Identify correct driver for ESXi host hardware component

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It is important to install correct supported drive for ESXi host hardware component (EG FC card, RAID controller HBA, etc.). The driver version depends upon ESXi version and also on firmware version of the corresponding hardware component. To get correct driver version use following steps:

  1. First determine firmware version of component using (IMM or iLO or iDRAC or BIOS etc.) appropriate mechanism.
  2. SSH to ESXi host and get output of following command 
    vmkchdev -l
  3. Open VMWare compability guide at https://www.vmware.com/resources/compatibility/search.php This is also referred as VMWare HCL (Hardware Compatibility List)
  4. In "What you are looking for" select appropriate option such as "I/O devices" in case of FC card or RAID controller
  5. Select brand name "Eg Dell".
  6. If ESXi product release is known select appropriate release, else leave it unselected (or select 'All)
  7. Put at least a few keywords to filter considerably. For example for "Dell HBA 330 Adapter" selecting just "I/O devices" in 'what you are looking for', selecting Dell in Brand name and typing keywords 'hba 330' is enough.
  8. From the search results leave mouse over hyper-link of the name. It would show VID, DID, SVID, SSID of the component. For example on following link
    https://www.vmware.com/resources/compatibility/search.php?deviceCategory=io&details=1&keyword=hba%20330&page=1&display_interval=10&sortColumn=Partner&sortOrder=Asc
    You should notice VID:1000, DID:0097, SVID:1028, SSID:1f45 for Dell HBA 330 Adapter.
  9. Match values of VID, DID, SVID, SSID with output of 'vmkchdev -l' command above.
  10. If the values match click on the correct version of ESXi from the listed ESXi versions. For example clicking 6.5U2 for Dell HBA 330 apater takes to page https://www.vmware.com/resources/compatibility/detail.php?deviceCategory=io&productid=38052&releaseid=408&deviceCategory=io&details=1&partner=23&keyword=hba%20330&page=1&display_interval=10&sortColumn=Partner&sortOrder=Asc
  11. On the resulting page refer column 'Firmware Version' and match it with firmware version determined using BIOS etc. mechanisms earlier
  12. Based on the firmware version (eg 13.17.03.05), hardware (Dell HBA 330 Apapter), ESXi version (6.5 U2) click on + sign to expand the row and get option for downloading the most appropriate driver.
  13. Download the driver using the myvmware link provided.
  14. Either upload the zip file to datastore using datastore file browser or use WinSCP to transfer the driver to ESXi host
  15. Use 
    esxcli software vib install --depot <path-of-vib-zip-file>
    Note that for this host must be in maintenance mode. vib installation might also required reboot
    Install is preferable compared to update as in case incorrectly more recent version of driver is installed and install with overwrite it with older version as per compatibility guide. "esxcli software vib update" without --allow-downgrades option will only update the drivers but not overwrites with older version.


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Home > VMWare platform > VMWare vSphere or ESXi > Identify correct driver for ESXi host hardware component

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