Nvidia Connectx-8 ESX support?

[joe paolicelli]

I am trying to see if the new Nvidia Connectx-8 nics are supported in ESX 8.x.

We are currently using NMLx5-core version 4.23.6.5-1 and MFT version 4.32.0.120-1

The nic is seen via lspci but doesn't show up in the list of Network Adapters.

They also don't show up with any of the MFT commands like mst status.

For further context, the Connectx-7 nics do show up and work properly.

The Connectx-8 nics do work properly in Linux specifically Ubuntu 24.04.

Thanks for any suggestions.

[Andrea Consalvi]

Hi Joe,

As of today, ConnectX-8 NICs are not yet officially supported on ESXi 8.x, including the latest 8.0U3b builds. The NVIDIA vDPA (mlx5) driver included in ESXi is currently compatible only with ConnectX-4 through ConnectX-7.

That’s why you're seeing it in lspci but not in the vSphere UI or esxcli network nic list — there’s no inbox driver recognizing the device.

A few notes:

• NMLX5-core 4.23.x and MFT 4.32.x only cover up to ConnectX-7 as of current NVIDIA release notes.

• MFT tools like mst status rely on proper device registration via compatible kernel drivers — which is not present in ESXi for CX-8 yet.

• Ubuntu 24.04 loads the latest OFED drivers, so ConnectX-8 works there — ESXi does not.

Until NVIDIA releases an official ESXi driver package for ConnectX-8, the NIC won't be functional on vSphere, even though it’s PCIe-visible.