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☁️ Custom VMware ESXi ISO build scripts

Inject consumer NIC, NVME & USB NIC drivers into ESXi ISO images.

  • Each script will present a menu to select which patch level to build your ISO.

esxi8.ps1

  • 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

esxi7.ps1

  • 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.

🛠️ Instructions for building ESXi ISOs:

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

Screenshot