Installing Cisco Virtual Ethernet Module (VEM) on an ESX/ESXi host using the command line

Products

• VMware vSphere ESXi

Issue/Introduction

This article provides steps for installing Cisco Virtual Ethernet Module (VEM) on an ESX/ESXi host using the command line.

Environment

• VMware ESX 4.0.x
• VMware ESXi 4.1.x Embedded
• VMware vSphere ESXi 5.0
• VMware ESXi 4.1.x Installable
• VMware ESX 4.1.x
• VMware ESXi 4.0.x Installable
• VMware ESXi 4.0.x Embedded

Resolution

Install VEM on an ESX 4.x host

Use Update Manager or use the command line with the instructions described below:

1. Copy the Cisco VEM from the Nexus 1000 by pointing the browser to the Nexus Management IP address.
2. Log in to the ESX host using Putty.
3. Run these commands:
   
   # esxcfg-firewall --allowoutgoing
   # esxupdate --bundle http://<Nexus_IP_address>/cisco/cisco-vem-v100-4.0.4.1.1.27-0.4.2.zip info
   
   Note>: Use a browser to verify the correct directory name before running the preceding command.
   
   # esxupdate --bundle http://<Nexus_IP_address>/cisco/cisco-vem-v100-4.0.4.1.1.27-0.4.2.zip update
   # esxcfg-firewall --blockoutgoing
   
   
4. Run this command and ensure that the bundle is installed:
   
   # esxupdate query
   
   
5. Check the status of the datapath array (DPA) using these commands:
   
   # /etc/init.d/vem-v100-vssnet-dpa status
   # /etc/init.d/vem-v100-vssnet-load status
   # vem status

Install VEM on an ESXi 4.x and 5.x host

Use the command line:

1. Copy the Cisco VEM to the ESX host using the vSphere Client File Upload feature.This copies the .vib file to the ESX datastore.
2. Log in to the ESXi host as a user with administrator privileges.
3. Determine the datastore path so you can change directory to that path.
4. Run this command and determine the datastore path:
   
   # vdf
   
5. Change directory to the location of the installer file using this command:
   
   # cd /vmfs/volumes/<directory_path>
   
   
6. The .vib file for the VEM can be installed on the ESXi host using:
   
   ESXi 5.x: # esxcli software vib install -v /vmfs/volumes/<directory_path>/cross_cisco-vem-v131-4.2.1.1.4.1.0-3.0.4.vib
   ESXi 4.x: # esxupdate -b cross_cisco-vem-v100-4.0.4.1.1.27-0.4.2-release.vib update
   
   Note: If you are using vMA or RCLI, install VEM using this command (example is ESXi 4.x) :
   
   # vihostupdate -i -b cross_cisco-vem-v100-4.0.4.1.1.27-0.4.2-release.vib -- server <hostname>
   
   
7. To verify that the VEM has been installed successfully use:
   
   ESXi 5.x: # esxcli software vib list |grep -i vem
   ESXi 4.x: # esxupdate query |grep -i vem