SCALE virtualized on ESXi - which network interface?

[Patrick M. Hausen]

Hi all,

what's the recommended virtualized network interface for such an environment? (disk controller passed through, of course)
VMXNET3, E1000, something else?

Thanks,
Patrick

 

[sretalla]

VMXNET3

As I understand it, the drivers are built in (also on CORE), so I would use that every time.
That driver is going to be the one with the highest number of testing hours.

 

[Patrick M. Hausen]

Well, specifically our resident Grinch has been quite vocal about the deficiencies of VMXNET3. So i was curious if there's a difference between FreeBSD and Debian support and if that matters or if I should just stick with E1000.

 

[sretalla]

I don't think you'll get 10G on E1000... maybe the argument is that you don't even if it says it does with VMXNET?

 

[Patrick M. Hausen]

The reported speed that the OS displays at initialization time is irrelevant for virtualized interfaces. E1000 can go well over 1G. I am more concerned with stability. Don't know if any of them can saturate 10G.

 

[Mlovelace]

VMXNET3 supports additional off-loading, which you probably won't be leveraging, so it's actually irrelevant (or academic maybe a better word) which virtual interface you choose, as the open-vm-tools drivers are quite mature and support both equally well.