Enable ConnectX-3 EN cards on Proxmox VE 6.2 Installer
Proxmox VE 6.2 contains 'mlx4' kernel modules that are drivers for ConnectX-3 cards, so it can potentially use the card as NIC by doing nothing. However I don't know why PVE installer doesn't load a mlx4_en module while it loads mlx4_core one, then the installer doesn't recognise the ConnectX-3 as NIC.
This article provides how to recognise the ConnectX-3 EN card as Ethernet devices on the PVE installer.
Environments
- Proxmox VE 6.2-1
- ConnectX-3 Pro EN (MCX314A-BCCT)
Steps
The way is simple. You run the PVE installer in debug mode, and manually load the mlx4_en module.
Boot the installer, and choose “Install Proxmox VE (Debug Mode)” in boot menu.
A shell appears after loading kernel, then straight to exit the shell.
The shell appears again after loading kernel modules, and run 'modprobe mlx4_en' to load an Ethernet driver for ConnectX-3.
You get back to PVE GUI installer screen after 'exit' the shell again, then proceed to install the PVE.
You can see ConnectX-3 interfaces on Management Interface screen (as ens1 and ens1d1 in a below image. I'm wondering they aren't ens1d1 and ens1s2.)
You do nothing on Proxmox VE environment after the installation because the PVE automatically loads the 'mlx4_en' module.