Intel 10GbE X552/X557-AT 10GBASE-T support in ESXi 6.0?

I don't yet know if or when X552/X557 10GbE NIC support will arrive, but I did contact Supermicro recently, as did others apparently (see below). Yesterday, they promised me they'd update the site quickly and today, I confirmed they did exactly that. Their compatibility table now indicates that they don't yet have full ESXi 6.0 support with the X10SDV-TLN4F (10GbE equipped) version of the motherboard that they use for the chassis bundle called the Supermicro SuperServer 5028D-TN4T.

The VMware Compatibility Guide doesn't yet list a matching driver either.

That said, all other components are identical to the non-10GbE board called the X10SDV-F.

So I don't feel like there's any big cause for concern about buying tis SuperServer for ESXi 6.0 for a home lab, and you still get Supermicro 24-Hour SuperServer Hardware Support, not something I'm used to having any of. You wouldn't expect anything but hardware support from Supermicro anyway. As long as you're OK with those 2 extra ports not being functional under ESXi 6.0 at the moment, I still recommend this server, see TinkerTry articles below. Wonderful for a powerful and efficient home virtualization lab. While good use-case for these 10GbE ports might be a 2-way FVP cluster or a 3-way VSAN cluster someday, in a home lab, it's frankly more likely to simply be used at 1GbE speeds as 2 extra 1GbE ports, for iSCSI or vMotion, for example.

Let's face it, this system was built for virtualization, able to handle up to 128GB of memory. It'd be pretty silly of Intel and/or VMware to neglect to provide support for ESXi, especially since Supermicro isn't likely to be the only OEM using this nifty, tiny, versatile motherboard design for long (here's a similar offering).

The folks who are likely pretty upset would be those who ordered in bulk for a datacenter/colo, assuming 10GbE was there already, based on what could have been an honest mistake made by Supermicro.

Take roberthenderson, who expresses this frustration over in the VMware community forums here:

So frustratingly I'm in the same boat...I put my name on a long term pre-order based on SuperMicro's stated ESXi6.0 support for this board. Whilst there was a statement on the SATA controller requirements for support the 10GbE SoC NICs weren't mentioned.

I've corresponded with SuperMicro support in the Netherlands who advise no driver exists and that although they have no doubt someone will create one they can't give me a schedule. They've accepted that the OS compatibility matrix is wrong (and is based on the quad 1GbE model) and assure me they will update the website to clarify the issue.

Now l guess I have to talk to the reseller about my return/discount options.... :-(

and other folks discussing this issue here.

I have no idea how long it will take for VMware and/or Intel to create drivers (VIBs) to support these new-energy sipping 10GbE X552/X5517-AT 10GBASE-T NICs that are embedded in this otherwise pretty amazing new Intel Xeon-D 1500 chipset (Broadwell-DE). But I do know which booths I'll be paying a polite visit to at VMworld 2015 San Francisco this August, just in case this issue isn't fixed by then ;-)

I have created edited versions of the long tables from their site, with just the relevant portions of the table shown, for legibility.

PDF archives of the same URL, un-edited, un-altered

These screenshots are from this URL:
http://www.supermicro.com/support/resources/OS/Broadwell-DE.cfm

Below, you'll find more compelling confirmation of the changes to the content.

• PDF created from Google Cached JUNE 25 2015 version of the URL

• PDF created from Google JUNE 30 2015 version of the URL

Screencapture

See also

• Identifying correct driver for ESXi/ESX host PCI devices (HBA) using VMware Hardware Compatibility Guide (HCL) (1031534)
  kb.vmware.com/kb/1031534

• When will Intel(R) Ethernet Connection X552/X557-AT 10GBASE-T be supported in vSphere 6?

• Need a VIB package for 10Gig NICs...

• Network Adapter Driver for PCI-E 10 Gigabit Network Connections under Linux
  despite the similarity to 82598 and 82599, I tried those VIBs in ESXi 6.0, and no luck, didn't work with the X552/X557

See also at TinkerTry

• Supermicro SuperServer 5028D-TN4T first impressions
  JUN 30 2015

• Supermicro SuperServer 5028D-TN4T accessories and aspirations
  JUN 29 2015

• TinkerTry's Xeon D-1540 fueled ESXi 6.0 home lab build begins LIVE!
  JUN 25 2015

• Supermicro SuperServer mini-tower ordered with 64GB of memory for $1900, the ultimate home virtualization lab?
  JUN 23 2015