vmw.500.0.0.469512, VMware_bootbank_ata-pata-pdc2027x_1.0-3vmw.500.0.0.469512, VMware_bootbank_net-cnic_1.10.2j.v50.7
2012-01-14T20:58:31Z esxupdate: vmware.runcommand: INFO: runcommand called with: args = '['/usr/sbin/vsish', '-e', '-p', 'cat', '/hardware/bios/dmiInfo']', outfile = 'None', returnoutput = 'True', timeout = '0.0'.
2012-01-14T20:58:31Z esxupdate: LiveImageInstaller: DEBUG: The transaction is not supported for live install:
['VIB Chilly_bootbank_net-e1001e_1.0.0 cannot be live installed.']
2012-01-14T20:58:31Z esxupdate: HostImage: INFO: LiveImageInstaller is not supported, skipping.
2012-01-14T20:58:31Z esxupdate: root: ERROR: Traceback (most recent call last):
2012-01-14T20:58:31Z esxupdate: root: ERROR:   File "/usr/lib/vmware/esxcli-software", line 435, in <module>
2012-01-14T20:58:31Z esxupdate: root: ERROR:     main()
2012-01-14T20:58:31Z esxupdate: root: ERROR:   File "/usr/lib/vmware/esxcli-software", line 428, in main
2012-01-14T20:58:31Z esxupdate: root: ERROR:     ret = CMDTABLE[command](options)
2012-01-14T20:58:31Z esxupdate: root: ERROR:   File "/usr/lib/vmware/esxcli-software", line 337, in VibInstallCmd
2012-01-14T20:58:31Z esxupdate: root: ERROR:     checkacceptance=checkacceptance)
2012-01-14T20:58:31Z esxupdate: root: ERROR:   File "/build/mts/release/bora-469512/bora/build/esx/release/python-2.6-lib-zip-stage/469512/visor/pylib/python2.6/site-packages/vmware/esximage/Transaction.py", line 243, in InstallVibsFromSources
2012-01-14T20:58:31Z esxupdate: root: ERROR:   File "/build/mts/release/bora-469512/bora/build/esx/release/python-2.6-lib-zip-stage/469512/visor/pylib/python2.6/site-packages/vmware/esximage/Transaction.py", line 345, in _installVibs
2012-01-14T20:58:31Z esxupdate: root: ERROR:   File "/build/mts/release/bora-469512/bora/build/esx/release/python-2.6-lib-zip-stage/469512/visor/pylib/python2.6/site-packages/vmware/esximage/Transaction.py", line 388, in _validateAndInstallProfile
2012-01-14T20:58:31Z esxupdate: root: ERROR:   File "/build/mts/release/bora-469512/bora/build/esx/release/python-2.6-lib-zip-stage/469512/visor/pylib/python2.6/site-packages/vmware/esximage/HostImage.py", line 646, in Stage
2012-01-14T20:58:31Z esxupdate: root: ERROR: InstallationError: ('', 'The transaction is not supported: VIB Chilly_bootbank_net-e1001e_1.0.0 cannot be live installed.')
2012-01-14T20:58:46Z esxupdate: vmware.runcommand: INFO: runcommand called with: args = '['/sbin/esxcfg-advcfg', '-q', '-g', '/UserVars/EsximageNetTimeout']', outfile = 'None', returnoutput = 'True', timeout = '0.0'.
2012-01-14T20:58:46Z esxupdate: vmware.runcommand: INFO: runcommand called with: args = '['/sbin/esxcfg-advcfg', '-q', '-g', '/UserVars/EsximageNetRetries']', outfile = 'None', returnoutput = 'True', timeout = '0.0'.
2012-01-14T20:58:46Z esxupdate: vmware.runcommand: INFO: runcommand called with: args = '['/sbin/esxcfg-advcfg', '-q', '-g', '/UserVars/EsximageNetRateLimit']', outfile = 'None', returnoutput = 'True', timeout = '0.0'.
2012-01-14T20:58:46Z esxupdate: root: INFO: Command = vib.install
2012-01-14T20:58:46Z esxupdate: root: INFO: Options = {'profile': None, 'nosigcheck': False, 'force': False, 'level': None, 'nomaintmode': False, 'downgrade': None, 'updateonly': False, 'proxy': None, 'viburl': ['http://files.v-front.de/net-e1001e-1.0.0.x86_64.vib'], 'dryrun': False, 'depot': None, 'nameid': None, 'noliveinstall': False, 'pending': None, 'oktoremove': False}
2012-01-14T20:58:46Z esxupdate: HostImage: INFO: Installer <class 'vmware.esximage.Installer.BootBankInstaller.BootBankInstaller'> was not initiated - reason: altbootbank is invalid: Error in loading boot.cfg from bootbank /bootbank: Error parsing bootbank boot.cfg file /bootbank/boot.cfg: [Errno 2] No such file or directory: '/bootbank/boot.cfg'
2012-01-14T20:58:46Z esxupdate: vmware.runcommand: INFO: runcommand called with: args = '['/sbin/bootOption', '-rp']', outfile = 'None', returnoutput = 'True', timeout = '0.0'.
2012-01-14T20:58:46Z esxupdate: HostImage: INFO: BootbankInstaller is not initialized, no need to keep LockerInstaller
2012-01-14T20:58:46Z esxupdate: vmware.runcommand: INFO: runcommand called with: args = '['/sbin/esxcfg-advcfg', '-U', 'host-acceptance-level', '-G']', outfile = 'None', returnoutput = 'True', timeout = '0.0'.
2012-01-14T20:58:46Z esxupdate: downloader: DEBUG: Downloading from http://files.v-front.de/net-e1001e-1.0.0.x86_64.vib...
2012-01-14T20:58:47Z esxupdate: Transaction: INFO: Skipping installed VIBs
2012-01-14T20:58:47Z esxupdate: Transaction: INFO: Final list of VIBs being installed: Chilly_bootbank_net-e1001e_1.0.0
2012-01-14T20:58:47Z esxupdate: imageprofile: INFO: Adding VIB Chilly_bootbank_net-e1001e_1.0.0 to ImageProfile ESXi-5.0.0-469512-standard
2012-01-14T20:58:47Z esxupdate: HostImage: DEBUG: Staging image profile [(Updated) ESXi-5.0.0-469512-standard]
2012-01-14T20:58:47Z esxupdate: HostImage: DEBUG: VIBs in image profile: VMware_bootbank_net-ixgbe_2.0.84.8.2-10vmw.500.0.0.469512, VMware_bootbank_ehci-ehci-hcd_1.0-3vmw.500.0.0.469512, VMware_bootbank_ata-pata-atiixp_0.4.6-3vmw.500.0.0.469512, VMware_bootbank_scsi-megaraid2_2.00.4-9vmw.500.0.0.469512, VMware_bootbank_uhci-usb-uhci_1.0-3vmw.500.0.0.469512, VMware_bootbank_net-r8168_8.013.00-3vmw.500.0.0.469512, VMware_bootbank_ohci-usb-ohci_1.0-3vmw.500.0.0.469512, VMware_bootbank_scsi-qla4xxx_5.01.03.2-3vmw.500.0.0.469512, VMware_bootbank_ata-pata-sil680_0.4.8-3vmw.500.0.0.469512, VMware_bootbank_scsi-megaraid-sas_4.32-1vmw.500.0.0.469512, VMware_bootbank_scsi-aic79xx_3.1-5vmw.500.0.0.469512, VMware_bootbank_net-bnx2_2.0.15g.v50.11-5vmw.500.0.0.469512, VMware_bootbank_ata-pata-serverworks_0.4.3-3vmw.500.0.0.469512, VMware_bootbank_sata-sata-promise_2.12-3vmw.500.0.0.469512, VMware_bootbank_scsi-fnic_1.5.0.3-1vmw.500.0.0.469512, VMware_bootbank_ata-pata-pdc2027x_1.0-3vmw.500.0.0.469512, VMware_bootbank_net-cnic_1.10.2j.v50.7
2012-01-14T20:58:47Z esxupdate: vmware.runcommand: INFO: runcommand called with: args = '['/usr/sbin/vsish', '-e', '-p', 'cat', '/hardware/bios/dmiInfo']', outfile = 'None', returnoutput = 'True', timeout = '0.0'.
2012-01-14T20:58:47Z esxupdate: LiveImageInstaller: DEBUG: The transaction is not supported for live install:
['VIB Chilly_bootbank_net-e1001e_1.0.0 cannot be live installed.']
2012-01-14T20:58:47Z esxupdate: HostImage: INFO: LiveImageInstaller is not supported, skipping.
2012-01-14T20:58:47Z esxupdate: root: ERROR: Traceback (most recent call last):
2012-01-14T20:58:47Z esxupdate: root: ERROR:   File "/usr/lib/vmware/esxcli-software", line 435, in <module>
2012-01-14T20:58:47Z esxupdate: root: ERROR:     main()
2012-01-14T20:58:47Z esxupdate: root: ERROR:   File "/usr/lib/vmware/esxcli-software", line 428, in main
2012-01-14T20:58:47Z esxupdate: root: ERROR:     ret = CMDTABLE[command](options)
2012-01-14T20:58:47Z esxupdate: root: ERROR:   File "/usr/lib/vmware/esxcli-software", line 337, in VibInstallCmd
2012-01-14T20:58:47Z esxupdate: root: ERROR:     checkacceptance=checkacceptance)
2012-01-14T20:58:47Z esxupdate: root: ERROR:   File "/build/mts/release/bora-469512/bora/build/esx/release/python-2.6-lib-zip-stage/469512/visor/pylib/python2.6/site-packages/vmware/esximage/Transaction.py", line 243, in InstallVibsFromSources
2012-01-14T20:58:47Z esxupdate: root: ERROR:   File "/build/mts/release/bora-469512/bora/build/esx/release/python-2.6-lib-zip-stage/469512/visor/pylib/python2.6/site-packages/vmware/esximage/Transaction.py", line 345, in _installVibs
2012-01-14T20:58:47Z esxupdate: root: ERROR:   File "/build/mts/release/bora-469512/bora/build/esx/release/python-2.6-lib-zip-stage/469512/visor/pylib/python2.6/site-packages/vmware/esximage/Transaction.py", line 388, in _validateAndInstallProfile
2012-01-14T20:58:47Z esxupdate: root: ERROR:   File "/build/mts/release/bora-469512/bora/build/esx/release/python-2.6-lib-zip-stage/469512/visor/pylib/python2.6/site-packages/vmware/esximage/HostImage.py", line 646, in Stage
2012-01-14T20:58:47Z esxupdate: root: ERROR: InstallationError: ('', 'The transaction is not supported: VIB Chilly_bootbank_net-e1001e_1.0.0 cannot be live installed.')
2012-01-14T21:02:18Z esxupdate: vmware.runcommand: INFO: runcommand called with: args = '['/sbin/esxcfg-advcfg', '-q', '-g', '/UserVars/EsximageNetTimeout']', outfile = 'None', returnoutput = 'True', timeout = '0.0'.
2012-01-14T21:02:18Z esxupdate: vmware.runcommand: INFO: runcommand called with: args = '['/sbin/esxcfg-advcfg', '-q', '-g', '/UserVars/EsximageNetRetries']', outfile = 'None', returnoutput = 'True', timeout = '0.0'.
2012-01-14T21:02:18Z esxupdate: vmware.runcommand: INFO: runcommand called with: args = '['/sbin/esxcfg-advcfg', '-q', '-g', '/UserVars/EsximageNetRateLimit']', outfile = 'None', returnoutput = 'True', timeout = '0.0'.
2012-01-14T21:02:18Z esxupdate: root: INFO: Command = vib.install
2012-01-14T21:02:18Z esxupdate: root: INFO: Options = {'profile': None, 'nosigcheck': False, 'force': False, 'level': None, 'nomaintmode': False, 'downgrade': None, 'updateonly': False, 'proxy': None, 'viburl': ['http://files.v-front.de/net-e1001e-1.0.0.x86_64.vib'], 'dryrun': False, 'depot': None, 'nameid': None, 'noliveinstall': False, 'pending': None, 'oktoremove': False}
2012-01-14T21:02:18Z esxupdate: HostImage: INFO: Installer <class 'vmware.esximage.Installer.BootBankInstaller.BootBankInstaller'> was not initiated - reason: altbootbank is invalid: Error in loading boot.cfg from bootbank /bootbank: Error parsing bootbank boot.cfg file /bootbank/boot.cfg: [Errno 2] No such file or directory: '/bootbank/boot.cfg'
2012-01-14T21:02:18Z esxupdate: vmware.runcommand: INFO: runcommand called with: args = '['/sbin/bootOption', '-rp']', outfile = 'None', returnoutput = 'True', timeout = '0.0'.
2012-01-14T21:02:18Z esxupdate: HostImage: INFO: BootbankInstaller is not initialized, no need to keep LockerInstaller
 
2012-01-14T20:58:47Z esxupdate: root: ERROR: InstallationError: ('', 'The transaction is not supported: VIB Chilly_bootbank_net-e1001e_1.0.0 cannot be live installed.')
Click to expand...

Sounds to me like you didn't shutdown the VMs or didn't put the host in Maintenance mode, as was mentioned before. But you said you did! Weird...

It installed fine for me - when I put the machine in maintenance mode.
 
Yes, weird...
Maybe it's because you have connected via ssh. Have you tried that on the local shell at the console?

However, the messages about "/bootbank/boot.cfg" and "/altbootbank" not being found are unexpected. This file and this directory should definitely exist. Can you please check on your system?

- Andreas
 
I will check it tonight and try installing it via the local shell in the console instead of ssh. One other question about maintenance mode, do I have to restart the whole system (meaning enter right after startup) before entering the mode and not starting any VM's rather than just shutting down the VM's when it already was running?
 
You don't need to restart the host. Just shut down and power off all running VMs, then enter maintenance mode, either via the vSphere client or in a shell by running
vim-cmd hostsvc/maintenance_mode_enter

mmmmmdonuts said:
I will check it tonight and try installing it via the local shell in the console instead of ssh. One other question about maintenance mode, do I have to restart the whole system (meaning enter right after startup) before entering the mode and not starting any VM's rather than just shutting down the VM's when it already was running?
Click to expand...
 
So tried it again tonight. This time I did it from the local shell and not the ssh. I tried accessing the two files you suggested before and I was getting "not found" from the cli. Any idea how to add it? I also have a pci passthrough device. Could this be preventing something? Here is my updated log:

Code: 
2012-01-17T02:03:12Z esxupdate: vmware.runcommand: INFO: runcommand called with: args = '['/sbin/esxcfg-advcfg', '-q', '-g', '/UserVars/EsximageNetTimeout']', outfile = 'None', returnoutput = 'True', timeout = '0.0'.
2012-01-17T02:03:12Z esxupdate: vmware.runcommand: INFO: runcommand called with: args = '['/sbin/esxcfg-advcfg', '-q', '-g', '/UserVars/EsximageNetRetries']', outfile = 'None', returnoutput = 'True', timeout = '0.0'.
2012-01-17T02:03:12Z esxupdate: vmware.runcommand: INFO: runcommand called with: args = '['/sbin/esxcfg-advcfg', '-q', '-g', '/UserVars/EsximageNetRateLimit']', outfile = 'None', returnoutput = 'True', timeout = '0.0'.
2012-01-17T02:03:12Z esxupdate: root: INFO: Command = acceptance.set
2012-01-17T02:03:12Z esxupdate: root: INFO: Options = {'profile': None, 'nosigcheck': False, 'force': False, 'level': 'CommunitySupported', 'nomaintmode': False, 'downgrade': None, 'updateonly': False, 'proxy': None, 'viburl': None, 'dryrun': False, 'depot': None, 'nameid': None, 'noliveinstall': False, 'pending': None, 'oktoremove': False}
2012-01-17T02:03:12Z esxupdate: HostImage: INFO: Installer <class 'vmware.esximage.Installer.BootBankInstaller.BootBankInstaller'> was not initiated - reason: altbootbank is invalid: Error in loading boot.cfg from bootbank /bootbank: Error parsing bootbank boot.cfg file /bootbank/boot.cfg: [Errno 2] No such file or directory: '/bootbank/boot.cfg'
2012-01-17T02:03:12Z esxupdate: vmware.runcommand: INFO: runcommand called with: args = '['/sbin/bootOption', '-rp']', outfile = 'None', returnoutput = 'True', timeout = '0.0'.
2012-01-17T02:03:12Z esxupdate: HostImage: INFO: BootbankInstaller is not initialized, no need to keep LockerInstaller
2012-01-17T02:03:12Z esxupdate: vmware.runcommand: INFO: runcommand called with: args = '['/sbin/esxcfg-advcfg', '-U', 'host-acceptance-level', '-G']', outfile = 'None', returnoutput = 'True', timeout = '0.0'.
2012-01-17T02:03:12Z esxupdate: HostImage: INFO: Attempting to change the host acceptance level from community to community
2012-01-17T02:03:12Z esxupdate: vmware.runcommand: INFO: runcommand called with: args = '['/sbin/esxcfg-advcfg', '-U', 'host-acceptance-level', '-S', 'community']', outfile = 'None', returnoutput = 'False', timeout = '0.0'.
2012-01-17T02:04:42Z esxupdate: vmware.runcommand: INFO: runcommand called with: args = '['/sbin/esxcfg-advcfg', '-q', '-g', '/UserVars/EsximageNetTimeout']', outfile = 'None', returnoutput = 'True', timeout = '0.0'.
2012-01-17T02:04:42Z esxupdate: vmware.runcommand: INFO: runcommand called with: args = '['/sbin/esxcfg-advcfg', '-q', '-g', '/UserVars/EsximageNetRetries']', outfile = 'None', returnoutput = 'True', timeout = '0.0'.
2012-01-17T02:04:42Z esxupdate: vmware.runcommand: INFO: runcommand called with: args = '['/sbin/esxcfg-advcfg', '-q', '-g', '/UserVars/EsximageNetRateLimit']', outfile = 'None', returnoutput = 'True', timeout = '0.0'.
2012-01-17T02:04:42Z esxupdate: root: INFO: Command = vib.install
2012-01-17T02:04:42Z esxupdate: root: INFO: Options = {'profile': None, 'nosigcheck': False, 'force': False, 'level': None, 'nomaintmode': False, 'downgrade': None, 'updateonly': False, 'proxy': None, 'viburl': ['http://files.v-front.de/net-e1001e-1.0.0.x86_64.vib'], 'dryrun': False, 'depot': None, 'nameid': None, 'noliveinstall': False, 'pending': None, 'oktoremove': False}
2012-01-17T02:04:42Z esxupdate: HostImage: INFO: Installer <class 'vmware.esximage.Installer.BootBankInstaller.BootBankInstaller'> was not initiated - reason: altbootbank is invalid: Error in loading boot.cfg from bootbank /bootbank: Error parsing bootbank boot.cfg file /bootbank/boot.cfg: [Errno 2] No such file or directory: '/bootbank/boot.cfg'
2012-01-17T02:04:42Z esxupdate: vmware.runcommand: INFO: runcommand called with: args = '['/sbin/bootOption', '-rp']', outfile = 'None', returnoutput = 'True', timeout = '0.0'.
2012-01-17T02:04:42Z esxupdate: HostImage: INFO: BootbankInstaller is not initialized, no need to keep LockerInstaller
2012-01-17T02:04:42Z esxupdate: vmware.runcommand: INFO: runcommand called with: args = '['/sbin/esxcfg-advcfg', '-U', 'host-acceptance-level', '-G']', outfile = 'None', returnoutput = 'True', timeout = '0.0'.
2012-01-17T02:04:42Z esxupdate: downloader: DEBUG: Downloading from http://files.v-front.de/net-e1001e-1.0.0.x86_64.vib...
2012-01-17T02:04:43Z esxupdate: Transaction: INFO: Skipping installed VIBs
2012-01-17T02:04:43Z esxupdate: Transaction: INFO: Final list of VIBs being installed: Chilly_bootbank_net-e1001e_1.0.0
2012-01-17T02:04:43Z esxupdate: imageprofile: INFO: Adding VIB Chilly_bootbank_net-e1001e_1.0.0 to ImageProfile ESXi-5.0.0-469512-standard
2012-01-17T02:04:43Z esxupdate: HostImage: DEBUG: Staging image profile [(Updated) ESXi-5.0.0-469512-standard]
2012-01-17T02:04:43Z esxupdate: HostImage: DEBUG: VIBs in image profile: VMware_bootbank_net-ixgbe_2.0.84.8.2-10vmw.500.0.0.469512, VMware_bootbank_ehci-ehci-hcd_1.0-3vmw.500.0.0.469512, VMware_bootbank_ata-pata-atiixp_0.4.6-3vmw.500.0.0.469512, VMware_bootbank_scsi-megaraid2_2.00.4-9vmw.500.0.0.469512, VMware_bootbank_uhci-usb-uhci_1.0-3vmw.500.0.0.469512, VMware_bootbank_net-r8168_8.013.00-3vmw.500.0.0.469512, VMware_bootbank_ohci-usb-ohci_1.0-3vmw.500.0.0.469512, VMware_bootbank_scsi-qla4xxx_5.01.03.2-3vmw.500.0.0.469512, VMware_bootbank_ata-pata-sil680_0.4.8-3vmw.500.0.0.469512, VMware_bootbank_scsi-megaraid-sas_4.32-1vmw.500.0.0.469512, VMware_bootbank_scsi-aic79xx_3.1-5vmw.500.0.0.469512, VMware_bootbank_net-bnx2_2.0.15g.v50.11-5vmw.500.0.0.469512, VMware_bootbank_ata-pata-serverworks_0.4.3-3vmw.500.0.0.469512, VMware_bootbank_sata-sata-promise_2.12-3vmw.500.0.0.469512, VMware_bootbank_scsi-fnic_1.5.0.3-1vmw.500.0.0.469512, VMware_bootbank_ata-pata-pdc2027x_1.0-3vmw.500.0.0.469512, VMware_bootbank_net-cnic_1.10.2j.v50.7
2012-01-17T02:04:43Z esxupdate: vmware.runcommand: INFO: runcommand called with: args = '['/usr/sbin/vsish', '-e', '-p', 'cat', '/hardware/bios/dmiInfo']', outfile = 'None', returnoutput = 'True', timeout = '0.0'.
2012-01-17T02:04:43Z esxupdate: LiveImageInstaller: DEBUG: The transaction is not supported for live install:
['VIB Chilly_bootbank_net-e1001e_1.0.0 cannot be live installed.']
2012-01-17T02:04:43Z esxupdate: HostImage: INFO: LiveImageInstaller is not supported, skipping.
2012-01-17T02:04:43Z esxupdate: root: ERROR: Traceback (most recent call last):
2012-01-17T02:04:43Z esxupdate: root: ERROR:   File "/usr/lib/vmware/esxcli-software", line 435, in <module>
2012-01-17T02:04:43Z esxupdate: root: ERROR:     main()
2012-01-17T02:04:43Z esxupdate: root: ERROR:   File "/usr/lib/vmware/esxcli-software", line 428, in main
2012-01-17T02:04:43Z esxupdate: root: ERROR:     ret = CMDTABLE[command](options)
2012-01-17T02:04:43Z esxupdate: root: ERROR:   File "/usr/lib/vmware/esxcli-software", line 337, in VibInstallCmd
2012-01-17T02:04:43Z esxupdate: root: ERROR:     checkacceptance=checkacceptance)
2012-01-17T02:04:43Z esxupdate: root: ERROR:   File "/build/mts/release/bora-469512/bora/build/esx/release/python-2.6-lib-zip-stage/469512/visor/pylib/python2.6/site-packages/vmware/esximage/Transaction.py", line 243, in InstallVibsFromSources
2012-01-17T02:04:43Z esxupdate: root: ERROR:   File "/build/mts/release/bora-469512/bora/build/esx/release/python-2.6-lib-zip-stage/469512/visor/pylib/python2.6/site-packages/vmware/esximage/Transaction.py", line 345, in _installVibs
2012-01-17T02:04:43Z esxupdate: root: ERROR:   File "/build/mts/release/bora-469512/bora/build/esx/release/python-2.6-lib-zip-stage/469512/visor/pylib/python2.6/site-packages/vmware/esximage/Transaction.py", line 388, in _validateAndInstallProfile
2012-01-17T02:04:43Z esxupdate: root: ERROR:   File "/build/mts/release/bora-469512/bora/build/esx/release/python-2.6-lib-zip-stage/469512/visor/pylib/python2.6/site-packages/vmware/esximage/HostImage.py", line 646, in Stage
2012-01-17T02:04:43Z esxupdate: root: ERROR: InstallationError: ('', 'The transaction is not supported: VIB Chilly_bootbank_net-e1001e_1.0.0 cannot be live installed.')
2012-01-17T02:06:25Z esxupdate: vmware.runcommand: INFO: runcommand called with: args = '['/sbin/esxcfg-advcfg', '-q', '-g', '/UserVars/EsximageNetTimeout']', outfile = 'None', returnoutput = 'True', timeout = '0.0'.
2012-01-17T02:06:25Z esxupdate: vmware.runcommand: INFO: runcommand called with: args = '['/sbin/esxcfg-advcfg', '-q', '-g', '/UserVars/EsximageNetRetries']', outfile = 'None', returnoutput = 'True', timeout = '0.0'.
2012-01-17T02:06:25Z esxupdate: vmware.runcommand: INFO: runcommand called with: args = '['/sbin/esxcfg-advcfg', '-q', '-g', '/UserVars/EsximageNetRateLimit']', outfile = 'None', returnoutput = 'True', timeout = '0.0'.
2012-01-17T02:06:25Z esxupdate: root: INFO: Command = acceptance.set
2012-01-17T02:06:25Z esxupdate: root: INFO: Options = {'profile': None, 'nosigcheck': False, 'force': False, 'level': 'CommunitySupported', 'nomaintmode': False, 'downgrade': None, 'updateonly': False, 'proxy': None, 'viburl': None, 'dryrun': False, 'depot': None, 'nameid': None, 'noliveinstall': False, 'pending': None, 'oktoremove': False}
2012-01-17T02:06:25Z esxupdate: HostImage: INFO: Installer <class 'vmware.esximage.Installer.BootBankInstaller.BootBankInstaller'> was not initiated - reason: altbootbank is invalid: Error in loading boot.cfg from bootbank /bootbank: Error parsing bootbank boot.cfg file /bootbank/boot.cfg: [Errno 2] No such file or directory: '/bootbank/boot.cfg'
2012-01-17T02:06:25Z esxupdate: vmware.runcommand: INFO: runcommand called with: args = '['/sbin/bootOption', '-rp']', outfile = 'None', returnoutput = 'True', timeout = '0.0'.
2012-01-17T02:06:25Z esxupdate: HostImage: INFO: BootbankInstaller is not initialized, no need to keep LockerInstaller
2012-01-17T02:06:25Z esxupdate: vmware.runcommand: INFO: runcommand called with: args = '['/sbin/esxcfg-advcfg', '-U', 'host-acceptance-level', '-G']', outfile = 'None', returnoutput = 'True', timeout = '0.0'.
2012-01-17T02:06:25Z esxupdate: HostImage: INFO: Attempting to change the host acceptance level from community to community
2012-01-17T02:06:25Z esxupdate: vmware.runcommand: INFO: runcommand called with: args = '['/sbin/esxcfg-advcfg', '-U', 'host-acceptance-level', '-S', 'community']', outfile = 'None', returnoutput = 'False', timeout = '0.0'.
2012-01-17T02:06:29Z esxupdate: vmware.runcommand: INFO: runcommand called with: args = '['/sbin/esxcfg-advcfg', '-q', '-g', '/UserVars/EsximageNetTimeout']', outfile = 'None', returnoutput = 'True', timeout = '0.0'.
2012-01-17T02:06:29Z esxupdate: vmware.runcommand: INFO: runcommand called with: args = '['/sbin/esxcfg-advcfg', '-q', '-g', '/UserVars/EsximageNetRetries']', outfile = 'None', returnoutput = 'True', timeout = '0.0'.
2012-01-17T02:06:29Z esxupdate: vmware.runcommand: INFO: runcommand called with: args = '['/sbin/esxcfg-advcfg', '-q', '-g', '/UserVars/EsximageNetRateLimit']', outfile = 'None', returnoutput = 'True', timeout = '0.0'.
2012-01-17T02:06:29Z esxupdate: root: INFO: Command = vib.install
2012-01-17T02:06:29Z esxupdate: root: INFO: Options = {'profile': None, 'nosigcheck': False, 'force': False, 'level': None, 'nomaintmode': False, 'downgrade': None, 'updateonly': False, 'proxy': None, 'viburl': ['http://files.v-front.de/net-e1001e-1.0.0.x86_64.vib'], 'dryrun': False, 'depot': None, 'nameid': None, 'noliveinstall': False, 'pending': None, 'oktoremove': False}
2012-01-17T02:06:29Z esxupdate: HostImage: INFO: Installer <class 'vmware.esximage.Installer.BootBankInstaller.BootBankInstaller'> was not initiated - reason: altbootbank is invalid: Error in loading boot.cfg from bootbank /bootbank: Error parsing bootbank boot.cfg file /bootbank/boot.cfg: [Errno 2] No such file or directory: '/bootbank/boot.cfg'
2012-01-17T02:06:29Z esxupdate: vmware.runcommand: INFO: runcommand called with: args = '['/sbin/bootOption', '-rp']', outfile = 'None', returnoutput = 'True', timeout = '0.0'.
2012-01-17T02:06:29Z esxupdate: HostImage: INFO: BootbankInstaller is not initialized, no need to keep LockerInstaller
2012-01-17T02:06:29Z esxupdate: vmware.runcommand: INFO: runcommand called with: args = '['/sbin/esxcfg-advcfg', '-U', 'host-acceptance-level', '-G']', outfile = 'None', returnoutput = 'True', timeout = '0.0'.
2012-01-17T02:06:29Z esxupdate: downloader: DEBUG: Downloading from http://files.v-front.de/net-e1001e-1.0.0.x86_64.vib...
2012-01-17T02:06:30Z esxupdate: Transaction: INFO: Skipping installed VIBs
2012-01-17T02:06:30Z esxupdate: Transaction: INFO: Final list of VIBs being installed: Chilly_bootbank_net-e1001e_1.0.0
2012-01-17T02:06:30Z esxupdate: imageprofile: INFO: Adding VIB Chilly_bootbank_net-e1001e_1.0.0 to ImageProfile ESXi-5.0.0-469512-standard
2012-01-17T02:06:30Z esxupdate: HostImage: DEBUG: Staging image profile [(Updated) ESXi-5.0.0-469512-standard]
2012-01-17T02:06:30Z esxupdate: HostImage: DEBUG: VIBs in image profile: VMware_bootbank_net-ixgbe_2.0.84.8.2-10vmw.500.0.0.469512, VMware_bootbank_ehci-ehci-hcd_1.0-3vmw.500.0.0.469512, VMware_bootbank_ata-pata-atiixp_0.4.6-3vmw.500.0.0.469512, VMware_bootbank_scsi-megaraid2_2.00.4-9vmw.500.0.0.469512, VMware_bootbank_uhci-usb-uhci_1.0-3vmw.500.0.0.469512, VMware_bootbank_net-r8168_8.013.00-3vmw.500.0.0.469512, VMware_bootbank_ohci-usb-ohci_1.0-3vmw.500.0.0.469512, VMware_bootbank_scsi-qla4xxx_5.01.03.2-3vmw.500.0.0.469512, VMware_bootbank_ata-pata-sil680_0.4.8-3vmw.500.0.0.469512, VMware_bootbank_scsi-megaraid-sas_4.32-1vmw.500.0.0.469512, VMware_bootbank_scsi-aic79xx_3.1-5vmw.500.0.0.469512, VMware_bootbank_net-bnx2_2.0.15g.v50.11-5vmw.500.0.0.469512, VMware_bootbank_ata-pata-serverworks_0.4.3-3vmw.500.0.0.469512, VMware_bootbank_sata-sata-promise_2.12-3vmw.500.0.0.469512, VMware_bootbank_scsi-fnic_1.5.0.3-1vmw.500.0.0.469512, VMware_bootbank_ata-pata-pdc2027x_1.0-3vmw.500.0.0.469512, VMware_bootbank_net-cnic_1.10.2j.v50.7
2012-01-17T02:06:30Z esxupdate: vmware.runcommand: INFO: runcommand called with: args = '['/usr/sbin/vsish', '-e', '-p', 'cat', '/hardware/bios/dmiInfo']', outfile = 'None', returnoutput = 'True', timeout = '0.0'.
2012-01-17T02:06:30Z esxupdate: LiveImageInstaller: DEBUG: The transaction is not supported for live install:
['VIB Chilly_bootbank_net-e1001e_1.0.0 cannot be live installed.']
2012-01-17T02:06:30Z esxupdate: HostImage: INFO: LiveImageInstaller is not supported, skipping.
2012-01-17T02:06:30Z esxupdate: root: ERROR: Traceback (most recent call last):
2012-01-17T02:06:30Z esxupdate: root: ERROR:   File "/usr/lib/vmware/esxcli-software", line 435, in <module>
2012-01-17T02:06:30Z esxupdate: root: ERROR:     main()
2012-01-17T02:06:30Z esxupdate: root: ERROR:   File "/usr/lib/vmware/esxcli-software", line 428, in main
2012-01-17T02:06:30Z esxupdate: root: ERROR:     ret = CMDTABLE[command](options)
2012-01-17T02:06:30Z esxupdate: root: ERROR:   File "/usr/lib/vmware/esxcli-software", line 337, in VibInstallCmd
2012-01-17T02:06:30Z esxupdate: root: ERROR:     checkacceptance=checkacceptance)
2012-01-17T02:06:30Z esxupdate: root: ERROR:   File "/build/mts/release/bora-469512/bora/build/esx/release/python-2.6-lib-zip-stage/469512/visor/pylib/python2.6/site-packages/vmware/esximage/Transaction.py", line 243, in InstallVibsFromSources
2012-01-17T02:06:30Z esxupdate: root: ERROR:   File "/build/mts/release/bora-469512/bora/build/esx/release/python-2.6-lib-zip-stage/469512/visor/pylib/python2.6/site-packages/vmware/esximage/Transaction.py", line 345, in _installVibs
2012-01-17T02:06:30Z esxupdate: root: ERROR:   File "/build/mts/release/bora-469512/bora/build/esx/release/python-2.6-lib-zip-stage/469512/visor/pylib/python2.6/site-packages/vmware/esximage/Transaction.py", line 388, in _validateAndInstallProfile
2012-01-17T02:06:30Z esxupdate: root: ERROR:   File "/build/mts/release/bora-469512/bora/build/esx/release/python-2.6-lib-zip-stage/469512/visor/pylib/python2.6/site-packages/vmware/esximage/HostImage.py", line 646, in Stage
2012-01-17T02:06:30Z esxupdate: root: ERROR: InstallationError: ('', 'The transaction is not supported: VIB Chilly_bootbank_net-e1001e_1.0.0 cannot be live installed.')
 
Uh-oh ..., there is definitely something seriously wrong with your system. If you do not have a /bootbank/boot.cfg file I wonder how you are even able to boot?
What is the history of this box? Was it a clean install of ESXi 5.0 or an upgrade? Did something break later? Do you have any other strange issues?

Also, please try to install one of the "official" VMware VIB files and see if this works. E.g. download the zip file from here: http://downloads.vmware.com/d/details/dt_esxi50_intel_ixgbe/dHRAYnQlQEBiZHAlJQ==
extract the VIB file from it and try to install it the same way.

- Andreas
 
I will try that when I get home from work tonight. Honestly I have not had any issue with any of my VM's or the ESXi box in general. It was a clean install of ESXi 5.0 and even my VM's were installed clean to ESXi 5.0 version off of that. Honestly all I did was set a PCI-E passthrough of the controller and set up the 4 VM's I have. I have been able to turn on and off VM's and reboot as I please, so I have no clue what I have done. The only other thought I have is I have ESXi 5.0 installed on a USB drive. Could that cause problems?

Hopefully I will get some time this weekend to do a fresh install, and hopefully that will solve the problems.
 
Installing ESXi on USB key drives is common practice.
However, maybe your drive has become defective. This would explain the odd behavior ...
 
I'm running into an odd issue with this where the NIC seems to drop off every other reboot. It actually flip-flops consistently, so if I have to reboot the host, I need to reboot it again to get the 82579LM to show up again as vmnic0 instead of just listed as a PCIe device for passthrough.

Running ESXi 5.0 on an Intel DQ67SWB3 board. The add-in 85274L stays consistently at vmnic1 on every boot, whether vmnic0 has decided to show up or not.
 
Another problem here, adding the driver etc seems to work fine as so does the onboard 82579V interface.

But it completely screws the 2x Dual Intel PT server cards I have in, remove the driver and the problem vanishes?

Get a low of retransmitted and duplicated packets on the card i'm using for iscsi but haven't really been able to put any more time into it to pinpoint exact behaviour.

This is with an Intel DQ67EP and DQ67SW motherboard.
 
Chilly said:
First release for ESXi 5.0, it may be buggy as hell, cause your system to crash, etc etc, so I provide it AS-IS, I take no responsibility for any damage, USE AT OWN RISK.
Click to expand...

Do you plan on providing occasional updates?
 
Busy as hell, I haven't had time to look at and update the driver. The first driver for ESXi 5.0 itself was a quick and dirty(and I do mean dirty) rush job.

Post and send me log files, I have not been able to re-create any of these issues with my limited hardware. I'll try and take a look into it this weekend.
 
I just built an Intel DQ67SW ESXi 5 box using the driver posted. So far so good.
 
So far just the on board. I have a few Intel PRO/1000 PT Dual Port Server Adapter's coming my way next week.

Running Core i7-2700k w/ 16Gigs of RAM. This thing screams!
 
Well, I just found out something interesting about this driver. I noticed that I was having some odd iSCSI and NFS performance issues. My two ESXi 5 hosts are using Intel BOXDQ67OWB3 motherboards which have an onboard 82579LM NIC. Each of my hosts also have 5 other Intel NICs (a PCIe dual port, two PCIe single ports, and a PCI single port). When I run NFS or iSCSI traffic over any NIC other then the onboard NIC I get horrible latency, spiking around 5000ms.

I've been troubleshooting this in my home lab for the last 2 or 3 weeks. I noticed a problem with my Dell PowerConnect 2716's dropping some frames when jumbo packets were enabled so I switched that out for a Cisco SG300-28. That made no difference. I've also tried setting up a new storage server thinking the issue might be my iSCSI target (tried both Starwind and MS) or the MS NFS client. I saw the same issue running OpenFiler 2.9. I also updated the motherboard firmware. Nothing worked...until I did a clean install of ESXi 5 without the 82579LM drivers. Everything works fine now.
 
shabazkilla said:
Well, I just found out something interesting about this driver. I noticed that I was having some odd iSCSI and NFS performance issues. My two ESXi 5 hosts are using Intel BOXDQ67OWB3 motherboards which have an onboard 82579LM NIC. Each of my hosts also have 5 other Intel NICs (a PCIe dual port, two PCIe single ports, and a PCI single port). When I run NFS or iSCSI traffic over any NIC other then the onboard NIC I get horrible latency, spiking around 5000ms.

I've been troubleshooting this in my home lab for the last 2 or 3 weeks. I noticed a problem with my Dell PowerConnect 2716's dropping some frames when jumbo packets were enabled so I switched that out for a Cisco SG300-28. That made no difference. I've also tried setting up a new storage server thinking the issue might be my iSCSI target (tried both Starwind and MS) or the MS NFS client. I saw the same issue running OpenFiler 2.9. I also updated the motherboard firmware. Nothing worked...until I did a clean install of ESXi 5 without the 82579LM drivers. Everything works fine now.
Click to expand...

That is exactly the same problem that I have experienced, you don't even need to reinstall esxi just removing the driver package and everything will right itself with the other nics.
 
bmh.01 said:
That is exactly the same problem that I have experienced, you don't even need to reinstall esxi just removing the driver package and everything will right itself with the other nics.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the tip - saved me some time :)
 
I've said this before, I need log files! :) Thus far no one has sent me any log files.

I'll be running through the code and cleaning it up, hopefully post an update by the end of the month or early April. In the meanwhile the only suggestion I can make is avoid jumbo frames, and send me logs! :D
 
Chilly (or anyone else for that matter): Have you tried the replacement drivers on the ESXi 5.0.1 update that was released this past week? The updater itself installs a new net-e1000e driver, so worried a little about compatibility issues. I'd try, but my server is only remote accessible for now.
 
I originally installed ESXi 5.0 on my Intel BOXDQ67SWB3 with Chilly's drivers however I later added an Intel 82574L based 1x PCI-e card and decided to go back to the stock drivers since there were reports of issues when using multiple cards (I'll just use the onbaord NIC as a dedicated vPro management port).

That said, since I haven't put the box in "production" yet I figured I'd go ahead an run the update. It completed successfully and I'm now at build 623860. No issues so far - the onboard 82579LM is still not detected by ESXi (it is available for pass-through) I don't know that this fully answers your question but thought I would share.
 
Chilly said:
I've said this before, I need log files! :) Thus far no one has sent me any log files.

I'll be running through the code and cleaning it up, hopefully post an update by the end of the month or early April. In the meanwhile the only suggestion I can make is avoid jumbo frames, and send me logs! :D
Click to expand...
I'm going to try the original driver again with 623860. What logs would you like and where do you want them sending?
 
No better with 623860 unfortuantely.

With the extra driver loaded this is what I see on iSCSI, just to be clear this is an extra dual pt server adapter the onboard seems to work perfectly.
This was a copy of a 40gb vmdk from the local disk datastore of the host to an iscsi datastore using the datastore browser. After approx 45 minutes it had completed to roughly 50%.

Chilly_driver_esxi_issues.png


The same transfer after removing the driver. Same transfer completes in roughly 5 minutes.

Chilly_driver_esxi_issues2.png


Done a complete log dump for that server, no idea what you need so i've done the lot.

http://gotflat.co.uk/pics/[email protected]

Hope this can help find a solution. Anything else I can help with let me know.
 
Thanks for the dumps! Poring through them...

Bought two HP Branded Intel Dual Port PT cards. I'll be doing tests of my own to try and reproduce and track this down. :)

I wanted more ports anyways, plus they were cheap. :p
 
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Any news on a updated driver my 82579LM keeps dropping connection and the only way to get it back it to reboot the system.
 
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