Cisco P81E VIC ESXi 4.1 Update 1 Proper Driver

Burak Atasal · ‎02-01-2012

Hi all,

I have a C200M2 server with P81E Palo Adapter. The adapter using 1.6(1c) firmware. CIMC firmware is 1.4(2). I'm trying to install ESXi 4.1 Update 1 to the server. While server boots i can see the flogi database output.

N5548# show flo da

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

INTERFACE VSAN FCID PORT NAME NODE NAME

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

vfc1 11 0x4a0005 20:00:00:25:b5:40:40:00 20:00:00:25:b5:30:30:01

vfc2 12 0x7d0004 20:00:00:25:b5:40:40:01 20:00:00:25:b5:30:30:01

vfc5 12 0x7d0006 20:00:00:25:b5:40:40:05 20:00:00:25:b5:30:30:03

vfc6 11 0x4a0009 20:00:00:25:b5:40:40:04 20:00:00:25:b5:30:30:03

vfc9 11 0x4a000e 20:00:00:25:b5:40:40:0a 20:00:00:25:b5:10:10:05

vfc10 12 0x7d0009 20:00:00:25:b5:40:40:0b 20:00:00:25:b5:10:10:05

i boot the server from Virtual CD/DVD drive and waiting for the driver loading screens. After the loading screen when the disk selection screen comes it shows me only the local drive.

and if i go to nexus and check the flogi database again i can see the vfcs gone down.

N5548# show flo da

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

INTERFACE VSAN FCID PORT NAME NODE NAME

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

vfc1 11 0x4a0005 20:00:00:25:b5:40:40:00 20:00:00:25:b5:30:30:01

vfc2 12 0x7d0004 20:00:00:25:b5:40:40:01 20:00:00:25:b5:30:30:01

vfc5 12 0x7d0006 20:00:00:25:b5:40:40:05 20:00:00:25:b5:30:30:03

vfc6 11 0x4a0009 20:00:00:25:b5:40:40:04 20:00:00:25:b5:30:30:03

This is %100 driver problem i'm sure about it. But i tried to inject fnic 1.4.201 driver in to the ESXi 4.1 iso it didn't work. i tried to install ESXi 4.1 Update 2 but it didn't work. I tried to install ESX 5.0 it didn't worked.

But when i inject fnic 1.5.2 driver in to the ESX 5.0 iso it worked. So all i need to know is which driver is working correctly and properly with P81E.

I'm working on this issue for more then 1 week and i'm still on it. If anyone has an advice i'll be glad for it.

Thanks,

Burak.

mipetrin · ‎02-01-2012

Hi Burak,

Have a look at the following video that was put together by my colleague Dan Laden.

https://supportforums.cisco.com/videos/3233

He speaks about the issue with the inbox drivers for the P81E with ESXi 5.0 and how it needs to be upgraded.

Additionally, you can run through the following tool to highlight supportability, such as which drivers and any special notes

Hardware and Software Interoperability Matrix Utility Tool

Hope this helps.

Thanks,

Michael

Burak Atasal · ‎02-01-2012

Hi Michael,

Thank you for your quick reply but i already did this and i need to deploy ESXi 4.1 Update 1 on my C-200 servers. I don't need the 5.0 but that video show me the true problem which is driver issue so that's why i'm focusing to the drivers right now.

mipetrin · ‎02-03-2012

Hi Burak,

Thanks for the feedback.

I'm just looking into a couple things for you and i'll get back to you.

Stay tuned.

Thanks,

Michael

mipetrin · ‎02-03-2012

Hi Burak,

The C-Series Interoperability matrix requires 1.4.0.201 for P81E CNA so this is the correct driver for ESXi 4.1 U1.

Could you let me know the exact steps you took for the install and injecting the drivers. Did you follow this KB article:

Adding third-party device drivers to ESXi 4.1

http://kb.vmware.com/kb/2003316

If necessary, you can install you custom ESXi 4.1 U1 image to the local disk and verify that it contains the correct driver:

~ # vmkload_mod -s fnic

vmkload_mod module information

input file: /usr/lib/vmware/vmkmod/fnic.o

Version: Version 1.4.0.201, Build: 00000, Interface: 9.0, Built on: Aug 19 2011

On the N5K side, do you see any errors, besides the vfc disappearing?

show int vfc 9

show platform software fcoe_mgr info interface vfc 9

show platform fwm info pif ethernet

show int vfc 10

show platform software fcoe_mgr info interface vfc 10

show platform fwm info pif ethernet

Ensure that your N5K configuration is correct, including VFC definition and bindings, VSANs, zoning and zonesets.

Did you configure the properties of the Cisco VIC with the proper FCoE vlan in the C200 CIMC? ( Note: You need to reboot the server to take new settings )

You could also boot off RHEL 6.0/6.1 DVD (not to install but help narrow down the issue). RHEL contains the latest fnic driver built in, so if you are able to see your LUN for install (we know that your N5K configuration is correct along with the setting on the C200)

Thanks,

Michael