Adding a new VMXNET3 network adapter fails with error 'This device cannot start (Code 10)'

Products

• VMware vSphere ESXi
• VMware vCenter Server

Issue/Introduction

• After adding a new VMXNET3 network adapter to a VM running Microsoft OS, below error is observed when navigating to:
  
  Device Manager -> Network Adapters -> select the new network -> Properties
  
  

This device cannot start (Code 10)
{Operation failed}
The requested operation was unsuccessful.

• When comparing the Properties for the new VMXNET3 driver to the existing VMXNET3 driver, we notice that the driver versions are different.

In the above example, the VMXNET3 driver version 1.9.14.0 is part of the VMware Tools version 12.4.5 (Installed on the Guest OS), indicating that the updated driver is in use.
However, the new network adapter is using VMXNET3 driver version 1.8.17.0, which is part of the VMware Tools version 11.2.5 (Not installed on the Guest OS).

 

 

Environment

VMware vCenter Server 7.x
VMware vCenter Server 8.x
VMware vSphere 7.x
VMware vSphere 8.x

Cause

Although the VMXNET3 driver from VMware Tools was installed in the Guest OS, the newly added network adapter was still using an older version of the VMXNET3 driver.

Resolution

Please follow the workaround below :

- Reboot the VM.
- The new network adapter added to the VM will detect and use the latest VMXNET3 driver.