Ping reply fails with a hardware error on a Windows virtual machine

Products

• VMware vSphere ESXi

Issue/Introduction

Symptoms:

• Ping command fails to get a reply in a Windows virtual machine
• When the ping command is issued in a Windows virtual machine, you see the error:
  
  Hardware Error
  

Environment

VMware ESXi 3.5.x Embedded
VMware ESX Server 3.5.x
VMware ESX 4.0.x
VMware ESXi 4.0.x Embedded
VMware ESXi 4.0.x Installable
VMware ESX Server 3.0.x
VMware ESXi 3.5.x Installable

Resolution

This issue may be caused by an incompatibility between the current network driver and the virtual hardware driver.

To resolve this issue, determine if VMware Tools is installed on the Windows virtual machine. If it is installed, you must reinstall the network driver. If it is not installed, you must install VMware Tools.

Determining if VMware Tools is installed

To determine if VMware Tools is installed on the virtual machine:

1. Run the following command on the Windows command line:
   
   ipconfig /all
   
   The output appears similar to:
   
   C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator>ipconfig /all
   Windows IP Configuration
   Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : vc202sql2000
   Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . :
   Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Unknown
   IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
   WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
   Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection 2:
   Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
   Description . . . . . . . . . . . : VMware Accelerated AMD PCNet Adapter
   Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : MAC_Address
   DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
   IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : IP_Address
   Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
   Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.2
   
   
2. If VMware Accelerated AMD PCNet Adapter appears in the output, then VMware Tools is installed, and you must therefore reinstall the driver. If VMware Tools is not installed, you must install it.

Reinstalling the Network Driver

To reinstall the network driver:

1. Power on the virtual machine.
2. Log on to the virtual machine to reach the desktop.
3. Right-click on the virtual machine and choose Install VMware Tools. Alternatively, from the virtual machine menu, click VM > Install VMware Tools. Do not proceed with VMware Tools installation.
4. Right-click on Local Area Connection and click Properties > Configure > Driver > Update Driver.
5. Select No, not this time, then click Next.
6. Select Install from a list or specific location ( Advanced), then click Next.
7. Select Don't search. I will choose the driver to install, then click Next.
8. Click Have Disk....
9. Click Browse and navigate to D:\program files\VMware\VMware Tools\Drivers\vmxnet.
   
   Note: This step assumes the CD drive is D.
   
   
10. Select the version compatible with the Windows version you are using.
    
    Note: Use win2k for Windows 2000 and newer versions.
    
    
11. End the VMware Tools installation.
    
    Note: A reboot may be required.

Installing VMware Tools

To install VMware Tools:

1. Power on the virtual machine.
2. Log on to the virtual machine to reach the desktop.
3. Right-click on the virtual machine and choose Install VMware Tools. Alternatively, from the virtual machine menu, click VM > Install VMware Tools.
4. The VMware Tools installation wizard appears. Follow the prompt in the wizard to complete the installation. For more information, see Installing VMware Tools (340).
   
   Note: VMware recommends that you perform a Typical installation.