VMware ESXi 4.1 is unable to be installed with Intel 82580 NIC successfully.

[jackytu]

Dear all,

So far we met a problem which the VMware ESXi 4.1 is unable to be installed successfully as attached file.

We found it caused there is no OB NIC (Intel 82580)supported for ESX/ESXi 4.x.

The VMWare ESX4.1 can install successfully if we load the Intel 82580 driver CD during the OS installation.

However the ESXi 4.x is still unable to load the driver CD during the OS installation.

Here is the HW SPEC of our system below:

Intel Sandy Bridge, Cougar Point(PCH) and Intel 82580DB

Does anyone can let us know how to load the NIC driver during the ESXi 4.1 OS installation?

Does anyone can also help to confirm whether this issue caused the ESXi 4.x OS limitation or not?

It is appreciated if anyone can help to confirm or just let us know where we can find the related document which mentioned about the ESXi 4.x OS limitation on the VMware official website.

We have to let our customer know the issue is not related to our platform, thanks.

[Dave_Mishchenko]

ESXi doesn't include this driver and doesn't provide an option to add it during the installation process.  You have to download it from here - http://downloads.vmware.com/d/info/datacenter_downloads/vmware_vsphere_4/4#drivers_tools and then install it post-install with vihostupdate from the vCLI. If you need to use it during the installation, you'll need to create a custom oem.tgz file - http://www.vm-help.com/esx40i/customize_oem_tgz.php.

[chengh]

I have downloaded the drive iso file. Inside the readme.txt it says:

C) To update or add drivers on existing ESX and ESXi installations using
   vihostupdate: (for both ESX and ESXi)

1. Power on the ESX or ESXi host.
2. Place the driver CD in the CD-ROM drive of the host where either the vSphere
   CLI package is installed or vMA is hosted.
3. Mount the driver CD.
4. Navigate to <cd mount point>/offline-bundle/ and locate the
   <offline-bundle>.zip file.
5. Run the vihostupdate command to install drivers using the offline bundle.

   vihostupdate <conn_options> --install --bundle <offline-bundle>.zip

But the problem is there is no vihostupdate command on ESXi host. So I have download and installed vSphere Command-Line Interface

from http://downloads.vmware.com/d/details/vcli40u2/ZHcqYmRodGpiZHR3ZA==

From the referrence guide. (http://www.vmware.com/pdf/vsphere4/r40/vsp_40_vcli.pdf) I see the command example:

vihostupdate.pl <conn_options> --install --bundle http://<webserver>/rollup.zip

My quesitons do I have to use URL to make it work? I already downloaded the iso and extarct the .zip file to my computer.

How can I install it?

Thanks,

[Dave_Mishchenko]

You can specify a local file,  http link,  https link or ftp link.

[chengh]

Yes. I just did it successfully.

I copied the .zip to the same folder where I installed the CMI C:\Program Files\VMware\VMware vSphere CLI\bin by defualt

Then I run the command

C:\Program Files\VMware\VMware vSphere CLI\bin>vihostupdate.pl --server 10.1.2.9
2 --username root --password Halo2rocks --install --bundle INT-intel-lad-ddk-igb
-2.4.10-offline_bundle-320657.zip
Please wait patch installation is in progress ...
The update completed successfully, but the system needs to be rebooted for the c
hanges to be effective.

Thank you.