en:virtualization:proxmox_ve_6_2_enable_connectx3_en_in_installer

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.

  • Proxmox VE 6.2-1
  • ConnectX-3 Pro EN (MCX314A-BCCT)

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.

  • en/virtualization/proxmox_ve_6_2_enable_connectx3_en_in_installer.txt
  • Last modified: 2021-01-09 12:46
  • by Decomo