Skip to content

Instantly share code, notes, and snippets.

@smilzo
Last active April 20, 2024 17:42
Show Gist options
  • Star 1 You must be signed in to star a gist
  • Fork 0 You must be signed in to fork a gist
  • Save smilzo/34e2d78f5f6e6c1e8ceb0436508ba238 to your computer and use it in GitHub Desktop.
Save smilzo/34e2d78f5f6e6c1e8ceb0436508ba238 to your computer and use it in GitHub Desktop.
Create ESXi 7.0U3c install ISO with USB-NIC Fling
I need form my homelag to create an ISO with the fling USB-NIC because the realtek chipset
on motherboard is not recognized by ESXi 7.0U3c, so I used an USB Network adapter for my
home assembled server with an i9 9900k
You can find the Fling at: https://flings.vmware.com/usb-network-native-driver-for-esxi and
download ESXi703-VMKUSB-NIC-FLING-51233328-component-18902399.zip
Now download the offline VMware-ESXi-7.0U3c-19193900-depot.zip from your VMWare account, I'm working
on a new version with the online version, but now it work with the zip from VMWare
Install VMware Powercli
Open Powershell as Administrator and launch
PS C:\WINDOWS\system32> Install-Module VMware.PowerCLI
Put depot and fling into c:\esx and give the following commands:
PS C:\esx> Add-EsxSoftwareDepot .\VMware-ESXi-7.0U3c-19193900-depot.zip
PS C:\esx> Add-EsxSoftwareDepot .\ESXi703-VMKUSB-NIC-FLING-51233328-component-18902399.zip
PS C:\esx> New-EsxImageProfile -CloneProfile "ESXi-7.0U3-19193900-standard" -name "ESXi-7.0U3-USBNIC" -Vendor "sfrajone.org"
PS C:\esx> Add-EsxSoftwarePackage -ImageProfile "ESXi-7.0U3-USBNIC" -SoftwarePackage "vmkusb-nic-fling"
PS C:\esx> Export-ESXImageProfile -ImageProfile "ESXi-7.0U3-USBNIC" -ExportToIso -filepath ESXi-7.0U3-USBNIC.iso
You find the file ESXi-7.0U3-USBNIC.iso into directory, and you can put with Rufus (https://rufus.ie/) the ISO in
an USB device.
Boot on server, install the ESXi. At 81% the installation will be fail. Because the usb adapted is not used automatically
as Magement Interface in the installer. Now reboot and login with root and empty password, go to Network Options
and select Restore Network Restore Options then Restore Network Settings.
Log back again and configure the vusb0 as management interfece.
Remember to follow the instruction (https://flings.vmware.com/usb-network-native-driver-for-esxi#instructions) about the NIC binding if you use it as management interface
Don't pirate, you get a free licence from Vmware at https://my.vmware.com/en/web/vmware/evalcenter?p=free-esxi7
Have phun
Sign up for free to join this conversation on GitHub. Already have an account? Sign in to comment