Compatibility Information for Intel® Ethernet Network Connections, Intel® Ethernet Controllers, and Intel® Ethernet Network Adapters Using VMware ESXi* Driver and NVM Image

Documentation

Compatibility

000005893

03/26/2021

The following information provides the recommended combinations of VMware ESXi* driver and NVM firmware versions for Intel® Ethernet Network Connections, Intel® Ethernet Controllers, and Intel® Ethernet Network Adapters to use in a VMware environment.

For a listing of devices supported by VMware\*, see VMware* Compatibility Guide: I/O Device Search.

Driver downloads are available on VMware ESXi Support pages.

Acronyms used in tables:

  • NVM = Refers to non-volatile memory (typically EEPROM, Serial EEPROM memory)
  • NIC = Network Interface Controller
  • CIM = Common Information Model
  • FW = Firmware

 

Note Driver types are inbox or async:
  • inbox driver: Version included by VMware* in the ESXi ISO image
  • async driver: Posted on the VMware driver support site and updates the inbox driver

 

Intel® Ethernet Network Adapter 800 Series

Software Type and Compatible Versions
VMware* Version NVM Image Driver Name NIC Driver CIM Provider Note
ESXi* 7.0 2.1x icen async driver: 1.3.3.0 N/A  
ESXi* 6.7 All 2.1x icen async driver: 1.3.3.0 N/A  
ESXi* 6.5 U2 and U3 2.1x icen async driver: 1.3.3.0 N/A  

 

Intel® Ethernet Network Adapter 700 Series

Software Type and Compatible Versions
VMware* Version NVM Image Driver Name NIC Driver CIM Provider Note
ESXi* 7.0 7.2 i40en async driver: 1.10.9.0 3.6.0.14 1
ESXi* 6.7 7.00 i40en async driver: 1.10.9.0 3.6.0.14 1
ESXi 6.5 7.00 i40en async driver: 1.10.6 3.6.0.14 1

 

Intel® Ethernet Connection X722

Software Type and Compatible Versions
VMware Version NVM Image Driver Name NIC Driver CIM Provider Note
ESXi* 7.0 4.11 i40en async driver: 1.10.9.0 3.6.0.14 2
ESXi* 6.7 4.10 i40en async driver: 1.10.9.0 3.6.0.14 2
ESXi 6.5 4.10 i40en async driver: 1.10.6 3.6.0.14 2

 

Intel® Ethernet Network Adapter 500 Series and Intel® Ethernet Connection X552

Software Type and Compatible Versions
VMware* Version NVM Image Driver Name NIC Driver CIM Provider Note
ESXi* 7.0 N/A ixgben async driver: 1.8.9.0 3.6.0.14 3
ESXi* 6.7 N/A ixgben async driver: 1.8.7   3.6.0.14 3
ESXi 6.5 N/A ixgben async driver: 1.8.7 3.6.0.14 3

 

Intel® Ethernet Gigabit Server Adapters and Intel® Ethernet Connection I354

Software Type and Compatible Versions
VMware* Version NVM Image Driver Name NIC Driver CIM Provider Note
ESXi* 7.0 N/A igbn async driver: 1.4.11.0 3.6.0.14 3
ESXi* 6.7 N/A igbn async driver: 1.4.10   3.6.0.14 3
ESXi 6.5 N/A igbn async driver: 1.4.10 3.6.0.14 3

 

Note
  1. NVM image version on the Intel® Ethernet Network Adapter 700 Series might be version 6.01 or 6.80 or 7.0 or 7.1. These versions are also compatible with the NIC driver associated on that same row above.
  2. NVM image version on the Intel® Ethernet Connection X722 might be version 3.51 or 4.00 or 4.10. These versions are also compatible with the NIC driver associated on that same row above.
  3. Intel® Ethernet Network Adapter 500 Series and Intel® Ethernet Controllers don't contain a user configurable NVM firmware and don't change after production.

 

Related topic
Intel® Ethernet Adapters Compatibility with VMware*