Symptoms
The last web-posted firmware for QLogic QLE2560 FC8 Single Channel HBA is 09.01.07 as per the DELL Support site which was released in August 2020 and can be found here. VMware Compatibility site states that QLE2560 running Firmware version 09.01.07 is compatible with the following qlnativefc driver versions: 4.1.14.0, 4.1.22.0 and 4.1.44.0.It does not list driver versions: 4.1.57.0, 5.3.20.0, nor 5.3.80.0. This can be viewed here .DELL Customized ISOs for ESXi 7.0 U3 for Build versions 19193900 to 20842708 released after March 2022 contain qlnativefc driver version 4.1.57.0, 5.3.20.0, or 5.3.80.0.If you use the DELL Customized ISO to upgrade their ESXi installation, the qlnativefc driver automatically upgrades to a version that is not list on the VMware IO Compatibility site.
Because the operating system can only apply one driver, QLE256X will also be applied to version of the driver in the DELL ESXI ISO.
Cause
DELL has not verified any Firmware after 09.01.07 and Driver above version 4.1.44.0 for QLE256X FC HBAs because this card has been End of Life (EOL) since September 2021.DELL will not verify drivers and firmware for EOL devices and hence, will not update on the VMware IO Compatibility site.
The retail version of the QLogic QLE2560 card supports the latest driver version 5.3.80.0, and QLogic engineers have confirmed the same. Hence, if we select the vendor as QLogic on the VMware IO Compatibility site, the supported qlnativefc driver version is 5.3.80.0. However, if we select the vendor as DELL, the VMware IO Compatibility site lists the OEM firmware version 09.01.07 and qlnativefc driver versions as 4.1.14.0, 4.1.22.0, and 4.1.44.0.
Resolution
The DELL qlnativefc driver is applicable for all the following DELL Qlogic Optical FC HBAs: QLE256X, QLE266X, QLE269X, QLE274X, and QLE277X
DELL validated qlnativefc driver versions up until 4.1.44.0 for QLE256X and QLE266X because after that, these specific models reached EOL.DELL validated qlnativefc driver versions above 4.1.44.0 (like 4.1.57.0, 5.3.20.0, or 5.3.80.0) only for QLE269X, QLE274X, and QLE277X.
Base on a Qlogic engineering perspective, Customer can update QLE256X driver to 5.3.80.0. If used it can be used to all the time. If there is a problem with the QLE256X driver, it is recommended to downgrade to 4.1.44.0, otherwise VMware TS thinks that it does not meet the HCL and refuse technical support.
