HP NC523SFP (QLOGIC 3200) QLXBG(4) Driver Issues

[almarsden]

Evening all!

I'm having issues getting my HP NC523SFP card to be recognised by FreeNAS.

FreeNAS is running in a Dell Poweredge R510 and running under ESXi with the card completely passed through to FreeNAS.

There are errors relating to the card at startup (qla_pci_attach: pci_alloc_msi[4] failed).

I didn't know if it was related to the QLXBG not being added to the Kernel, I've tried to do this but I really have no idea what format my commands need to be in to add the necessary to 'Tunables'.

Can anyone offer any assistance and advice please? It would be much appreciated!

Thanks

 

[Chris Moore]

That card has never been supported in FreeNAS. Why did you think it was?

Please review these resources:

FreeNAS® Quick Hardware Guide
https://www.ixsystems.com/community/resources/freenas®-quick-hardware-guide.7/

Hardware Recommendations Guide Rev. 1e) 2017-05-06
https://www.ixsystems.com/community/resources/hardware-recommendations-guide.12/

Hardware Recommendations by @cyberjock - from 26 Aug 2014 - and still valid
https://www.ixsystems.com/community/threads/hardware-recommendations-read-this-first.23069/

10 Gig Networking Primer
https://www.ixsystems.com/community/resources/10-gig-networking-primer.42/

If that interface is supported in ESXi, it should be possible to pass a virtual network interface to FreeNAS.
If you are running FreeNAS inside a VM, you should also review these guides:

"Absolutely must virtualize FreeNAS!" ... a guide to not completely losing your data.
https://www.ixsystems.com/community...ide-to-not-completely-losing-your-data.12714/

Virtually FreeNAS ... an alternative for those seeking virtualization
https://www.ixsystems.com/community...ative-for-those-seeking-virtualization.26095/

FreeNAS 9.10 on VMware ESXi 6.0 Guide
https://b3n.org/freenas-9-3-on-vmware-esxi-6-0-guide/

also, this build report has much useful information:

Build Report: Node 304 + X10SDV-TLN4F [ESXi/FreeNAS AIO]
https://www.ixsystems.com/community...node-304-x10sdv-tln4f-esxi-freenas-aio.57116/

 

[almarsden]

I checked the FreeBSD compatibility list and the QLE3200 is on there:

https://www.freebsd.org/releases/12.0R/hardware.html

"The qlxgb(4) driver supports 10 Gigabit Ethernet & CNA Adapter based on the following chipsets:

• QLogic 3200 series"

And thanks for the other tips, I've spent a few days investigating running in a VM and evertything seems to be running nicely so far.

 

[Chris Moore]

FreeNAS is an appliance operating system that is built from FreeBSD. The FreeNAS team picks what they want to include. You can't treat FreeNAS like a FreeBSD install. It is not.

 

[almarsden]

So is it possible to take the driver from FreeBSD and bring it into FreeNAS or am I just barking up a tree that I shouldn't? lol.

Passing a virtual interface might be the way, it's fully supported by VMware.

 

[Chris Moore]

So is it possible to take the driver from FreeBSD and bring it into FreeNAS or am I just barking up a tree that I shouldn't? lol.

It is an open source project and I know that some people have forked it and compiled their own custom version. Very possible, but it might be more trouble than you want. I would suggest submitting a feature request.
https://jira.ixsystems.com/projects/NAS

I know that other people have asked in the forum before about this card, but I don't know if a feature request has actually made it into the system.

The quick solution might be to create a virtual network inside ESXi to attach the FreeNAS VM to. I am sure I recall someone else doing that before. You might do a forum search on that.

 

[almarsden]

Thanks for your help Chris, very much appreciated.