How to Downgrade a VIB/Driver in ESXi 7

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There are two methods to downgrade a VIB or a device driver in ESXi Host.

1.    Uninstall the current or upgraded driver > reboot the host > Install the downgrade driver
OR

2.    You may also install the downgrade driver directly using esxcli software vib install command. This will remove the upgraded driver itself.

Let's see how to perform downgrades of vib using both methods. You may decide which one you would like to choose. You may also install drivers using Baselines in Lifecycle Manager, which will be covered in later posts.

Method 1: Uninstall the current or upgraded driver > reboot the host > Install the downgrade driver

  1. Put the ESXi host in Maintenance Mode.
  2. SSH the ESXi host
  3. Run this command to uninstall the driver: "esxcli software vib remove -n <vib_name>"
  4. Reboot the host
  5. Run this command to install the driver: "esxcli software vib install -d /vmfs/volume/datastore/vib.zip"
  6.  Reboot the host
  7. Run this command to ensure the version of downgrade driver installed in step 5: "esxcli software vib get -n <vib-name>"

Method 2: Directly Install the Downgraded driver without uninstalling the current driver.
Let's take an example of installing a downgraded version 4.1.9.0 vib named "qlnativefc"

  1. Put the ESXi host in Maintenance Mode and SSH into it.
  2. Run this command to check the current version of the driver to be replaced: "esxcli software vib list | grep <vib_name>" or "esxcli software vib get -n <vib-name>"



  3. Install the downgraded version of the driver directly and you will see the upgraded version being removed: "esxcli software vib remove install -d /vmfs/volume/datastore/vib.zip". 

  4. Reboot the Host. 
  5. Run this command to ensure the version of the replaced driver: "esxcli software vib get -n <vib-name>"











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