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Richard Brodean

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ESxi 6.5 not seeing PCI-E Network Adapter when trying to create a new vSwitch

Hello all,

I have installed an additional 2 port NIC in my ESXi 6.5 host. However, when attempting to create a vSwitch with these two ports, I don't not see these ports, only the onboard network adapters. Not sure if I'm missing something here, some screenshots attached.

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Thanks in Advance
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Ajay Chanana
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directpath I/O pci device available to VM's - which will allow you to directly assign Network card to VM.

Did we enabled pass through option for this ? if not check the below KB to enable and requirement for above.

https://kb.vmware.com/s/article/1010789
Is there a valid reason WHY, you want to present physical network interfaces in the HOST, to virtual machines ? It's not normal to do this....

Normally you would use virtual network interfaces to connect to a virtual machine portgroup, connected to a vSwitch, which is connected to physical network interfaces in the HOST.

see my EE Article

Part 14: HOW TO: Configure basic networking on a VMware vSphere Hypervisor 5.1 (ESXi 5.1) Host Server
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Richard Brodean

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Andrew,

I was looking in the PCI Devices section and noticed the two Realtek adapters were Disabled. I enabled them there in hopes of getting vCenter to see them in the web client. But when creating the new vSwitch, I don't see the two adapters listed in "Unused", or anywhere for that matter, it only sees my onboard NICs which are in use. I did a lspci and the host does see the adapters, but for some reason it's not showing up in vCenter.
Are they on the HCL ?

do they appear in network interfaces under the host (not PCI devices for passthrough!)

What is the host ?

What is the network interface ?

Many Realkteks are not included on the HCL
Ah yes, I know ESXi is picky about NICs. Not listed there in the HCL although a .vib drive for it exists and the hosts sees it via lspci. I think I have an Intel NIC around and will use that instead. Thanks for the input!
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Avatar of Andrew Hancock (VMware vExpert PRO / EE Fellow/British Beekeeper)
Andrew Hancock (VMware vExpert PRO / EE Fellow/British Beekeeper)
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Thanks for the input!