☁️ Custom VMware ESXi ISO build scripts

Inject consumer Intel & Realtek NIC & USB NIC drivers into ESXi installer ISO.

esxi9.ps1

• Builds ESXi 9.x ISO with USB NIC & REALTEK NIC Fling drivers. (Zimaboard 1 & 2 compatible)

esxi8.ps1

• Builds ESXi 8.x ISO with USB NIC & REALTEK NIC Fling drivers. (Zimaboard 1 & 2 compatible)

esxi7.ps1

• Builds an ESXi 7.x ISO with latest NVME, NIC & USB NIC Fling drivers + latest GhettoVCB backup. (Zimaboard 2 compatible)

esxi6.7.ps1

• Builds an ESXi 6.7 ISO with latest NVME & USB NIC drivers, Zimaboard Realtek 1GbE NIC driver + latest GhettoVCB backup. (Zimaboard 1 compatible)

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🛠️ Instructions:

1. Download your preferred ESXi offline depot zip file (from Broadcom) and save in same directory as the script (or place source somewhere privately accessible via URL)
2. Update your downloaded depot zip filename in the script: manualUpdate1="your-esxi-offline-bundle.zip"
3. Update the (optional) private source download URL in the script: manualUpdateUrl1="your_custom_url.zip"

⚠️ Important: Always verify the SHA256 checksum when downloading VMware sources. Official release checksums can be found here.

🛠️ PowerCLI Environment Setup:

• The below is tested on Powershell 5.1 (the default for Windows 10 & 11). For those who have manually upgraded to a later Powershell version, you may need to use the latest PowerCLI version from here: https://developer.broadcom.com/tools/vmware-powercli/latest. Don't install a bleeding edge Python version to be safe. Scripts were tested with Python 3.12.9)

First enable Powershell scripts to run:
	Set-ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted -Scope CurrentUser # and select All

To restore default policy:
	Set-ExecutionPolicy RemoteSigned -Scope CurrentUser

For ESXi 7.x and 8.x:

1. Install-Module VMware.PowerCLI -Scope CurrentUser # Select Y to install from untrusted repo

2. Download and install Python and check "Add Python to PATH" a the start of install 

3. At end of Python install, select "Disable path length limit"

4. Upgrade Python PIP:
	C:\Users\%username%\AppData\Local\Programs\Python\Python<MAJOR_VERSION>\python.exe -m pip install --upgrade pip

5. Add Python dependencies for PowerCLI
        C:\Users\%username%\AppData\Local\Programs\Python\Python<MAJOR_VERSION>\Scripts\pip<MAJOR_VERSION>.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\Python<MAJOR_VERSION>\python.exe

7. Update `$manualUpdate` and `$manualUpdateUrl` script settings to point to your ESXi source

8. Run esxi7.ps1 or esxi8.ps1 to build your ISO

For ESXi 6.7

1. Start with a FRESH Windows system (Powercli's uninstaller does not remove everything)

2. ESXi 6.7 ISOs require an older version of Powercli.  You must OFFLINE INSTALL PowerCli:
https://developer.broadcom.com/tools/vmware-powercli/12.7.0

3. Extract contents of PowerCLI zip to %ProgramFiles%\WindowsPowerShell\Modules 

4. Run: Get-ChildItem -Path $env:PROGRAMFILES\WindowsPowerShell\Modules\ -Recurse | Unblock-File

5. Update `$manualUpdate` and `$manualUpdateUrl` script settings to point to your ESXi source

6. Run the esxi6.7.ps1 script to build the 6.7 ISO.

• ESXi6.7 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

• 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