After Upgrading the ESXi host to 7.0.3, unable to see FC vmhba adapter or datastore.

Products

• VMware vSphere ESXi

Issue/Introduction

After Upgrading the ESXi host to 7.0.3, unable to see FC vmhba adapter or datastore.

Environment

VMware vSphere ESXi 7.0.3

Cause

 

This is a known issue for the ESXi version 7.0.3. Emulex lpfc Driver 14.0.543.0 is not compatible with certain Emulex FC HBA Adapters and would result in the loss of FC LUN access or vmhba adapter missing. Hence you need to downgrade the driver version to 14.0.169.25-5 or 14.0.169.26-5. After downgrading the HBA version you can see the vmhba adapter.

Resolution

 

•  Install critical patches but do not install the non-critical patches as the non-critical patches contain the faulty driver.
  •  Critical Host Patches
       Broadcom-ELX-lpfc_14.0.169.26-5vmw.703.0.50.20036589
  •  Non-Critical Host Patches
       Broadcom-ELX-lpfc_14.0.326.12-1OEM.700.1.0.15843807
       Broadcom-ELX-lpfc_14.0.543.0-1OEM.700.1.0.15843807

• If you already installed an incompatible version, use the following workaround :

  •   Remove existing lpfc vib

    esxcli software vib remove -n lpfc

  • Copy    Broadcom-ELX-lpfc_14.0.169.26-5vmw.703.0.50.20036589.vib from zip depot to esxi.

  • Install vib using "esxcli" OR "localcli"

    esxcli software vib install -v /tmp/Broadcom-ELX-lpfc_14.0.169.26-5vmw.703.0.50.20036589.vib

    localcli software vib install -v /tmp/Broadcom-ELX-lpfc_14.0.169.26-5vmw.703.0.50.20036589.vib

  •  

    Note: The older driver "Broadcom-ELX-lpfc_14.0.169.26-5vmw.703.0.50.20036589.vib" has been bundled in the patch ESXI 7.0 U3f release. Refer ESXI 7.0 U3f release notes.To downlload ESXi patches refer KB142814.