Bad VIB archive header when trying to install a (network) driver

[bverm]

Greetings,

I've recently upgraded one of my servers from ESXi 4.1 to 5.0, however the network cards weren't detected after ESXi 5.0 booted.

In the past this issue also happened after upgrading from ESXi 4.0 to 4.1.

When trying to install the network driver I get this error:

/vmfs/volumes/4aa64bf8-f90bb5f4-234d-001b21293c7f/offline-bundle # esxcli software vib install -v /vmfs/volumes/4aa64bf8-f90bb5f4-234d-001b21293c7f/offline-bundle/hxge-vmware-driver-4-1-2-2-7-offline_bundle-265875.zip
[VibFormatError]
Bad VIB archive header
   filename = /vmfs/volumes/4aa64bf8-f90bb5f4-234d-001b21293c7f/offline-bundle/hxge-vmware-driver-4-1-2-2-7-offline_bundle-265875.zip
Please refer to the log file for more details.

Normally this just means I need to edit the vmware.xml and platforms.xml file so they refer to ESXi 5.x instead of ESXi 4.x. I did this, but I still get the same error.

Below are the contents of vmware.xml and platforms.xml:

vmware.xml:

<metadataResponse>
  <version>2.0</version>
  <timestamp>2010-06-08T03:09:04.365932-07:00</timestamp>
  <bulletin>
    <id>hxge-vmware-driver-4-1-2-2-7</id>
    <vendor>Sun Microsystems</vendor>
    <summary>hxge: net driver for VMware ESX</summary>
    <severity>general</severity>
    <category>general</category>
    <releaseType>extension</releaseType>
    <description>Sun Microsystems Hydra Device Driver for ESX40</description>
    <kbUrl>www.sun.com</kbUrl>
    <contact>[e-mail]</contact>
    <releaseDate>2010-06-08T01:20:37-07:00</releaseDate>
    <platforms>
      <softwarePlatform locale="" productLineID="esx" version="5.0" />
      <softwarePlatform locale="" productLineID="embeddedEsx" version="5.0" />
    </platforms>
    <vibList>
      <vib>
        <vibVersion>1.4.5</vibVersion>
        <vibID>cross_vmware-esx-drivers-net-hxge_400.4.1.2.2.7-1.0.4.00000</vibID>
        <name>vmware-esx-drivers-net-hxge</name>
        <version>400.4.1.2.2.7-1.0.4.00000</version>
        <buildDate>2010-06-08T03:08:58-07:00</buildDate>
        <vibType>cross</vibType>
        <systemReqs>
          <swPlatform locale="" productLineID="esx" version="5.*" />
          <swPlatform locale="" productLineID="embeddedEsx" version="5.*" />
          <maintenanceMode>true</maintenanceMode>
        </systemReqs>
        <postInstall>
          <rebootRequired>true</rebootRequired>
          <hostdRestart>false</hostdRestart>
        </postInstall>
        <visorDestination>custom</visorDestination>
        <pkgfile>vmware-esx-drivers-net-hxge-400.4.1.2.2.7-1.0.4.00000.x86_64.rpm</pkgfile>
        <softwareTags>
          <tag>driver</tag>
          <tag>module</tag>
        </softwareTags>
        <vibFile>
          <sourceUrl />
          <relativePath>vmware-esx-drivers-net-hxge-400.4.1.2.2.7-1.0.4.00000.x86_64.vib</relativePath>
          <packedSize>98442</packedSize>
          <checksum>
            <checksumType>sha-1</checksumType>
            <checksum>e395ad40820ef10965613e6cad29e688a3c3c559</checksum>
          </checksum>
        </vibFile>
      </vib>
    </vibList>
  </bulletin>
</metadataResponse>

platforms.xml:

<platforms>
  <softwarePlatform locale="" productLineID="esx" version="5.*" />
  <softwarePlatform locale="" productLineID="embeddedEsx" version="5.*" />
</platforms>

The only thing I can think of that would still give the "Bad VIB archive header" error is the vibVersion item. However I don't know which vibVersion esxi 5.0 uses, perhaps someone can help me with this?

Thanks in advance,

Bram

[bverm]

I probably used the wrong tags to show the xml code. :smileysad:

vmware.xml:

<metadataResponse>
  <version>2.0</version>
  <timestamp>2010-06-08T03:09:04.365932-07:00</timestamp>
  <bulletin>
    <id>hxge-vmware-driver-4-1-2-2-7</id>
    <vendor>Sun Microsystems</vendor>
    <summary>hxge: net driver for VMware ESX</summary>
    <severity>general</severity>
    <category>general</category>
    <releaseType>extension</releaseType>
    <description>Sun Microsystems Hydra Device Driver for ESX40</description>
    <kbUrl>www.sun.com</kbUrl>
    <contact>[e-mail]</contact>
    <releaseDate>2010-06-08T01:20:37-07:00</releaseDate>
    <platforms>
      <softwarePlatform locale="" productLineID="esx" version="5.0" />
      <softwarePlatform locale="" productLineID="embeddedEsx" version="5.0" />
    </platforms>
    <vibList>
      <vib>
        <vibVersion>1.4.5</vibVersion>
        <vibID>cross_vmware-esx-drivers-net-hxge_400.4.1.2.2.7-1.0.4.00000</vibID>
        <name>vmware-esx-drivers-net-hxge</name>
        <version>400.4.1.2.2.7-1.0.4.00000</version>
        <buildDate>2010-06-08T03:08:58-07:00</buildDate>
        <vibType>cross</vibType>
        <systemReqs>
          <swPlatform locale="" productLineID="esx" version="5.*" />
          <swPlatform locale="" productLineID="embeddedEsx" version="5.*" />
          <maintenanceMode>true</maintenanceMode>
        </systemReqs>
        <postInstall>
          <rebootRequired>true</rebootRequired>
          <hostdRestart>false</hostdRestart>
        </postInstall>
        <visorDestination>custom</visorDestination>
        <pkgfile>vmware-esx-drivers-net-hxge-400.4.1.2.2.7-1.0.4.00000.x86_64.rpm</pkgfile>
        <softwareTags>
          <tag>driver</tag>
          <tag>module</tag>
        </softwareTags>
        <vibFile>
          <sourceUrl />
          <relativePath>vmware-esx-drivers-net-hxge-400.4.1.2.2.7-1.0.4.00000.x86_64.vib</relativePath>
          <packedSize>98442</packedSize>
          <checksum>
            <checksumType>sha-1</checksumType>
            <checksum>e395ad40820ef10965613e6cad29e688a3c3c559</checksum>
          </checksum>
        </vibFile>
      </vib>
    </vibList>
  </bulletin>
</metadataResponse>

platforms.xml:

<platforms>
  <softwarePlatform locale="" productLineID="esx" version="5.*" />
  <softwarePlatform locale="" productLineID="embeddedEsx" version="5.*" />
</platforms>

[peetz]

Hi,

you cannot use an ESXi 4.x driver on ESXi 5.0. Even if you get it installed somehow, ESXi 5.0 won't be able to load and use it.

You need to wait for the release of a ESXi 5.0 version of the hgxe driver.

See also the associated HCL entry showing that ESXi 5.0 does currently not support your NIC:

http://www.vmware.com/resources/compatibility/detail.php?deviceCategory=io&productid=13401&deviceCategory=io&partner=86&keyword=hxge&deviceTypes=6&page=1&display_interval=10&sortColumn=Partner&sortOrder=Asc

Regards

Andreas

- VMware Front Experience Blog

[bverm]

Hello Andreaz,

I realised the NICs weren't supported so far, but in previous releases it always took ages for them to support it eventhough they didn't modify the drivers, they just modified the xml files in the archive. :smileyhappy:

It does however seem that this release is different as the whole package needs to be modified for it to work, like you said. I guess I'll just have to wait for Oracle to get their shit together. Again.

Kind regards,

Bram