vmnic using qedentv linked down

Products

• VMware vSphere ESXi

Issue/Introduction

vmnic using qedentv linked down with below vmkernel log.

YYYY-MM-DDThh:mm:ss.###Z In(182) vmkernel: cpu##:#######)[OSAL_LINK_UPDATE:1285(vmnic#)]HWFN:0, Duplex:1, Link_up:0, Speed:0Mbps, udev->link_state:1
YYYY-MM-DDThh:mm:ss.###Z In(182) vmkernel: cpu##:#######)[OSAL_LINK_UPDATE:1285(vmnic#)]HWFN:0, Duplex:1, Link_up:0, Speed:0Mbps, udev->link_state:1
YYYY-MM-DDThh:mm:ss.###Z In(182) vmkernel: cpu##:#######)qedentv: OSAL_LINK_UPDATE:1318: NIC Link is down. vmnic#
YYYY-MM-DDThh:mm:ss.###Z In(182) vmkernel: 
YYYY-MM-DDThh:mm:ss.###Z In(182) vmkernel: cpu##:#######)qedentv: OSAL_LINK_UPDATE:1318: NIC Link is down. vmnic#

This article explains how to understand meaning of this log.

Environment

VMware vSphere ESXi

Cause

According to the vmkernel log, we could understand link was recognized based on HW register information.

YYYY-MM-DDThh:mm:ss.###Z In(182) vmkernel: cpu##:#######)[OSAL_LINK_UPDATE:1285(vmnic#)]HWFN:0, Duplex:1, Link_up:0, Speed:0Mbps, udev->link_state:1

Link_up:0 -> Based on HW register information, driver determined the link down
Speed:0Mbps -> Based on HW register information, driver cannot recognize pre-defined link speed and set 0
udev->link_state:1 -> As a perspective of driver's software Layer, the link was treated as link up

Based on the link information from HW register, driver explicitly have the link down.

YYYY-MM-DDThh:mm:ss.###Z In(182) vmkernel: cpu##:#######)qedentv: OSAL_LINK_UPDATE:1318: NIC Link is down. vmnic#

qedentv driver treated its link down when it cannot read pre-defined link speed from HW register, so we could say link down was initiated because qedentv driver failed to read legitimate link speed from HW register.

Resolution

Broadcom recommends validating the physical network path, including:

• Network cables
• Physical switch port status and error counters
• SFP+/QSFP transceivers
• Engage hardware vendor to check NIC firmware and driver versions.

Additional Information

Network adapter (vmnic) is down or fails with a Failed Criteria Code