VMware ESXi 5.0 and upgrade HP Virtual Connect FW ..

[Tlachy]

Hi,

we have following environment :

2 x HP BladeEnclousure c7000 with 6 x HP Proliant BL620c G7 and connection to SAN / LAN is with HP VC FlexFabric 10Gb/24-Port Module ..

ESXi version is VMware ESXi 5.0.0, 1117897 ..

I would like to upgrade Virtual Connect Firmware from version 3.18 to version 3.60 ..

compatibility list is on http://partnerweb.vmware.com/programs/hcl/ESX_Flex_config.pdf

Driver version and adapter firmware on ESX is following :

~ # ethtool -i vmnic0

driver: be2net

version: 4.0.88.0

firmware-version: 4.2.401.6

bus-info: 0000:04:00.0

~ # esxcfg-scsidevs -a

vmhba0  hpsa              link-n/a  sas.5001438010854280                    (0:3:0.0) Hewlett-Packard Company Smart Array P410i

vmhba1  lpfc820           link-up   fc.50060b0000c2b205:50060b0000c2b204    (0:4:0.2) ServerEngines Corporation Emulex OneConnect OCe11100 10GbE, FCoE UCNA

vmhba2  lpfc820           link-up   fc.50060b0000c2b207:50060b0000c2b206    (0:4:0.3) ServerEngines Corporation Emulex OneConnect OCe11100 10GbE, FCoE UCNA

~ # vmkload_mod -s HBADriver |grep Version

~ # vmkload_mod -s lpfc820 |grep Version

Version: Version 0:8.2.2.1-18vmw, Build: 914586, Interface: 9.2 Built on: Nov 18 2012

I would like to ask you, If I need to upgrade be2net driver and driver for HBA .. Or upgrade Virtual connec won't have any impact to ESX environment ..

Thanks

Jozef

[Jags_21]

Hi Jozef,

If all the update completes successful, then only effect is that you to reboot the server to take effect of changes in version.

Below are few steps before you start staging the firmware and drivers.

1. First and fore most run the health check up on the VC domains using VCSU or HP SUM and take a backup of the domain profiles.

2. Also check the OA firmware compatibility with VC firmware version, if required need to update OA before VC.

3. Before updating the drivers of the adapter, update the firmware of the VC.

There is a new firmware and driver recommendation from HP. Click here for the firmware information.

Click here for VMware: Best practices for maintaining HP firmware, driver, and system software.

Still something goes wrong HP support is always here to help you bring up the environment as quickly as possible.

Thanks