asked on

VMware Installing .vib Using Update Manger

I am new to VMware so thank you for your patience and thank you for not assuming I know very much about this.

I have ESXi 5.0 installed on a HP DL360 G7. When I create a virtual machine it does not recognize the Converged Network Adapter. I have obtained the drivers for this CNA and it comes in .vib format. I understand I can use the following command to install this software,

esxcli software vib install -v {VIBFILE}

But I'm having difficulties understanding how to get the file in a location I can idenify. I currently have the .vib files in a location on the same level as my datastore1. How would that look in above command?

I can I do this from vCenter or Update Manger more easily?

Thanks in advance for your help.

Andrew Hancock (VMware vExpert PRO / EE Fellow/British Beekeeper)

so the path would be

/vmfs/volumes/datastore1/vib file name

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Andrew Hancock (VMware vExpert PRO / EE Fellow/British Beekeeper)

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Drafter421

ASKER

Thanks hanccocka. Do I have to recreate the VMs to install these new drivers on the VMs?

Andrew Hancock (VMware vExpert PRO / EE Fellow/British Beekeeper)

what are you trying to do?

and what VIB do you have?

Drafter421

ASKER

I'm trying to have VMs recognize the Network Adapter the vib is associated with. The .vib is the adapter driver.

Andrew Hancock (VMware vExpert PRO / EE Fellow/British Beekeeper)

The driver you are installing is for the Host, not the VMs.

The VMs you have created use a virtual network adaptor, either E1000, VMXNET2 or VMXNET3.

Andrew Hancock (VMware vExpert PRO / EE Fellow/British Beekeeper)

do you want the VMs to use specific hardware on the host?

e.g. not vritual hardware?

if so you would use VM Direct Path...

See here

http://www.vm-help.com/esx40i/VMDirectPath/USB_Setup.php

where you assign the Host Hardware PCI card directly to the VM, just like you would a physical card, and then install the drivers on the VM.

Do not install the VIB, if this is the case, because otherwise the HOST will own the hardware and not the VM.

Drafter421

ASKER

But isnt that virtual network adapter associated with a physical adapter? I am trying to get through my HP CN1100E converged network adapter so I can reach my SAN from a VM.

Drafter421

ASKER

Don't I WANT the host to own the hardware? I want every VM I make to have access to the adapter.

Andrew Hancock (VMware vExpert PRO / EE Fellow/British Beekeeper)

No, the virtual adaptor is not associated with a physical adaptor.

Virtual Adaptor is connected to a Virtual Machine Portgroup on a virtual switch, the virtual switch is connected to a primary uplink (physical NIC).

Andrew Hancock (VMware vExpert PRO / EE Fellow/British Beekeeper)

Okay, add the VIM drivers and Proceed.

Andrew Hancock (VMware vExpert PRO / EE Fellow/British Beekeeper)

VM Direct Path is one PCI card to one VM.

Drafter421

ASKER

Thanks for the help. I'll try installing that .vib.

Andrew Hancock (VMware vExpert PRO / EE Fellow/British Beekeeper)

once you install the drivers, it will be allocated a vmnic X number and you will be able to allocate to a virtual switch.

ALL VMs will then access the virtual switch, via their virtual nic

Andrew Hancock (VMware vExpert PRO / EE Fellow/British Beekeeper)

you will then need to build an iSCSI network using that new NIC!

see my articles here

HOW TO: Enable Jumbo Frames on a VMware vSphere Hypervisor (ESXi 5.0) host server using the VMware vSphere Client

HOW TO: Add an iSCSI Software Adaptor and Create an iSCSI Multipath Network in VMware vSphere Hypervisor ESXi 4.1

HOW TO: Add an iSCSI Software Adaptor and Create an iSCSI Multipath Network in VMware vSphere Hypervisor ESXi 5.0

Drafter421

ASKER

Thanks for all your help.