HP NC365T shown as Broadcom iSCSI adapter

[pytress]

Hello,

I've recently installed ESXi 4.1 (HP ESXi 4.1 U1Build 348481) on a DL380 G7 with a NC365T to be used as quad network interface card (besides a dual FC HBA).

The ESXi recognizes this quad NIC – NC365T - only as iSCSI HBA.

What should I do to change this behavior?

I've already searched several forums with no luck. Just some people complaining the NC365T wasn't even recognized by ESXi (older versions/builds).

I've check all hardware is in the VMware HCL! Anyone care to help?

Thanks in advance.

Regards,

Raul Costa

[MrFixIt1]

Hi Raul,

I have 2 x HP DL380’s G7 with 4 integrated nics and HP NC365T quad port nics. Using VMWARE (ESXi 4.1 U1Build 348481). You need to load the drives “VMware ESX/ESXi 4.x Driver CD for Intel 82576 and 82580 Gigabit Ethernet Controller”.  Then reboot the ESXi and the nics will appear in the network adapters.

Here is the link for the drivers you need:

http://downloads.vmware.com/d/details/esx40_intel_82580_v4002198_dt/ZHcqYmRwakBiZCVodw==

Detailed install steps.

1. Download the drivers from the link above, burn them to CD.
   
2. Enable tech support mode in ESXi
   
3. Place the driver CD in the CD-rom on the ESXi host.
   
4. at the ESXi tech support console, login.
   

      Load the iso9660 module, use the command

5. vmkload_mod iso9660
   

     Check to see what the device name is for your ESXi server.

     esxcfg-mpath –l

     6. You will see a line that reads mpx.vmhba0:C0:T0:L0

     write this name down.

     Mount the CD using the device name above

/sbin/vsish –e set /vmkModules/iso9660/mount mpx.vmhba0:C0:T0:L0

6. Check that the CD has been mounted.
   

      cd /vmfs/volumes/mpx.vmhba0:C0:T0:L0

7. list the files with ls command so you can see the offline directory
   

      cd OFFLINE_

8. Then use the zip file that is listed with the ls command for the offline directory
   

Run the ESXi update command

9. esxupdate --bundle INT_INTE.ZIP update
   
10. type:  reboot
    

Then login using the viclient and you will now see the NC365T quad ports nics under the network adapters. These drivers also work with ESX/ESXi 4.0.0.

The console command might be different for ESX/ESXi 4.0.0.0

Alex V

Miami, FL

[pytress]

Hi Alex,

Thanks for your reply, I'll try that and will let you know the result.

I find it odd though, since the ESXi build/version installed is more recent than the drivers you mention. Aren't all those older drivers supposed to be in the installation media?

And the NC365T is Broadcom (BCM5306, I think), not Intel...

Regards,

Raul Costa

[MrFixIt1]

Raul,

I did some research on HP website, the HP NC365T quad port nic is based on the Intel 82580 GBE controller.

He is the link on HP website for proof question and answers number 3:

http://h18000.www1.hp.com/products/servers/networking/nc365t/questionsanswers.html

Q3.	What network controller is used on the NC365T?
A3.	The NC365T uses the Intel 82580 GbE controller.

I have attached a screenshot that shows the drivers installed, as I described in the previous reply, please take a look. It also shows the 2 x embedded HP NC382i dual ports.

Let me know if it works for you, I would like to contact VMware and HP to address this issue.

Note: I fixed some typo's in the previous reply INT_INTE.ZIP

Note: The Broasdcom iSCSI adapters that appear under the Configuration tab, Storage Adapters belong to the 2 x HP Embedded HP NC382i Dual Port Multifuction Gigabit Server adapter and not to the HP NC365T 4-port ethernet adapter. You can verify this by looking at the mac address on the network cards.

Thank you.

Alex V

Miami, FL

[pytress]

Thank you Alex,

You're right, i've confirmed that in the HP web site, thanks for the enlightment! :smileywink:

I'll load the drivers you refered and let you know how it goes...

Regards,

Raul Costa

[pytress]

Alex,

I’ve found apparently two more recent drivers for the Intel 82580:

http://downloads.vmware.com/d/details/esx40_intel_825766_82580_dt/ZHcqYnRldCViZHR3ag==

http://downloads.vmware.com/d/details/dt_esx4_intel_3018/ZHcqYnR3ZHRiZGhwZA==

I’ll try to load the most up to date (version 3.0.18; build 396986; release date 2011/04/28).

Regards,

Raul Costa

[pytress]

Hi Alex,

It worked like you said. I've uploaded the most recent Intel drivers I've found (link in other reply), rebooted the ESXi and the NC365T is now available and shown in the Network Adapters configuration tab.

I wasn't able to use the steps you mention though. I couldn't mount the CD. The command "/sbin/vsish –e set /vmkModules/iso9660/mount mpx.vmhba0:C0:T0:L0" failed.

Instead I did like this:

1. downloaded and opened the iso file
   
2. retrieved offline bundle zip file (from the iso)
   
3. copied the zip file to one of the datastores (through vSphere Client browse datastore)
   
4. putty to ESXi
   
5. "cd" to datastore directory (/vmfs/...)
   
6. executed the "esxupdate --bundle=<file_name>.zip update" (your step 9)
   
7. reboot
   

Thanks again,

Raul Costa

[radiolandog]

Alex,

Thank you for your post - it was very helpful to us today!

The steps that you listed worked well (including mounting the cd-rom).

Raul - thanks for the updated link.

Thanks,

-dog

[benq201110141]

Hoping the OP or others familiar with the HP DL380 G7 server can assist...

im in the exact same situation where I want to add additional PCI-e NICs to my G7 server.  reading through this thread, although it sounds quite straight forward, I wont be onsite for the upgrade, and relying on less someone less technical onsite to do the physical work.  given that some change is required in ESX to update the driver for the HP NC365T NICs (I was also planning to use these), I would prefer then using a NIC which would be automatically detected after install (ie no need for driver update in ESX)

can someone suggest a HP branded NIC which is suitable for ESX 4.0 (no update).  i presume the NIC would have to have the same chipset as those oboard on the G7???

comments?