= ESX Adding Custom Drivers =

**Summary**: How to install custom hardware drivers in ESX 4.1. \\
**Date**: Around 2012 \\
**Refactor**: 22 February 2025: Checked links and formatting. \\
{{tag>vmware}}

Installing ESX 4.1 (update 1) on IBM x3690 X5 Servers requires custom drivers.

You can use the driver CD in several ways:
# To install drivers for devices as part of a new ESX installation
# To update existing drivers or install new drivers for an existing ESX installation with esxupdate
# To update existing drivers or install new drivers for an existing ESX or ESXi installation with vihostupdate

= To install drivers for devices as part of a new ESX installation =

(for ESX only)
> Note: This procedure has changed since the 3.5 version of driver CD.  You will need the ESX installation DVD to begin.

# Place the ESX installation DVD in the DVD drive of the host.
# Restart the host.
# Accept the terms of the license agreement.
# Select a keyboard type.
# When prompted for Custom Drivers, select Yes to install custom drivers.
# Click Add to eject the ESX installation DVD.
# Place the driver CD in the DVD drive of the ESX host.
# Select driver module to import drivers to the ESX host.
# Click Next to continue. A dialog box displays the following message: Load the system drivers.
# Click Yes. After loading the driver module, continue installing ESX. After the drivers are installed you are prompted to swap the driver CD with the ESX installation DVD.

= To update or add drivers on existing ESX installations using esxupdate =

(for ESX only)

# Power on the ESX host and log into an account with administrator capability.
# Place the driver CD in the CD-ROM drive of the ESX host.
# Mount the driver CD.
## mkdir /mnt/iso; mount -o loop /tmp/megaraid.iso /mnt/iso
# Navigate to <cd mount point>/offline-bundle/ and locate the <offline-bundle>.zip file.
# Run the esxupdate command to install drivers using the offline bundle.

<code>
esxupdate --bundle=<offline-bundle>.zip update
</code>

== Example ==

<code>
[root@esx01 offline-bundle]# esxupdate --bundle=LSI_5.29-offline_bundle-379626.zip update
Unpacking cross_vmware-esx-drivers-scsi-megaraid-.. ######################################################################## [100%]

Installing vmware-esx-drivers-scsi-megaraid-sas     ######################################################################## [100%]

Cleaning up vmware-esx-drivers-scsi-megaraid-sas    ######################################################################## [100%]

Running [vmkmod-install.sh]...
ok.
The update completed successfully, but the system needs to be rebooted for the
changes to be effective.
</code>

= To update or add drivers on existing ESX and ESXi installations using vihostupdate =

(for both ESX and ESXi)

# Power on the ESX or ESXi host.
# Place the driver CD in the CD-ROM drive of the host where either the vSphere CLI package is installed or vMA is hosted.
# Mount the driver CD.
# Navigate to <cd mount point>/offline-bundle/ and locate the <offline-bundle>.zip file.
# Run the vihostupdate command to install drivers using the offline bundle.

<code>
vihostupdate <conn_options> --install --bundle <offline-bundle>.zip
</code>