– lspci on any Linux live USB. RTL8111/8168 → can try. RTL8125 → avoid unless 2.5GbE is mandatory. RTL810x (Fast Ethernet) → useless.
Download the official VMware ESXi 8.0 ISO from Broadcom’s website (requires a free account).
Add-EsxSoftwarePackage -ImageProfile $newProfile -SoftwarePackage Use code with caution. Copied to clipboard Export ISO: powershell esxi 8 realtek
Because Realtek has not submitted (or VMware has not accepted) official native drivers for many of their consumer chips for ESXi 8, the operating system simply does not "see" the hardware.
Best if you already have management access via a supported NIC (like a USB NIC). You can upload the component to a datastore and install it via SSH using 2. Required Components Source/Link ESXi 8.0 Offline Bundle Broadcom Support Portal (Free registration required) Realtek Driver Fling Broadcom Fling Website (Version 1.101.01 or later) VMware PowerCLI module for PowerShell 3. PowerShell Implementation Steps To create a custom ISO with the – lspci on any Linux live USB
There are two primary ways to integrate Realtek support for ESXi 8.0: Custom ISO Creation (Pre-Installation):
If your host already has one supported NIC (such as an Intel-based management port or a USB NIC), you can install the driver package directly. ESXI doesn't support Realtek NICs [FIXED] RTL810x (Fast Ethernet) → useless
VMware used to provide a Community Networking Driver for ESXi 7.0 (net55-r8168). as of 2024–2025.
To understand the problem, you must understand the target audience. VMware ESXi is an enterprise-grade hypervisor. In the enterprise world—data centers, cloud providers, and large corporations—network hardware is dominated by Intel and Broadcom (formerly Emulex/QLogic). These vendors pay for certification, provide long-term support lifecycles, and write optimized drivers that are included in the official ESXi ISO.