So I ended up upgrading the NVM to the latest version (f4.33.31377 a1.2 n4.42 e191b):
https://downloadcenter.intel.com/download/24769/NVM-Update-Utility-for- Intel-Ethernet-Converged-Network-Adapter-XL710-X710-Series The 0.3.36-k now refuses to work at all throwing these messages into dmesg (no random kernel panic with the latest NVM, just doesn't work at all): [ 1.602924] i40e: Intel(R) Ethernet Connection XL710 Network Driver - version 0.3.36-k [ 1.602926] i40e: Copyright (c) 2013 - 2014 Intel Corporation. [ 1.613938] i40e 0000:05:00.0: f4.33 a1.2 n04.42 e8000191b [ 1.613940] i40e 0000:05:00.0: init_adminq failed: -65 expecting API 01.01 [ 1.613999] i40e: probe of 0000:05:00.0 failed with error -65 [ 1.634901] i40e 0000:05:00.1: Initial pf_reset failed: -15 [ 1.634962] i40e: probe of 0000:05:00.1 failed with error -15 [ 1.646010] i40e 0000:88:00.0: f4.33 a1.2 n04.42 e8000191b [ 1.646013] i40e 0000:88:00.0: init_adminq failed: -65 expecting API 01.01 [ 1.646079] i40e: probe of 0000:88:00.0 failed with error -65 [ 1.666925] i40e 0000:88:00.1: Initial pf_reset failed: -15 [ 1.667004] i40e: probe of 0000:88:00.1 failed with error -15 I then installed linux-generic-lts-vivid and that works without issue: root@ubuntu:~# ethtool -i p1p2 driver: i40e version: 1.2.2-k firmware-version: f4.33 a1.2 n04.42 e8000191b bus-info: 0000:05:00.1 supports-statistics: yes supports-test: yes supports-eeprom-access: yes supports-register-dump: yes supports-priv-flags: no root@ubuntu:~# uname -a Linux ubuntu 3.19.0-26-generic #28~14.04.1-Ubuntu SMP Wed Aug 12 14:09:17 UTC 2015 x86_64 x86_64 x86_64 GNU/Linux -- You received this bug notification because you are a member of Ubuntu Bugs, which is subscribed to Ubuntu. https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1482304 Title: Upgrade i40e and i40evf driver to latest To manage notifications about this bug go to: https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/linux/+bug/1482304/+subscriptions -- ubuntu-bugs mailing list ubuntu-bugs@lists.ubuntu.com https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-bugs