PowerEdge: Mellanox nmlx5 Driver generates numerous L2TableIndex modified Events in ESXi
Summary: Observing frequent nmlx5_en_L2TableIndexAdd/Remove events generated by the Mellanox nmlx5 driver in the ESXi VMkernel log.
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Symptoms
The following log pattern is recorded in the ESXi VMkernel.
Log snippet:
2023-11-02T08:55:31.458Z cpu143:2097772)<NMLX_INF> nmlx5_core: vmnic5: nmlx5_en_L2TableIndexRemove - (nmlx5_core_en_main.c:7744) Delete 0:xx:xx:xx:xx:xx from L2 table 2023-11-02T08:55:31.458Z cpu143:2097772)<NMLX_INF> nmlx5_core: vmnic5: nmlx5_en_L2TableIndexAdd - (nmlx5_core_en_main.c:7631) Add 0:xx:xx:xx:x:x to L2 table 2023-11-02T08:55:36.456Z cpu96:2097772)<NMLX_INF> nmlx5_core: vmnic1: nmlx5_en_L2TableIndexRemove - (nmlx5_core_en_main.c:7744) Delete 0:xx:xx:xx:xx:xx from L2 table 2023-11-02T08:55:36.458Z cpu96:2097772)<NMLX_INF> nmlx5_core: vmnic1: nmlx5_en_L2TableIndexAdd - (nmlx5_core_en_main.c:7631) Add 0:xx:xx:xx:xx:xx to L2 table
Cause
It is expected behavior. Each time the VMkernel's NetQ load-balancer attempts to ADD a MAC filter based on a vmnic queue, the event nmlx5_en_L2TableIndexAdd is logged in the ESXi log. Similarly, when a filter is removed from the queue, the event nmlx5_en_L2TableIndexRemove is logged in the ESXi log.
These events are also generated when the movement of these filters is contingent upon the number of MAC filters (including VMs and VMKs) present on the host and the load on a specific Rx queue, which is managed by the Load Balancer.
These events are also generated when the movement of these filters is contingent upon the number of MAC filters (including VMs and VMKs) present on the host and the load on a specific Rx queue, which is managed by the Load Balancer.
Resolution
These events update the user on traffic filtering changes to the L2 table. They have no functional impact as they are informational events.
Affected Products
Mellanox Family of Adapters, VMware ESXi 7.xProducts
PowerEdge XR2, Poweredge C4140, PowerEdge C6420, PowerEdge C6520, PowerEdge C6525, PowerEdge MX740C, PowerEdge MX750c, PowerEdge MX840C, PowerEdge R350, PowerEdge R440, PowerEdge R450, PowerEdge R540, PowerEdge R550, PowerEdge R640, PowerEdge R6415
, PowerEdge R650, PowerEdge R650xs, PowerEdge R6515, PowerEdge R6525, PowerEdge R740, PowerEdge R740XD, PowerEdge R740XD2, PowerEdge R7415, PowerEdge R7425, PowerEdge R750, PowerEdge R750XA, PowerEdge R750xs, PowerEdge R7515, PowerEdge R7525, PowerEdge R840, PowerEdge R940, PowerEdge R940xa, PowerEdge T350, PowerEdge T440, PowerEdge T550, PowerEdge T640, PowerEdge XE2420, PowerEdge XE7420, PowerEdge XE7440, PowerEdge XE8545, PowerEdge XR11, PowerEdge XR12, PowerFlex appliance R650, PowerFlex appliance R6525, Powerflex appliance R750, VMware ESXi 8.x, PowerFlex appliance R640, PowerFlex appliance R740XD, PowerFlex appliance R7525, PowerFlex appliance R840
...
Article Properties
Article Number: 000225826
Article Type: Solution
Last Modified: 22 Apr 2025
Version: 3
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