QUES: ConnectX-2 VPI MLNX_WinOF package for Windows 8 Hyper-V?

[jtreble]

I've asked this question on the Mellanox Community forums (QUES: is there a ConnectX-2 VPI MLNX_WinO... | Mellanox Interconnect Community) but nobody (including Mellanox Support) seems to know the answer: is there a ConnectX-2 VPI MLNX_WinOF package for Windows 8 (for use with Hyper-V)?

Any tips appreciated. TIA.

 

[markpower28]

try server 2012 WinOF.

 

[jtreble]

try server 2012 WinOF.

markpower28,

Thanks for your suggestion, however, I really don't want to test a configuration that may or may not be supported. I'm guessing Windows 8 Hyper-V is not. As much as I don't want to put Server 2012 on our workstations I may be forced to.

 

[dba]

markpower28,

Thanks for your suggestion, however, I really don't want to test a configuration that may or may not be supported. I'm guessing Windows 8 Hyper-V is not.

The Windows 2012 drivers worked perfectly in Windows 8 for me (albeit for ConnectX2) - probably because the original name for Windows Server 2012 was Windows 8 server. My guess is that Mellanox will never release a separate "Windows 8" driver for their FDR products, even though it'd require only QA, because so few people choose to install 56Gbit cards in workstations.

 

[jtreble]

dba,

Thanks for your reply. Given the total silence of Mellanox Support on this issue I'm guessing you're correct - it's one of those "we know it works, we tested it a little and didn't notice any issues but we don't want to officially support it" scenarios.

 

[Aluminum]

Yep

try server 2012 WinOF.

+1, for device driver/architecture purposes the following conversion is generally true in my experience, their own file names agree:

Server 2008 = Vista = time to upgrade (http://www.mellanox.com/downloads/WinOF/MLNX_VPI_WinOF-4_3_0_wlh_x64.exe) 4.3 was last supported version
Server 2008 R2 = Windows 7 (http://www.mellanox.com/downloads/WinOF/MLNX_VPI_WinOF-4_40_0_All_win7_x64.exe) I can confirm this works w/ X card
Server 2012 = Windows 8 (http://www.mellanox.com/downloads/WinOF/MLNX_VPI_WinOF-4_40_0_All_win8_x64.exe) I can confirm this works w/ X and X3 cards

 

[jtreble]

... their own file names agree ... Server 2012 = Windows 8 ...

AFAIK, "Windows Server 2012" = "Windows 8 Server" (codename) not "Windows 8": Wikipedia - Windows Server 2012. But I understand your point: it's the same/similar code base (especially the Hyper-V component).

Aluminum, did you test the X and X3 cards against "Windows 8" or just "Windows Server 2012"? TIA.

 

[Aluminum]

Windows 7/8 desktop, ultimate for 7 and whatever the technet version of 8 is, equivalent to pro I think.

They use the same drivers, worst case you might have to edit the infs to get around a device id being left out intentionally. (e.g. some intel "consumer" nic chipsets are commented out on server part of inf)