Hi All,

I have brought a new Machine with a Intel Desktop Broad DH67CL with 82579V network chip, I have installed the ESXi 4.1 U1 but failed as the system cannot found the appropriate Network card driver.After googling a lots, I found that the e1000e driver is suitable for this (I have installed a RHEL and use e1000e driver, it is working), and I would like to change the sample.map file for the PCI Device ID to map the current chip, but in the root of the ESXi 4.1 U1 disc, I didn't see any "oem.tgz" file, would someone please give me a help?

Please also give some hints or steps if possible..as i am definitely a newbie in Linux and ESX

Thanks!
Alex

Hi Alex, ESXi isn't based on Linux so it's not possible to just copy over a current Linux driver to ESXi. ESXi does have a Linux driver compatability module which enables one to use Linux source for driver compilation, but drivers still must be created specifically for ESXi.

ESXi tends to be a bit behind in the source used for drivers so it may be that the version on ESXi just doesn't support your NIC yet. Here's what I would first try:
1) start the ESXI install process
2) when you get the error, press ALT+F1
3) login with root (no password)
4) run vmkload_mod e1000e
5) run esxcfg-nics -l to see if the NIC is now listed.

If the NIC is listed, then you just need to edit simple.map. If not then you might need to compile another driver.

This is a nightmare that I can't see any interface listed after running the esxcfg-nics -l...ooohs!So the next step I need to do is compile the driver for the ESXi right??May I know more information about how to compile a driver suitable for ESXi?

I have got a e1000e.o file.

Thanks a lot!

Take a look at this - http://www.bytedynamix.com/?p=77.