Bug ID 428116: NICs might be re-ordered on BIG-IP VE in VMware ESXi servers

Last Modified: Sep 13, 2023

Affected Product(s):
BIG-IP MA-VE(all modules)

Known Affected Versions:
11.4.0, 11.4.1, 11.5.1, 11.5.2, 11.5.3, 11.5.4, 11.5.5, 11.5.6, 11.5.7, 11.5.8, 11.5.9, 11.5.10

Opened: Aug 16, 2013

Severity: 3-Major

Related Article: K15846

Symptoms

VMware ESXi 5.x servers do not assign the PCI slot for each NIC in the same order as the NIC is added to the VM. As such, BIG-IP VE brings up the NICs in the wrong order and network traffic goes through the wrong NICs.

Impact

The network traffic goes through the wrong NICs. The management port might stop working and BIG-IP VE cannot get configured.

Conditions

This happens when adding NICs to BIG-IP VE in VMware ESXi 5.x servers.

Workaround

Do not assign more than 4 virtual NICs before the first boot on VMware, or manually change each NICs PCI slot number.

Fix Information

None

Behavior Change

Guides & references

K10134038: F5 Bug Tracker Filter Names and Tips