Upgrade driver for Intel 82571EB Gigabit Ethernet Controller

[markokobal]

Hi,

In my host I have an dual-port Intel Corporation 82571EB Gigabit Ethernet Controller. ESXi 5 loads the NIC Driver Version: 1.1.2-NAPI from 2009-12-03, which is quite obsolete. I have experienced some latency issues and I suspect on driver issues. I have the same card in an CentOS 5 box, where similar problems has been detected and removed by upgrading driver e1000e to latest version 1.6.2-NAPI from 2011-09-16.

What is the procedure to upgrade an NIC driver in ESXi 5, is there an offical and preffered way, or this involves some major hacking?

Thanks for help!

[firestartah]

Hi

Well the standard and best process is to add those customer drivers during the setup when it asks you if you want to add custom drivers.

If your having problems with the server then i would recommend just doing the quick re-install and add the drivers

Gregg

[hara_rath]

If you can find the latest vib for e1000e driver then you can update the vib as mentioned in the following link.

http://pubs.vmware.com/vsphere-50/index.jsp?topic=/com.vmware.vsphere.upgrade.doc_50/GUID-1E773360-CB1C-4BC2-B2A4-B73AB5706FAF.html

Thanks

[markokobal]

Hi,

I don't have VIB. I just have the sources of open soruce drivers (e1000e-1.6.2.tar.gz), available from drivers project homepage http://sourceforge.net/projects/e1000/files/e1000e%20stable/1.6.2/ or either the offical drivers for Linux, available at Intel's webpage http://downloadcenter.intel.com/SearchResult.aspx?lang=eng&ProductFamily=Ethernet+Components&ProductLine=Ethernet+Controllers&ProductProduct=Intel%c2%ae+82571EB+Gigabit+Ethernet+Controller.

Any offical and preffered way for upgrading drivers with given resources?

[JDLangdon]

That might be your problem.  Unless something has changed with ESXi5 I was always told that best practice was to only install VMware certified drivers from the VMware website.  Keep in mind that ESXi is not Linux and therefore there is no gaurentee that Linux drivers will work.

[markokobal]

Hi,

Just for update: VMware has released a new version of e1000e drivers, see patch kb.vmware.com/kb/2007673 ... I did apply this pach and thing works as expected now.