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ch0psu3y
Joined: Sun Mar 24, 2013 10:36 am Posts: 20
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 10 nic limit workaround
Anyone have any ideas to get around the 10 Ethernet adapter limit in windows guests?
thanks
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Wed Mar 27, 2013 7:13 am |
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Dave.Mishchenko
Site Admin
Joined: Mon Mar 16, 2009 10:13 pm Posts: 3880
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 Re: 10 nic limit workaround
It's hardcoded as far as I know. You can install the Pro/1000 drivers / software package and then create virtual NICs as shown in the image. Would that suffice? http://www.intel.com/support/network/sb/CS-006120.htm
Attachments:
vnics.jpg [ 255.56 KiB | Viewed 3901 times ]
_________________Dave Mishchenko VMware vExpert 2009-2013 Now available - VMware ESXi: Planning, Implementation, and SecurityAlso available - vSphere Quick Start Guide
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Wed Mar 27, 2013 10:44 pm |
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ch0psu3y
Joined: Sun Mar 24, 2013 10:36 am Posts: 20
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 Re: 10 nic limit workaround
Is there a way to force PCI Passthrough? is it a license issue?
I need to be able to map the virtual int's to physical int's. I will be running 12 routers in 12 separate vlans connecting into 12 separate physical switch ports. Do these virtual int's correlate to physical ints or they are just logical interfaces on the box?
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Thu Mar 28, 2013 6:36 am |
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ch0psu3y
Joined: Sun Mar 24, 2013 10:36 am Posts: 20
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 Re: 10 nic limit workaround
regarding the passthrough... looks like I need to enable some goodies in my mobo bios, specifically VT-x and/or VT-D. Some bathroom reading on it: http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/Te ... =c02032548 | http://community.spiceworks.com/topic/2 ... figuration | http://kb.vmware.com/selfservice/micros ... Id=1010789I have a MSI MS-7673 mobo, which appears to support this. When I get home I will poke around in my BIOS and find the settings required, flip the switch and report back.
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Thu Mar 28, 2013 7:44 am |
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Dave.Mishchenko
Site Admin
Joined: Mon Mar 16, 2009 10:13 pm Posts: 3880
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 Re: 10 nic limit workaround
For an Intel board your looking for VT-d or Directed I/O. VT-x is for 64 bit virtualization and doesn't impact passthrough.
_________________Dave Mishchenko VMware vExpert 2009-2013 Now available - VMware ESXi: Planning, Implementation, and SecurityAlso available - vSphere Quick Start Guide
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Thu Mar 28, 2013 9:05 am |
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ch0psu3y
Joined: Sun Mar 24, 2013 10:36 am Posts: 20
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 Re: 10 nic limit workaround
If I am doing PCI Passthrough, do I need Windows drivers for the card (assuming I am using a Windows guest)?
Thanks for all your help Dave!
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Thu Mar 28, 2013 11:44 am |
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Dave.Mishchenko
Site Admin
Joined: Mon Mar 16, 2009 10:13 pm Posts: 3880
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 Re: 10 nic limit workaround
Yes - the guest OS would require the proper driver, but ESXi would not. So assuming you have a good implementation of VT-d (and it varies from board to board) you'll pass through the device and the guest OS will communicate directly with the device.
_________________Dave Mishchenko VMware vExpert 2009-2013 Now available - VMware ESXi: Planning, Implementation, and SecurityAlso available - vSphere Quick Start Guide
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Thu Mar 28, 2013 11:52 am |
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ch0psu3y
Joined: Sun Mar 24, 2013 10:36 am Posts: 20
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 Re: 10 nic limit workaround
of course, the drivers i just compiled for esxi dont exist in windows  FML!
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Thu Mar 28, 2013 1:00 pm |
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