- Each script will present a menu to select which patch level to build your ISO.
- Builds an ESXi 8.x iso with latest NVME & USB NIC Fling drivers + latest GhettoVCB backup. (The VMware NIC Fling is included natively from 8.x)
- For earlier 800, 80U1 or 80U2 builds, see script notes to select the correct USB NIC Fling
- Builds an ESXi 7.x iso with latest NVME, NIC & USB NIC Fling drivers + latest GhettoVCB backup.
esxi6.7.ps1 (Zimaboard compatible)
- Builds an ESXi 6.7 iso with latest NVME & USB NIC drivers, Zimaboard Realtek 1GbE NIC driver + latest GhettoVCB backup.
1. Enable Powershell script policy:
Set-ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted -Scope CurrentUser # and select All
To restore default: Set-ExecutionPolicy RemoteSigned -Scope CurrentUser
For ESXi 7 & 8 ISOs GO TO STEP 3, For ESXi 6.x GO TO STEP 2
2. ESXi 6.7 ISOs require older Powercli. You must OFFLINE INSTALL PowerCli as follows:
Download it here: https://developer.vmware.com/web/tool/12.7.0/vmware-powercli
a. Start with a FRESH Windows system (Powercli's uninstaller does not remove everything)
b. Extract contents of PowerCLI zip to %ProgramFiles%\WindowsPowerShell\Modules
c. Run: Get-ChildItem -Path $env:PROGRAMFILES\WindowsPowerShell\Modules\ -Recurse | Unblock-File
d. Run the esxi6.7.ps1 script to build the 6.7 ISO.
3. For ESXi 7.x and 8.x ISOs:
a. Run: Install-Module VMware.PowerCLI -Scope CurrentUser # Select Y to install from untrusted repo
b. Install Python (tested with 3.11.9) and check "Add Python to PATH" a the start of install
c. At end of Python install, select "Disable path length limit"
4. Upgrade Python PIP:
C:\Users\%username%\AppData\Local\Programs\Python\Python311\python.exe -m pip install --upgrade pip
5. Add Python dependencies for PowerCLI
C:\Users\%username%\AppData\Local\Programs\Python\Python311\Scripts\pip3.11.exe install six psutil lxml pyopenssl
6. Adjust the PowerCLI python.exe path and Customer Improvement Program settings
Set-PowerCLIConfiguration -Scope User -ParticipateInCEIP $false
Set-PowerCLIConfiguration -PythonPath C:\Users\$env:USERNAME\AppData\Local\Programs\Python\Python37\python.exe
7. Run esxi7.ps1 or esxi8.ps1 to build your ISO
- Zimaboard/Zimablade users note:
- Zimaboard's optional RTL 8125 2.5GbE NIC driver for ESXi 6.7 can be found here
- To manually install 2.5GbE driver:
esxcli software vib install -v net-r8125-9.011.00-10.vib - To manually remove 2.5GbE driver:
esxcli software vib remove -n net-r8125 - Full duplex on the ESXi NIC & physical switch may give better performance, your milage may vary
- To manually install 2.5GbE driver:
- Zimaboard's optional RTL 8125 2.5GbE NIC driver for ESXi 6.7 can be found here
- VMware Community Flings have been moved into the Broadcom universe at https://community.broadcom.com/flings/home
- The ESXi 6.7 script's Zimaboard RTL8168 NIC drivers were sourced from https://vibsdepot.v-front.de
- Optional RTL 8125 2.5GBe vibs for use with ESXi 6.7 were sourced from https://github.com/mcr-ksh/r8125-esxi