Beware !!!!! Marvell 88E8056 NIC drops iSCSI connections

[JLaay]

Hi all,

(This problem has no relation to the topic: VMware v4.0.1 not detecting Starwind (VM!) storage. Use only HCL compliant Intel NICs 1Gb pro and ET dual on that box)

Most of you wil use HCL-compliant NICs.
This topic is especially for those of us trying out ESXi with iSCSI on white boxes.

Although it is possible to get this NIC 'working' under ESXi v4.x.x by modifying oem.tgz, it does NOT work properly.

Used this NIC for a connection to a pServer with Starwind.
The NIC keeps dropping the iSCSI-connections > messages log of ESXi.

Changed to a connection with a Intel 1Gb Pro. Everything works fine.

Greetz Jaap

Used driver sky2.o date 12/11/2009
NIC (2x) on MB ASUS P6T DeLuxe V2

[Constantin (staff)]

If really, it can have! Because according to ESX logs, you have sent to us, ESX constantly drops the session, and this can be a reason of your problem.

[JLaay]

Hi Constantin,

I 'm afraid not.
The testing of Starwind as a VM was on another whitebox with only VMware HCL compliant NICs.
And the storage I used was local.
So there was no traffic to another physical server.

Greetz Jaap

[Constantin (staff)]

OK, I see now.