SSD Data Center tool in ESXi 6.5 not detecting NVMe P4600 4TB

[LSant14]

Hey guys, I have two NVMe (P4600 4.0TB) connect on a Dell 720, OS ESXI 6.5U2 (Iso provided by Dell).

I am running a fresh ESXI installation. Here are the steps per instructions:

esxcli software acceptance set --level=CommunitySupported

esxcli software acceptance get

CommunitySupported

esxcli software vib install -d "/tmp/intel_ssd_data_center_tool_3.0.11-400_OfflineBundle.zip" --no-sig-check

Installation Result

Message: Operation finished successfully.

Reboot Required: false

VIBs Installed: Intel_bootbank_intel_ssd_data_center_tool_3.0.11-400

VIBs Removed:

VIBs Skipped:

[root@XXXX:/opt/intel/isdct] ./isdct show -intelssd

No results

So I upgraded the firmware to version QDV10710 Bootloader=QB1B0122 for both NVMe, but the problem persists.

Enable logging:

./isdct set -system LogFile = 'log.txt'

./isdct set -system EnableLog = 'true'

[root@xxxx:/opt/intel/isdct] vi log.txt

17:37:35:191645 [debug] tdk_interface_dll.cpp(287) SendXMLMessage: Entering

17:37:35:193646 [debug] TDKInterface.cpp(345) scan: Entering

17:37:35:193666 [debug] DeviceFinder_NVME.cpp(63) scan: Entering

17:37:35:193678 [debug] DeviceFinder_NVME.cpp(100) scanPhysicalDevices: Entering

17:37:35:193784 [error] Connection_Path.cpp(91) open: vmk_MgmtUserInit error: 19

17:37:35:193811 [error] DeviceFinder_NVME.cpp(134) scanPhysicalDevices: Failed to connect to device. Ignoring intel-nvme0

17:37:35:193864 [error] Connection_Path.cpp(91) open: vmk_MgmtUserInit error: 19

17:37:35:193880 [error] DeviceFinder_NVME.cpp(134) scanPhysicalDevices: Failed to connect to device. Ignoring intel-nvme1

17:37:35:193917 [error] Connection_Path.cpp(91) open: vmk_MgmtUserInit error: 19

17:37:35:193931 [error] DeviceFinder_NVME.cpp(134) scanPhysicalDevices: Failed to connect to device. Ignoring intel-nvme2

17:37:35:193967 [error] Connection_Path.cpp(91) open: vmk_MgmtUserInit error: 19

17:37:35:193981 [error] DeviceFinder_NVME.cpp(134) scanPhysicalDevices: Failed to connect to device. Ignoring intel-nvme3

17:37:35:194017 [error] Connection_Path.cpp(91) open: vmk_MgmtUserInit error: 19

(...counting by 98)

17:37:35:198600 [error] DeviceFinder_NVME.cpp(134) scanPhysicalDevices: Failed to connect to device. Ignoring intel-nvme98

17:37:35:198609 [debug] DeviceFinder_NVME.cpp scanPhysicalDevices: Exiting

17:37:35:198620 [debug] DeviceFinder_NVME.cpp scan: Exiting

17:37:35:198633 [debug] TDKInterface.cpp scan: Exiting

17:37:35:198762 [debug] tdk_interface_dll.cpp SendXMLMessage: Exiting

17:37:35:198775 [debug] tdk_interface_dll.cpp(331) ReceiveXMLMessage: Entering

17:37:35:198850 [debug] tdk_interface_dll.cpp ReceiveXMLMessage: Exiting

17:37:35:198864 [debug] tdk_interface_dll.cpp(331) ReceiveXMLMessage: Entering

17:37:35:198897 [debug] tdk_interface_dll.cpp ReceiveXMLMessage: Exiting

Any ideas how I can fix it?

Thank you!

Regards,

Lucas

[idata]

Hello Lucas,

Thanks for posting in our communities. We understand that your Intel® SSD P4600 are not being detected by ISDCT (Intel SSD Data Center Tool).

Please make sure you have the https://www.vmware.com/resources/compatibility/detail.php?deviceCategory=io&productid=43955&deviceCa... latest NVMe driver to match your ESXi* and SSD firmware version.

If the issue persists, please let us know the following:

- How are the drives connected to the server (through some kind of adapter or directly to the motherboard PCIe slots)?

- Are these SSDs part of a RAID array or other storage configuration?- Do you have the chance to test the drives on a Windows* or Linux* system? We would like you to update the firmware on the SSDs. The latest firmware version for these drives is QDV101B1 and its available on https://downloadcenter.intel.com/download/27778?v=t ISDCT version: 3.0.12.

Best regards,

Eugenio F.

[LSant14]

Hello Eugenio

Thanks for your reply. It seems I am using the latest drive available.

[root@XXXX:/opt/intel/isdct] esxcli software vib update -d "/tmp/VMW-ESX-6.5.0-intel-nvme-vmd-1.4.0.1016-offline_bundle-8307340.zip"

Installation Result

Message: Host is not changed.

Reboot Required: false

VIBs Installed:

VIBs Removed:

VIBs Skipped: INT_bootbank_intel-nvme-vmd_1.4.0.1016-1OEM.650.0.0.4598673

However, I could not find download link for the firmware QDV101B1 for ESX or OS independent. This link https://downloadcenter.intel.com/download/27778?v=t Download Intel® SSD Data Center Tool is for Windows and Linux only. The latest firmware available for OS independent is the version QDV10170 found here https://downloadcenter.intel.com/download/26491?v=t Download Intel® SSD Firmware Update Tool.

Here are the answers:

- How are the drives connected to the server (through some kind of adapter or directly to the motherboard PCIe slots)?

It is connect directly to PCIe. No adapters.

- Are these SSDs part of a RAID array or other storage configuration?

No, I am using it as a single ESXI datastore.

- Do you have the chance to test the drives on a Windows* or Linux* system? We would like you to update the firmware on the SSDs. The latest firmware version for these drives is QDV101B1 and its available on https://downloadcenter.intel.com/download/27778%3Fv%3Dt ISDCT version: 3.0.12.

I did not test on a Windows or LInux system yet. This is a production ESXi server, so it is not possible for me to change the OS.

Regards,

Lucas

[idata]

Hello Lucas,

Thanks for providing the requested information.According to the https://www.vmware.com/resources/compatibility/detail.php?deviceCategory=io&productid=43955&deviceCa... VMWare* compatibility guide, you should install NVMe driver version 1.3.2.8 to match the current firmware version (QDV10170). Please https://kb.vmware.com/s/article/2079279 downgrade the driver to the corresponding version.Just to to confirm, other than ISDCT are the drives being properly recognized by the server?Best regards,Eugenio F.

[LSant14]

Hello Eugenio,.

I removed the latest driver, and installed the version 1.3.2.8.

[root@XXXX:/tmp] esxcli software vib remove -n intel-nvme-vmd -f

Removal Result

Message: The update completed successfully, but the system needs to be rebooted for the changes to be effective.

Reboot Required: true

VIBs Installed:

VIBs Removed: INT_bootbank_intel-nvme-vmd_1.4.0.1016-1OEM.650.0.0.4598673

VIBs Skipped:

[root@XXXX:/tmp] esxcli software vib install -d /tmp/VMW-ESX-6.0.0-intel-nvme-1.3.2.8-offline_bundle-7726576.zip

Installation Result

Message: The update completed successfully, but the system needs to be rebooted for the changes to be effective.

Reboot Required: true

VIBs Installed: INT_bootbank_intel-nvme_1.3.2.8-1OEM.600.0.0.2768847

VIBs Removed:

VIBs Skipped:

Now it seems workable

[root@XXX:/opt/intel/isdct] ./isdct show -intelssd

- Intel SSD DC P4600 Series BTLE736105YY4P0KGN -

Bootloader : 0122

DevicePath : intel-nvme0

DeviceStatus : Healthy

Firmware : QDV10170

FirmwareUpdateAvailable : Firmware=QDV10190 Bootloader=QB1B0122

Index : 0

ModelNumber : INTEL SSDPEDKE040T7

ProductFamily : Intel SSD DC P4600 Series

SerialNumber : BTLE736105YY4P0KGN

- Intel SSD DC P4600 Series BTLE73810A2T4P0KGN -

Bootloader : 0122

DevicePath : intel-nvme1

DeviceStatus : Healthy

Firmware : QDV10170

FirmwareUpdateAvailable : Firmware=QDV10190 Bootloader=QB1B0122

Index : 1

ModelNumber : INTEL SSDPEDKE040T7

ProductFamily : Intel SSD DC P4600 Series

SerialNumber : BTLE73810A2T4P0KGN