ESXI VMs won't work with HP 212 Storage adaptor

[Sheridan]

I've setup an HP DL360 with an additional PCI HP 212 Storage adaptor to connect to an external tape drive. I've then installed ESXI 6.7 U3 (HP custom) and all is working.

 

Once I add the HP212 as passthrough though, I cannot get any VM to start (this is blank so all VMs are new) - if I try to install Server 2019 I get the Windows icon and the spinning wheel, and trying to install Server 2016 just comes up with an I/O error

 

I've used this sort of config before, and the 212 was working fine in a previous server. If I remove it from the VM options all goes according to plan, but the purpose of this VM is to access the tape drive!

 

I've even tried ESXI 6.5 and it does the same. The HP 212 is on VMWare HCL as well - its not exactly a new device so anyone had this sort of problem before?

[Sheridan]

Well, if anyone else has this problem the answer is simple. Even though the HP 212 adaptor is on the HCL it categorically will not work with Windows VMs in passthrough mode in VMWare 6, 6.5 or 6.7!