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Solution Virtual Server and Broadcom Network Adapter TEAM Issue -- Virtual Machines dont see any network when TEAM is enabled.


Ioannis Alexopoulos

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Good evening everybody.

All of us who use Dell Servers to use with Microsoft Virtual Server, we all face the same problem as far as the Virtual Network Connectivity.

When we enable the TEAM feature in our brand new (very expensive) Broadcom Network Adapters face the fact that the Host machines don't see any network!!

The funny thing is that in some cases (including mine), the Host Machine can receive IP from DHCP Server in the same Interface, but you cant see any network beyond that (you cant ping or do anything else..)

I have come with a small solution, that in the company I work for it works until now with no  problems.

Suppose I have my Brand New Dell Machine (lets say the heavy 6850 Model). I have all my super-duper stuff installed (SAN FC Adapters, 64GB memory, 4 CPU etc..) and I want to use Network Team with my Broadcom Adapters, but I cant because of the well-known issue.

This is what we do:

We install in the machine a Intel Network Adapter card (its pretty easy to find one, we don't need 1000GB card, just  any cheap Intel Model), and use the latest IntelProSet Tool-Driver Set, Version 10,1 I think.

The next step, wich is my favorite, is that in the Device Manager, in the Network Adapters, the Properties tab has  now all the nice option to team, INCLUDING THE BROADCOM ADAPTER WE HAVE!!!

So we can TEAM using the Intel Pro Set 10.1 Tool and driver set.

Of course at this point you may ask me "John, why you install the Hardware Intel Card in the machine in the first place? Just Install the Tool in the environment!!". Well you simply cant do that because the Intel Pro Set Tool Driver Kit need at least one Adapter to be Intel or Intel Compatible.

So.. bottom line? We are using TEAMING with 4 Broadcom Adapters (we didn't plug in anything to the Intel Card of course..), and the Tool that does the work is the Intel Pro Set 10.1

Again I have to say that we are working with this the past 3 months, and it work great in a really heavy network traffic environment.

I will post a more detailed view next time with Actual Screenshots of how to use your Broadcom Adapters Teaming Feature using your Intel Pro Set 10.1

 

Best Regards.

Ioannis Alexopoulos
[email protected] (Pleasse Feel Free to Add Me)
Virtual Server Advocate
(Its so Virtual its Almost Real.)

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Όλες οι Φυσικές Μηχανές που χρησιμοποιούν Broadcom Network Adapters έχουν το συγκεκριμένο πρόβλημα, επί το πλείστον η DELL χρησιμοποιεί στους Server onboard Broadcom Dual Network Adapters.

 

Πρόσφατα είδα και καποιες νέες ΙΒΜ μηχανές να «φοράνε» Broadcom Adapters (τα ακριβά μοντέλα 445).

 

Το ίδιο θα συμβεί εάν αγοράσουμε και τοποθετήσουμε σε Server της επιλογής μας Broadcom PCI Adapters και δημιουργήσουμε Virtual TEAM Network Connection από το Tool της Broadcom, δηλαδη οι Λογικές Μηχανές δεν θα βλέπουν δίκτυο.

 

Η άνω λύση, είναι ένα Workaround, ώστε ο τελικός πελάτης, να μην «αχρηστέψει» το Teaming Feature που προσφέρει η μηχανή, εφόσον κάνει Consolidate με Microsoft Virtual Server 2005 R2 και πάνω.

 

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