VMware ESX Server 3.5 Update 3 Driver CD for Sun Multithreaded Quad Gigabit Ethernet Networking Devices

This driver CD release includes support for version 1.3.1 of the nxge driver on ESX Server 3.5 Update 3. This nxge driver supports products based on Sun Multithreaded Quad Gigabit Ethernet networking devices.

For detailed information about ESX Server hardware compatibility, check the I/O Hardware Compatibility Guide web application.

This document contains the following sections:

• Creating and Using the Driver CD
• Installing ESX Server

Creating and Using the Driver CD

1. Download the driver file.
2. Check the md5sum of the downloaded file by running the following command:

   md5sum esx350-nxge-1.3.1-147464.iso

   The output should match the following:
   ad2f40715e19ec409fb16815f6b403e0 esx350-nxge-1.3.1-147464.iso

   See Verifying the integrity of downloaded installer files (KB 1537) for more information.

3. Write the .iso image to a CD-ROM.

To install ESX Server, refer the procedure detailed in the following section.

Installing ESX Server

The ESX Server driver CD allows you to install new or updated drivers on new or existing ESX Server installations. You can use the driver CD in two different ways:

• As a boot CD for new ESX Server 3.5 installations
• As a driver update CD for existing ESX Server 3.5 installations

Driver CD as a Boot CD Only

The following procedure describes how to use the driver CD as a boot CD. Use this CD as a boot CD only when the new driver must enable the target device on which ESX Server 3.5 Update 3 will be installed.

1. Place the driver CD in the CD-ROM drive of the host machine.
2. Start the host machine.
3. When prompted for an upgrade or installation, press Enter for graphical mode.
4. Choose the language you prefer.
5. Select a keyboard type.
6. After you are prompted to swap the driver CD with the ESX Server installation CD, insert the ESX Server 3.5 Update 3 installation CD and continue with ESX Server installation.
   For detailed instructions, refer to the VI3 Installation and Upgrade Guide.
7. After ESX Server is installed and the system reboots, log in to ESX Server.
8. Verify that the driver is installed successfully:
   1. Run the esxupdate query command.
      A message containing the information about the driver appears.
   2. View the PCI ID XML file in the /etc/vmware/pciid/ directory.
      The driver information is available in the file.
   3. Check for the latest version of the driver module in the following directory:
      /usr/lib/vmware/vmkmod/
   4. To verify that the driver is loaded and functioning, enter vmkload_mod -l command.
      The driver is listed in the displayed list.
      

Driver CD as an Update CD Only

The following procedure describes how to use the driver CD to update or add the driver on an existing ESX Server 3.5 Update 3 system (for more information, refer to the Patch Management for ESX Server 3 Tech Note).

1. Start the ESX Server machine and log in to service console as root.
2. Place the driver CD in the CD-ROM drive of the server.
3. Mount the driver CD.
4. Change the directory to the VMupdates/RPMS/ on the driver CD.
5. Run the esxupdate update command.

   Note: If the hardware is not already installed on the system, run the esxupdate command with the --noreboot option, shut down the host machine manually, install the hardware, and then boot the host machine. This allows you to install in a single boot.

   The server reboots after the driver update.
6. Remove the driver CD from the CD-ROM drive before the system reboots.
7. After the system reboots, log in to ESX Server.
8. Verify that the driver is installed successfully:
   1. Run the esxupdate query command and verify that the information about the driver is mentioned in the resulting message.
   2. View the PCI ID XML file in the /etc/vmware/pciid/ directory.
      The driver information is available in the file.
   3. Check for the latest version of the driver module in
      /usr/lib/vmware/vmkmod/
   4. To verify that the driver is loaded and functioning, run the vmkload_mod -l command.
      The driver is listed in the displayed list.