When preparing embedded ESXi 4.1 servers such as Dell R710, HP Proliant, and the like, the error message "Filter Driver Offline" appears when the install process is finished.
Checking the /var/log/messages log file shows the following data when trying to load the Trend Micro Driver:
Feb 14 21:32:43 shell[14584]: vmkload_mod -l | grep dv
Feb 14 21:32:55 shell[14584]: vmkload_mod dvfilter-dsa
Feb 14 21:32:55 vmkernel: 0:00:05:06.100 cpu15:14618)Loading module dvfilter-dsa...
Feb 14 21:32:55 vmkernel: 0:00:05:06.101 cpu15:14618)Elf: 2089: <dvfilter-dsa> has implied internal linkage license
Feb 14 21:32:55 vmkernel: 0:00:05:06.101 cpu15:14618)Elf: 2187: <dvfilter-dsa> provides name-space <esx:nover>
Feb 14 21:32:55 vmkernel: 0:00:05:06.107 cpu15:14618)dvfilter-dsa: init_module: Init dvfilter-dsa, Heap: 67108864
Feb 14 21:32:55 vmkernel:
Feb 14 21:32:55 vmkernel: 0:00:05:06.107 cpu15:14618)DVFilter: 3516: DVFilter is not enabled due to missing license. After a license change a reboot is required .
Feb 14 21:32:55 vmkernel: 0:00:05:06.107 cpu15:14618)WARNING: Agent registration failed (0xbad0001): Failure
Feb 14 21:32:55 vmkernel: 0:00:05:06.107 cpu15:14618)ALERT: Mod: 4145: Initialization of module dvfilter-dsa failed
Feb 14 21:32:55 vmkernel: 0:00:05:06.107 cpu15:14618)Mod: 4147: Initialization of dvfilter-dsa failed with status -5
Feb 14 21:32:55 vmkernel: 0:00:05:06.107 cpu15:14618)dvfilter-dsa failed to load.
Feb 14 21:32:55 vmkernel:
Feb 14 21:32:55 vmkernel: 0:00:05:06.107 cpu15:14618)WARNING: Elf: 3080: Kernel based module load of dvfilter-dsa failed: Failure <Mod_LoadDone failed>
This is a known issue with embedded systems (IBM, HP, Dell) where the VMware enterprise license is not loaded correctly.
To resolve this, upgrade the ESXi embedded image to reflect the proper license. Contact your vendor to get a copy of the latest image with the fix.
For more information about this issue, refer to this VMware KB article: Preparing ESXi Embedded host with vShield Endpoint and Trend Micro Deep Security you receive error: DVFilter: 3516: DVFilter is not enabled due to missing license
