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How to configure NIC on VMWare ESXI server
We currently have a VMware ESXI 4.1 server hosting 3 virtual machines. It has two on-board NICs but only one is enabled on the server. vmnic0 is fully operational and vmnic1 is setup as a standby adapter but is currently down. I am new to the configuration, so my guess is that the NIC is disabled on the server and needs enabled. I tried reaching the server via SSH but it looks like the installers did not enable it. I need to enable vmnic1 as well as SSH. How do I go about that?
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ASKER
What do you mean it is not connected? It is plugged into the server and switch along with the other NIC. No indicator lights. I configured it just as you sent in the vSphere client. I will look into the configuration of the physical switch.
If it's down, it's mean it's usually not connected, or cable fault, port fault, speed fault.
- DOWN.
ESXi does not have a lot of physical control over the NIC, team settings do not effect if the NIC is down.
You can change the speed of the NIC, but I would leave to Auto if Gigabit.
- DOWN.
ESXi does not have a lot of physical control over the NIC, team settings do not effect if the NIC is down.
You can change the speed of the NIC, but I would leave to Auto if Gigabit.
ASKER
I have replaced the cable and changed the port without success. I have adjusted the speed of the NIC as well. Still showing down. Could this be a drivers issue?
normally cable, faulty nic, port speed
if you just change the cable from active to this port does it work?
doing the above could cause outage?
does the port led on the nic light up?
if you just change the cable from active to this port does it work?
doing the above could cause outage?
does the port led on the nic light up?
ASKER
No outage, no changes work, amber light on switch not on server.
ASKER
Brand new cable and operational port.
server nic fault?
ASKER
Not sure how to tell. New to VMware. nothing in the system logs.
turn server off.
swap the cable from working port to suspect port, this is not really VMware, this is hardware.
does the port light?
swap the cable from working port to suspect port, this is not really VMware, this is hardware.
does the port light?
ASKER
Could this be a driver issue? Do you have a walk through on installing drivers?
it's possible it's a driver issue.
1. But first I would upgrade firmware of the server
2. confirm with diagnostics disks both ports are functioning (without ESXi loaded)
3. check the server is on the VMware HCL.
what is the server?
what is the nic?
what build of ESXi 4.1 are you using? u1, u2 or u3? and Build?
is it the VMware of OEM Vendor version?
new nic drivers could be available?
those are checks we would make.
1. But first I would upgrade firmware of the server
2. confirm with diagnostics disks both ports are functioning (without ESXi loaded)
3. check the server is on the VMware HCL.
what is the server?
what is the nic?
what build of ESXi 4.1 are you using? u1, u2 or u3? and Build?
is it the VMware of OEM Vendor version?
new nic drivers could be available?
those are checks we would make.
ASKER
NIC is a Broadcom NetXtreme II BCM5716 1000BaseT. Version and Build of VMWare is attached in a screen shot. Server is a Dell PowerEdge R510.
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ESXi 4.1 is quite out of date, there have been 3 updates since.
did you download and install ESXi from Dell.
to proceed further, I would test with Dell diagnotics, to determine if hardware is faulty, or ESXi fault.
did you download and install ESXi from Dell.
to proceed further, I would test with Dell diagnotics, to determine if hardware is faulty, or ESXi fault.
ASKER