NVIDIA Docs Hub NVIDIA Networking Networking Software Adapter Software ESXi 7.0.U3: NVIDIA NATIVE Driver for VMware vSphere Release Notes v4.22.73.1004 General Information

NVIDIA ConnectX-4 onwards NICs NATIVE ESXi 7.0.U3 Driver for VMware vSphere Release Notes v4.22.73.1004

General Information

These are the release notes of NVIDIA® ConnectX®-4 onwards adapter cards for NATIVE ESXi Driver for VMware vSphere 7.0 U3. This driver supports the following uplinks to servers.

Version	OS	Uplink Speed
4.22.73.1004	ESXi 7.0 U3	10/25/40/50/100/200GbE

Content of MLNX-NATIVE-ESX Driver Package

ESXi 7.0 U3:
Mellanox-nmlx5_4.22.73.1004-1OEM.703.0.0.18644231.zip - Hypervisor bundle for ESXi 7.0 U3 contains the following kernel modules:

nmlx5_core
nmlx5_rdma

Supported HCAs Firmware Versions

MLNX-NATIVE-ESX Rev 4.22.73.1004 supports the following Ethernet HCA and their corresponding firmware version:

HCAs	Minimal Recommended Firmware Rev.
NVIDIA BlueField-2	24.34.1002
ConnectX-7	28.34.1002
ConnectX-6 Dx	22.34.1002
ConnectX-6 Lx	26.34.1002
ConnectX-6	20.34.1002
ConnectX-5 / ConnectX-5 Ex	16.34.1002
ConnectX-4 Lx	14.32.1010
ConnectX-4	12.28.2006

For the latest firmware versions, visit: https://network.nvidia.com/support/firmware/firmware-downloads/

Embedded BlueField Software Versions

Software/Firmware	Version
NVIDIA BlueField-2 Software BFB	3.9.2
MLNX_OFED	5.7-1.0.2.0

BlueField Related Information

Download: DOCA_1.4.0_BSP_3.9.2_Ubuntu_20.04-4.signed.bfb file.

Warning

VMware users should use only the certified NVIDIA BlueField-2 bfb image linked above.
To install the BlueField image, follow the instructions provided here.

Warning

In VMware environments, to install and initialize the NVIDIA BlueField-2 with a new bfb image, follow the instructions above using the RSHIM interface of the Linux VM configured with passthrough to be used for upgrading the bfb image.

Tested Hypervisors in Paravirtualized and SR-IOV Environments

Warning

Guest OS users may choose to work with Inbox Drivers or take latest MLNX_OFED available for download from NVIDIA website.

Tested Hypervisors	HCAs	Guest Operating System
SR-IOV	NVIDIA BlueField-2 ConnectX-7 ConnectX-6 Dx ConnectX-6 Lx ConnectX-6 ConnectX-5/ConnectX-5 Ex ConnectX-4 Lx ConnectX-4	Windows Server 2016 DC RedHat 8.0 RedHat 7.5 RedHat 7.3 RedHat 6.10 RedHat 6.3 SLES 12 SP4 SLES 12 SP3
Paravirtualized^a (Ethernet Only)	ConnectX-7 ConnectX-6 Dx ConnectX-6 Lx ConnectX-6 ConnectX-5/ConnectX-5 Ex ConnectX-4 Lx ConnectX-4	Windows Server 2016 DC RedHat 8.0 RedHat 7.5 RedHat 7.3 RedHat 6.10 RedHat 6.3 SLES 12 SP4 SLES 12 SP3
Paravirtualized^a (Ethernet Only)	NVIDIA BlueField-2	CentOS 7.6

_{a. Paravirtualized RDMA is supported only in Linux Operating Systems and in this release it was tested for RedHat 7.5 only.}

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