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and Install Async Drivers in VMware ESXi

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29 views6 pages

and Install Async Drivers in VMware ESXi

Uploaded by

Fabrizio Giordano
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download and install async drivers in VMware ESXi

bookArticle ID: 343324 calendar_today Updated On: 11-11-2024

Products

VMware vSphere ESXi VMware vSphere ESXi 5.0 VMware vSphere ESXi 6.0

VMware vSphere ESXi 7.0

Issue/Introduction

This article provides steps to download and install async drivers in ESXi.

Environment

VMware vSphere ESXi 8.x


VMware vSphere ESXi 7.x
VMware vSphere ESXi 6.x

Resolution

VMware certifies async drivers that are developed by third-party vendors. They are released in
the ESXi software package called a vSphere Installation Bundle (VIB).

Download an async driver signed by VMware


1. Navigate to the VMware Compatibility Guide > IO Devices section.
2. Apply filters to locate the IO device for which you want to upgrade the driver and open the
device page. For more information, see Determining Network/Storage firmware and driver
version in ESXi (1027206).
3. Look through the list for the version of ESXi you are running. VMware recommends installing
the latest certified driver whenever possible.
4. Find the IO driver needed in the Broadcom Support Portal and download it. For the steps on
how to find it, please check Finding IO Drivers in the Broadcom Support Portal.

Installing the async driver


Use one of these methods:

Use esxcli and the offline bundle


Use esxcli and the VIB file
Use VMware Update Manager
Add the driver to the ESXi installation ISO bundle

Note: For more information about installing a specific async driver release, see the
/doc/README.txt file within the async driver release zip file.

Installing async drivers in ESXi using esxcli and offline bundle

1. Extract the contents of the async driver zip file.


2. Identify the offline-bundle.zip file(s).
3. Log in to the ESXi host using the vSphere Client with administrator privileges, such as root.
4. Using the Datastore Browser, upload the offline-bundle.zip file(s) to a datastore in the ESXi
host.
5. Enter the host into maintenance mode.
6. Log in as the ESXi console root to by using SSH or iLO/DRAC.
7. Run this command to install the drivers using the offline bundle:

esxcli software vib install -d /path/offline-bundle.zip

Note. This command requires an absolute path. For example: esxcli software vib
install -d /vmfs/volumes/datastore_name/offline-bundle.zip. If this command
fails, unzip the file and try running the same command. If hostd does not respond, try using
localcli instead of esxcli. For example:

localcli software vib install -d /vmfs/volumes/datastore_name/offline-


bundle.zip

8. Restart the ESXi host.


9. To confirm if the VIB is installed successfully, run this command:

esxcli network nic get -n vmnicX

Note: Replace vmnicX with the vmnic# that should be using the new driver. If the new
driver is not listed, there may be a need to run an additional command to enable or
disable the driver. For more information, see Enabling and Disabling Native Drivers in ESXi
(2147565).

10. Exit Maintenance Mode.

Installing async drivers using esxcli and async driver VIB file

1. Extract the contents of the async driver zip file.


2. Identify the offline-bundle.zip file(s).
3. Extract the contents of the offline-bundle.zip file(s).
4. Identify the async-driver.vib file(s).
5. Log in to the ESXi host using the vSphere Client with administrator privileges, such as root.
6. Using Datastore Browser, upload the async-driver.vib file(s) to an ESXi host’s datastore.
7. Enter the host into Maintenance Mode.
8. Log in as root to the ESXi console through SSH or iLO/DRAC.
9. Run this command to install drivers from the VIB file:

esxcli software vib install –v /path/async-driver.vib

Note: This command requires an absolute path. For example: esxcli software vib
install –v /vmfs/volumes/datastore/async-driver.vib. If hostd is not responding, try
using localcli instead of esxcli. For example: localcli software vib install –v
/vmfs/volumes/datastore/async-driver.vib.

10. Restart the ESXi host.


11. To confirm if the VIB is installed successfully, run this command:

esxcli network nic get -n vmnicX

Note: Replace vmnicX with the vmnic# that should be using the new driver. If the new
driver is not listed, there may be a need to run an additional command to enable or
disable the driver. For more information, see Enabling and Disabling Native Drivers in ESXi
(2147565).

12. Exit Maintenance Mode.

Installing async drivers in ESXi using VMware Update Manager

1. Extract the contents of the async driver zip file.


2. Identify the offline-bundle.zip file(s).
3. From the vCenter Server, go to Home > Update Manager.
4. Click the Patch Repository tab.
5. Click the Import Patches link at the top right of the screen.
6. Click Finish. The async driver is added to the patch repository.
7. Create a Host Extension baseline and remediate the ESXi host. For more information, see
the Installing and Administering VMware vSphere Update Manager Guide.

Notes:
The VMware vSphere Update Manager automatically restarts the ESXi host after the
remediation is complete.
Using the esxcli software vib install -v /path/to/vib command is the only way
revert to an inbox driver after updating to an async driver. In this case, the -n option does
not work as the inbox driver does not associate to a depot.
Adding the async driver to the ESXi installation ISO bundle in ESXi

1. Launch the VMware vSphere PowerCLI command line.


2. Extract the contents of the async driver zip file and identify the offline-bundle.zip files(s).
3. Use the Add-ESXSoftwareDepot commandlet to add both the ESXi offline bundle and
async offline bundle as depots.

For example:

Add-EsxSoftwareDepot C:\path\to\new-async-driver-offline-bundle.zip,
C:\path\to\esxi-offline-bundle.zip

You see output similar to:

Depot Url
---------
zip:C:\path\to\new-async-driver-offline-bundle.zip?index.xml
zip:C:\VMware-ESXi-x.0.0-469512-depot.zip?index.xml

4. Verify that the async driver is now available as a software package.

For example:

Get-EsxSoftwarePackage

You see output similar to:

Name Version Vendor Release Date


------------------- ------- ---------- ------------
driver-package-name 1.2.3.4 vendorname mm/dd/yyyy

5. Clone an existing image profile:

Use the Get-EsxImageProfile commandlet to list available image profiles.

For example:

Get-EsxImageProfile

You see output similar to:

Name Vendor Last Modified Acceptance


-------------------------- ------ ------------- ---------------
ESXi-x.0.0-456551-standard VMware mm/dd/yyyy PartnerSupported
ESXi-x.0.0-456551-no-tools VMware mm/dd/yyyy PartnerSupported

Clone an existing available image profile by specifying a new name for the profile.

For example:

New-EsxImageProfile -CloneProfile ESXi-x.0.0-456551-standard -name


NewAsyncProfile -Vendor MyCorp

You see output similar to:

Name Vendor Last Modified Acceptance Level


--------------- ------ ------------- ----------------
NewAsyncProfile MyCorp mm/dd/yyyy PartnerSupported

6. Use the Add-EsxSoftwarePackage commandlet to add the async driver to the new image
profile, specifying the package name from step 5.

For example:

Add-EsxSoftwarePackage -ImageProfile NewAsyncProfile -SoftwarePackage


driver-package-name

You see output similar to:

Name Vendor Last Modified Acceptance Level


--------------- ------ ------------- ----------------
NewAsyncProfile VMware today PartnerSupported

7. Export the new image profile. Run the Export-EsxImageProfile command to export the
image profile as an ISO.

For example:

Export-EsxImageProfile -ImageProfile NewAsyncProfile -ExportToISO -filepath


C:\NewAsyncProfile.iso

8. If necessary, burn the ISO to a new CD. Use the CD or ISO to boot the server and install ESXi.
Follow the normal installation procedures.

For additional information, see the Customizing Installations with vSphere ESXi Image
Builder section of the VMware ESXi Installation and Setup Guide.

Additional Information

VMware Skyline Health Diagnostics for vSphere - FAQ


“esxcli software vib” commands to patch an ESXi 6.x/7.x/8.x host

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