Home > ESX, Flex-10, HP > New Broadcom bnx2x 1.64 driver released for ESX(i) 4.1 but it’s not supported with HP Flex-10

New Broadcom bnx2x 1.64 driver released for ESX(i) 4.1 but it’s not supported with HP Flex-10

August 10th, 2011

VMware has released a new Broadcom bnx2x Nic Driver for ESX(i) 4.1 which is used in HP blades for the HP NC532 Nics.
http://downloads.vmware.com/d/details/dt_esxi40_broadcom_bcm_netxtreme/ZHcqYnQlZXBiZGgqag

The new version is 1.64.32.v41.1

I’ve had confirmation from Rotem Agmon, a VMware Technical Consultant at HP that this new driver is not supported by HP.

The currently supported Update Manager driver friendly versions are:
ESX(i) 4.0 – 1.62.11.v40.1
http://downloads.vmware.com/d/details/dt_esxi40_broadcom_bcm57xxx/ZHcqYnR0d3BiZGVqdA==

ESX(i) 4.1  – 1.62.15.v41.2
http://downloads.vmware.com/d/details/dt_esx41_broadcom_netxtremeii_032311/ZHcqYnR0anBiZGhwZA==

My Flex-10 ESX(i) pre-requisites post has all the driver and firmware required versions.

Categories: ESX, Flex-10, HP Tags: , , , , ,
  1. Jeff Couch
    August 10th, 2011 at 18:52 | #1

    Thanks for always keeping us up to date on these. We use FlexFabric on 8 chassis full of ESXi and HP can never give me solid information on what the correct firmware/driver combinations to use with Vsphere. How do you get solid information like this?

  2. WoodITWork
    August 11th, 2011 at 17:01 | #2

    @Jeff Couch
    Hi Jeff, I was contacted by Rotem Agmon from HP regarding this update.
    I have had information previously from HP while working through Flex-10 problems but unfortunately don’t have any direct line to someone in the know.

  3. Greg
    August 12th, 2011 at 11:11 | #3

    Hi,

    Maybe you know if there is any “change log” available…??

    BR
    Greg

  4. WoodITWork
    August 12th, 2011 at 14:59 | #4

    @Greg
    Not as far as I know. All I’ve gone on is the release notes of the latest versions.

  5. Derek
    August 14th, 2011 at 16:04 | #5

    I am very unhappy with the lack of coordination between VMware and HP on these Flex-10 drivers. How is the average administrator supposed to know what is and is not supported? This is one of many reasons why I will no longer be purchasing any HP blades.

  6. Rotem Agmon
    August 14th, 2011 at 20:11 | #6

    @Derek

    I’m sorry you feel this way. You need to know that these network drivers are developed by BroadCom and first submitted to VMware for qualification with VMware products. Only after that happens the drivers go through comprehensive device driver qualification process by HP for use with Virtual Connect/FlexFabric products.

    How to know what is supported and what is not supported? Simple, follow the following HP technical white papers:

    HP Virtual Connect FlexFabric Solution Recipe

    HP Virtual Connect Flex-10 NICs Solution Recipe white paper

  7. Derek
    August 15th, 2011 at 05:14 | #7

    So why can’t Broadcom/HP/VMware work together more closely and provide a unified release that is supported on all products? It seems HP lags months, if not longer, behind Broadcom releases and has a history of problems with Flex-10 NICs and DDC.

  8. Rabie van der Merwe
    September 14th, 2011 at 12:34 | #8

    I have logged a call on both Broadcom and VMware in the past wrt driver versions.
    VMware just said sorry, they just make the drivers availible to the customers via there site.
    Broadcom said that they maintain the original source, but VMware takes the source and then makes modifications to it and then make it availible to their customers.

    This is REALLY annoying as Derek said how are you supposed to know what you should use.

    Right now I have a problem that UDP is very slow on VM’s hosted on a Flex-10 VMware Cluster with 20 nodes BL495c G6’s. VM’s on normal DL 385 G5p’s dont have to same problem so do I try this driver or not 🙂

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