In this section:

Use this section to attach the SR-IOV virtual function interface in VMware ESXi 8.0 and above versions.

Driver and Firmware Versions

Modified: for 12.1.4



Ensure the ESXi version is 8.0 or above, before proceeding.

Driver Versions

Ensure the driver versions for each card are exactly as mentioned. The SBC is not compatible with newer versions or older versions of the drivers.

Firmware Version

Use the latest firmware for the specific NIC corresponding to the hardware platform.

Compatible NIC Driver and Firmware Versions

NICDriver VersionsFirmware Versions
X710

i40en 2.9.2.0

9.50
E810

icen 1.9.8.0

4.00
Note

Refer to the Broadcom Compatibility Guide at https://compatibilityguide.broadcom.com/, navigate to Platform & Compute > IO Devices, and select the installed ESXi version (For example, ESXi 8.0 U1).

Attaching the SR-IOV

Use the following steps to attach the SR-IOV:

Note

Step 1 to step 4 are also described in the section Creating Virtual Machines using SR-IOV Interfaces. If you have already performed these steps, continue the procedure from step 5.


  1. The 10G card (X540 or X710) contains two ports named as vmnic in VMware. Go to Networking > Physical NICs to view the list of VM NICs.

  2. Select the VM NICs to enable the SRIOV and use as PKT0 or PKT1. 

  3. Click the selected VM NICs to obtain their PCI addresses. 


  4. Go to Host > Manage > Hardware > PCI Devices. Select the PCI devices obtained in the above step, one after the other. Enable the SRIOV with the number of virtual functions required.

    1. Select the PCI device and click Configure SR-IOV. 


    2. Enter the number of virtual functions required depending on the number of VMs to create using the VM NIC. 

    3. Save and repeat steps 4.a and 4.b for the VM NICs that require SRIOV enabling.

    4. Click Reboot Host to enable SRIOV on the VM NICs. After the Host reboots the virtual functions are created for the PCI devices.

  5. Go to Networking > Virtual switches and click Add standard virtual switch. 

  6. Give a name to the switch and select the VM NIC in Uplink 1 for which SRIOV is enabled. Click Add. 

  7. Repeat if there are other VM NICs. 

  8. Go to Networking > Port Groups. Click Add port group. 

  9. To add the Port Group, enter the following details and click Add.

    • Name: Any port group name

    • VLAN ID: 4095

    • Virtual Switch: The vSwitch created previously. 

  10. When creating or loading the SBC, enter the Network Adapter Details as shown below:

    1. Click Add network adapter. Do this twice; once for PKT0 and once for PKT1.

    2. In the New Network Adapter drop-down menu, for the PKT0 select the Port group created in the previous step.

    3. In the Adapter Type drop-down menu, select SR-IOV passthrough.

    4. In the Physical function drop-down menu, select the PCI device the Port group belongs to (the PCI device obtained before).

    5. Retain the default values for the other options.



  11. Enter the other required values to start up the SBC in the VMware.
  12. Click Save or Finish.

Readjust SR-IOV Network Adapter Addition Sequence

If the sequence shown after saving does not match the sequence in which the SR-IOV network adapters were added, detach the SR-IOV network adapters from the VM and readjust the sequence in which the SR-IOV network adapters were added, so that after saving, the VM has access to the correct sequence as expected by the SBC.

SR-IOV Adapter Sequence

SequenceDescription
MGT0, HA, PKT0, PKT1For setup with two packet port
MGT0, HA, PKT0, PKT1, MGT1For setup with two packet port and extra management interface
MGT0, HA, PKT0_P, PKT1_P, PKT0_S, PKT1_SFor port redundancy setup with 4 packet port
MGT0, HA, PKT0_P, PKT1_P, PKT0_S, PKT1_S, MGT1For port redundancy setup with 4 packet port and extra management interface

Example SR-IOV Network Adapters Order

When the PKT0 and PKT1 SR-IOV adapters are added in sequence, after saving the networks, the order of SR-IOV network adapters is shown below (example only).


For the example shown, delete the SR-IOV networks and attach the SR-IOV network adapters such that the order is PKT1 and then PKT0.

Power on the VM to create or start up the SBC.