Performance issues with HP NC55x Network Adapters

Products

• VMware vSphere ESXi

Issue/Introduction

Symptoms:
You may experience these issues related to NC55x devices provided by HP and Emulex:

• ESXi/ESX hosts disconnect from vCenter Server.
• Storage connectivity is intermittently lost.
• Virtual machine network connectivity is intermittently lost.
• Storage and/or virtual machine performance issues.

Environment

VMware ESXi 4.1.x Installable
VMware ESX 4.0.x
VMware ESXi 4.1.x Embedded
VMware vSphere ESXi 5.0
VMware ESX 4.1.x
VMware ESXi 4.0.x Embedded
VMware ESXi 4.0.x Installable
VMware ESX Server 3.5.x
VMware ESXi 3.5.x Installable
VMware vSphere ESXi 5.1
VMware ESXi 3.5.x Embedded
VMware vSphere ESXi 5.5

Cause

This issue occurs with firmware versions prior to 4.1.450.7, due to continuous pause frames sent by the adapter.

These variations of the NC55x family line could be affected:

• HP BLc NC551m Dual Port FlexFabric 10Gb Converged Network Adapter
• HP NC550m 10Gb 2-port PCIe x8 Flex-10 Ethernet Adapter
• HP NC550SFP Dual Port 10GbE Server Adapter
• HP NC551i Dual Port FlexFabric 10Gb Converged Network Adapter
• HP NC551m Dual Port 10Gb FlexFabric Adapter
• HP NC551m Dual Port FlexFabric 10Gb Converged Network Adapter
• HP NC552m 10Gb 2-port Flex-10 Ethernet Adapter
• HP NC552SFP 10Gb 2-port Ethernet Server Adapter
• HP NC553i 10Gb 2-port FlexFabric Converged Network Adapter
• HP NC553m 10Gb 2-port FlexFabric Adapter
• HP NC553m 10Gb 2-port FlexFabric Converged Network Adapter

Resolution

To resolve this issue, update your adapter firmware to version 4.1.450.7 or later as per HP Advisory c03787760.

For configuration recommendations and other related information, see the HP/VMware recipe guide.

Note: VMware recommends that you also update your ESXi/ESX hosts to the latest driver release after updating the firmware.

Note: The preceding links were correct as of November 02, 2015. If you find a link is broken, provide a feedback and a VMware employee will update the link.

Additional Information

Installing async drivers on ESXi 4.x and ESX 4.x
How to download and install async drivers in ESXi 5.x/6.x
HP NC55x のネットワーク アダプタに関するパフォーマンスの問題