---
title: "Known Limitations"
canonical: "https://docs.infoblox.com/space/NVIG/1607204896/Known%20Limitations"
format: markdown
---
NIOS virtual appliance for VMware supports most of the features of the Infoblox NIOS appliances, with the following limitations:

- If you are using NIOS versions earlier than 8.6.*x*, if you configure an HA pair, both nodes in the HA pair must be NIOS virtual instances. You cannot configure a physical NIOS appliance and a NIOS virtual instance in an HA pair in versions earlier than 8.6.*x*.
- NIOS virtual appliances run on virtual hardware. They do not have sensors to monitor the physical CPU temperature, fan speed, and system temperature.
- Changing the NIOS virtual appliance settings through the VMware vSphere or vCenter console may violate the terms of the NIOS virtual licensing and support models. The NIOS virtual  appliance may not join the Grid or function properly.
- vNIOS for VMware instances with mixed interfaces (SR-IOV non SR-IOV) are not supported.
- Large IB-FLEX configurations set up on vNIOS appliances that have Intel network card E810, have not been qualified for deployment in VMware environments.

# Impact of DNS Infrastructure Protection-only Enabled Configurations on vNIOS Running on VMware Hardware Versions Later than 13

VMware has a known issue as explained in the KB article [https://knowledge.broadcom.com/external/article/315655/virtual-machine-hardware-versions.html](https://knowledge.broadcom.com/external/article/315655/virtual-machine-hardware-versions.html).

Because of this issue, on NIOS versions earlier than 9.0.8, Advanced DNS Protection -only enabled configurations on vNIOS running on VMware hardware versions later than 13 are impacted. To avoid running into this issue, Infoblox recommends that you disable automatic VM hardware version upgrades. To ensure compatibility and prevent issues related to Receive Side Scaling (RSS), the VM hardware version should be explicitly set to version 13 (compatible with ESXi 6.5) or lower. 

NIOS 9.0.8 supports all vHW (VMware virtual hardware) versions, and the VMware Hardware version 13 limitation applies only to NIOS versions below 9.0.8.

For scenarios where ESXi version is greater than the 6.5, and the VM hardware version is greater than 13,  please contact Infoblox Support. 

Note that Advanced DNS Protection/Threat Protection is called DNS Infrastructure Protection in NIOS versions 9.0.8 and later.