HP IO Accelerator Version 3.2.3 VMware ESX and ESXi User Guide

Introduction 8
NOTE: MSI was disabled to obtain these statistics.
Required operating environment
The HP IO Accelerator is supported for use in the following operating environments:
• VMware ESX 4.0
• VMware ESX 4.1
• VMware ESXi 4.1
• VMware ESXi 5.0
CAUTION: Version 3.1.0 or greater of the driver software is not backward-compatible with any
previous driver version. When you install version 3.2.3, you cannot revert to any previous
version.
IMPORTANT: All operating systems must be 64-bit architecture.
NOTE: IO Accelerators cannot be used as hibernation devices.
The following scenarios are supported:
• Using the IO Accelerator as a VMFS datastore within the hypervisor, and then sharing that storage with
guest operating systems. Guest operating systems can be 32-bit or 64-bit architecture, because they are
not directly using the IO Accelerator.
• Using PCI pass-through to enable a virtual machine to use the IO Accelerator directly. Only supported
operating systems can use the device.
NOTE: PCI pass-through is currently supported on Windows® and Linux operating systems that
are supported by HP. For installation instructions and a list of supported operating systems, see
the HP IO Accelerator Windows User Guide or the HP IO Accelerator Linux User Guide.
NOTE: If you are passing the devices through the system, you do not have to install the IO
Accelerator driver on an ESX or ESXi system. Install the driver on the guest system. Install the driver
only if you plan to create a VMFS on the devices. For more information, see "Working with IO
Accelerators and VMDirectPathIO (on page 42)."
NOTE: For best results, HP recommends running the latest Service Pack of a release.
Supported firmware revisions
After February 19, 2013, all IO Accelerators will ship with firmware version 7.1.13.109322 or higher. This
firmware version only works with VSL 3.2.2 or higher. If you are installing a recently purchased or a
replacement IO Accelerator into a system that already has IO Accelerators installed, then you must upgrade
the firmware on the previously installed devices to 7.1.13.109322 or higher. The VSL must be upgraded to
3.2.2 or higher. Upgrading the firmware and VSL on cards that were running firmware versions 6.x.x or