Bare Metal Edge node loses connectivity after upgrading firmware of Intel XXV710 nics

Products

• VMware NSX

Issue/Introduction

• NIC will be unstable with firmware 20.0.17 (NVM 8.15)
• NIC will be completely down with firmware 20.5.13 (NVM 8.40)

Environment

VMware NSX-T Data Center 3.x

Cause

DPDK firmware support matrix for X710/XL710/XXV710 has
6.01 / 18.05
7.0 / 19.11 

NSX-T 3.1 uses DPDK 18.05, but some driver updates have been backported, so NVM 7.1 does work.

NSX-T 3.2 will use DPDK 19.11.

 

Resolution

Customers running Bare Metal Edges in NSX-T 3.1 should not upgrade Intel XXV710 firmware above 19.5.12 (NVM 7.1) 

Newer firmware will work with later versions of NSX-T.

Workaround:
Downgrade firmware to 19.5.12 (NVM 7.1) 

Additional Information

==================================================
Changes from Previous FW DUP Release
==================================================

    Previous release: 19.0.12
    Current release:  19.5.12

===================
NVM Version
===================

    Previous version: 7.10
    Current release:  7.10 

Reference:

Intel(R) X710/XL710 Adapter Firmware Release Notes for Version 19.5.12