VMWare ESXI 6.7 with Realtek 8168 on commodity hardware

Jens Hoffrichter

8 minute read

This is really more of a reminder for myself for how to do this again in the future, if I need this. But I thought other people might also be finding this useful, so I decided to just publish it and not let it rot in my knowledge OneNote I keep.

The challenge

I recently upgraded my computer, and the old computer was gathering dust in a corner. Still a respectable 4 core Xeon E3-1231, with 32 GB RAM. This looked like the perfect opportunity to migrate some workload away from my current home ESXi server I use for all kinds of stuff here in house (I’m a nerd, okay?). It has an older consumer Asus motherboard built in, not really sure which one it is, it could be an H97-M, but I am not sure. Getting ESXi running on this thing should be easy, right? RIGHT?

TL;DWTR (Too long, don’t want to read)?

Take me to the solution!

First round

Downloading the ESXi 7.0 ISO image from vmWare posed more difficult than I anticipated, as the download button just didn’t want to work. Neither on my regular Firefox, nor on Chrome. It worked finally on one of my Linux VMs I have running, on the Firefox there. No clue why they don’t want to download it from Windows. It could be related to the adblocker, or the pihole I have running in my local network, just to give some hints for people to try if they struggle with the same problem.

Booting the image up from a USB stick worked, but I got the error that no network adapter could be found, and vmWare would be unable to install.

Some digging in the net revealed that the driver for the H97 chipset are missing on the vmWare install image.

Interlude

Building custom vmWare image with additional drivers is easy, though, you need the ESXi-Customizer-PS powershell script from v-front.de, which downloads and builds the ISO image, with custom vibs added to the image, if you want to.

As I am no PowerShell expert, getting the thing to run was a bit more tricky than I expected, as Windows 10 expects PS1 scripts to be signed, and gets a hissy fit if they aren’t.

So you need to set the execution policy (from a PowerShell run as Administrator)


Set-ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted

On my computer it complained then that this was being overriden on a different privilege level with a different setting. A bit of digging in the help let me set it like this then:


PS C:\Users\JensHoffrichter\Downloads> Set-ExecutionPolicy -scope currentuser unrestricted 

PS C:\Users\JensHoffrichter\Downloads> Get-ExecutionPolicy -list

        Scope ExecutionPolicy
        ----- ---------------
MachinePolicy       Undefined
   UserPolicy       Undefined
      Process       Undefined
  CurrentUser    Unrestricted
 LocalMachine    Unrestricted

Be mindful that this changes a permanent setting in the registry! I don’t know how you can set it for just running a single script, so if your computer runs important things and should be safe, set it back to the original level afterwards! I just hope this is not like doing a chmod 777 -R . on Linux, something which I mock relentlessly - because it is super bad practice.

The script then complains it needs the PowerCLI tools installed, which is easily accomplished by

Install-Module -Name VMware.PowerCLI

On my machine it complained that there were some of the same commands already installed. As I didn’t use any of the mentioned commands right now, I chose to ignore these problems, and install the module anyway.

Install-Module -Name VMware.PowerCLI -AllowClobber

But the PowerShell woes were not yet at an end. Any time I ran the script, it asked me if I really wanted to run this script, as it was not known to the system. I introduced it to the system with

Unblock-File .\ESXi-Customizer-PS-v2.6.0.ps1

Random Thoughts

I’m not sure what I should think about PowerShell right now. On the one hand I really appreciate that Microsoft is moving towards a more command line based system, as I like that a lot better than GUI based administration. It makes it possible to orchestrate systems, it makes it much more easier to put some recipes like this online and increases effectivity overall, in my opinion.

But PowerShell still feels really weird, which is probably because of a lot of the underlying security concepts for Windows, and it makes it really awkward to do stuff. I know this is probably for the best, as running a downloaded script “just so” is usually not a good idea, neither on Linux nor on Windows. Especially some of these automatic installers on Linux which use curl | sudo bash can be really scary, and I don’t like to run them much. But if I need to google for 15 minutes to get a simple script running, it might be a bit overkill.

I just don’t know….

Round two

The ESXi customizer only offered to download ESXi 6.7, but I didn’t really care - as long as it works, and is not super insecure, I don’t care about the version.

The vanilla image had the same problem as the downloaded ISO from vmWare, and couldn’t find the network adapter.

I played around with some options to install different VIBs into the image, all with the same result.

So I bit the bullet, and booted up a GRML Linux live cd to get some more info, and I realized the board has a RealTek 8168, and not an Intel NIC as I suspected. This gave a new angle to the try, and now building the image with


PS C:\Users\JensHoffrichter\Downloads> .\ESXi-Customizer-PS-v2.6.0.ps1 -load net-r8168,net-r8169

This is ESXi-Customizer-PS Version 2.6.0 (visit https://ESXi-Customizer-PS.v-front.de for more information!)
(Call with -help for instructions)

Logging to C:\Users\JENSHO~1\AppData\Local\Temp\ESXi-Customizer-PS-39816.log ...

Running with PowerShell version 5.1 and VMware PowerCLI version 12.0.0.15939655

Connecting the VMware ESXi Online depot ... [OK]

Getting Imageprofiles, please wait ... [OK]

Using Imageprofile ESXi-6.7.0-20200804001-standard ...
(dated 08/08/2020 04:12:43, AcceptanceLevel: PartnerSupported,
Updates ESXi 6.7 Image Profile-ESXi-6.7.0-20200804001-standard)

Load additional VIBs from Online depots ...
   Add VIB net-r8168 8.013.00-3vmw.510.0.0.799733 [OK, added]
   Add VIB net-r8169 6.011.00-2vmw.510.0.0.799733 [OK, added]

Exporting the Imageprofile to 'C:\Users\JensHoffrichter\Downloads\ESXi-6.7.0-20200804001-standard-customized.iso'. Please be patient ...

WARNING: The image profile fails validation.  The ISO / Offline Bundle will still be generated but may contain errors
and may not boot or be functional.  Errors:
WARNING:   VIB VMware_bootbank_net-r8169_6.011.00-2vmw.510.0.0.799733 requires vmkapi_2_1_0_0, but the requirement
cannot be satisfied within the ImageProfile. However, additional VIB(s) VMware_bootbank_esx-base_6.0.0-0.5.2615704,
VMware_bootbank_esx-base_6.5.0-3.116.15256468, VMware_bootbank_esx-base_6.0.0-2.34.3620759,
VMware_bootbank_esx-base_6.5.0-0.23.5969300, VMware_bootbank_esx-base_5.1.0-0.11.1063671,
VMware_bootbank_esx-base_6.0.0-3.93.9239792, VMware_bootbank_esx-base_5.1.0-2.32.1904929,
VMware_bootbank_esx-base_6.5.0-0.9.4887370, VMware_bootbank_esx-base_5.1.0-1.15.1142907,
VMware_bootbank_esx-base_6.0.0-3.79.6921384, VMware_bootbank_esx-base_6.5.0-3.111.15177306,
VMware_bootbank_esx-base_6.5.0-1.26.5969303, VMware_bootbank_esx-base_6.5.0-0.19.5310538,
VMware_bootbank_esx-base_5.1.0-3.85.3872664, VMware_bootbank_esx-base_6.0.0-3.87.8934903,
VMware_bootbank_esx-base_6.0.0-2.43.4192238, VMware_bootbank_esx-base_5.5.0-0.7.1474526,
VMware_bootbank_esx-base_6.5.0-3.108.14990892, VMware_bootbank_esx-base_6.5.0-2.71.10868328,
VMware_bootbank_esx-base_5.5.0-3.78.3248547, VMware_bootbank_esx-base_6.5.0-2.50.8294253,
VMware_bootbank_esx-base_5.5.0-2.33.2068190, VMware_bootbank_esx-base_5.5.0-2.51.2352327,
VMware_bootbank_esx-base_6.0.0-3.72.6765062, VMware_bootbank_esx-base_5.1.0-0.0.799733,
VMware_bootbank_esx-base_5.5.0-3.95.4345813, VMware_bootbank_esx-base_5.1.0-3.82.3872638,
VMware_bootbank_esx-base_5.1.0-1.20.1312873, VMware_bootbank_esx-base_6.0.0-2.52.4600944,
VMware_bootbank_esx-base_5.1.0-3.52.2575044, VMware_bootbank_esx-base_6.0.0-3.129.14513180,
VMware_bootbank_esx-base_5.5.0-3.124.9919047, VMware_bootbank_esx-base_5.5.0-1.15.1623387,
VMware_bootbank_esx-base_6.5.0-2.54.8935087, VMware_bootbank_esx-base_5.5.0-2.36.2093874,
VMware_bootbank_esx-base_6.5.0-2.61.10175896, VMware_bootbank_esx-base_6.5.0-3.105.14874964,
VMware_bootbank_esx-base_5.5.0-3.68.3029944, VMware_bootbank_esx-base_5.5.0-3.106.6480324,
VMware_bootbank_esx-base_5.1.0-2.29.1900470, VMware_bootbank_esx-base_5.5.0-3.86.4179631,
VMware_bootbank_esx-base_5.5.0-3.92.4345810, VMware_bootbank_esx-base_6.0.0-3.96.9239799,
VMware_bootbank_esx-base_5.1.0-0.8.911593, VMware_bootbank_esx-base_6.0.0-3.110.10719132,
VMware_bootbank_esx-base_5.5.0-2.54.2403361, VMware_bootbank_esx-base_5.1.0-2.26.1612806,
VMware_bootbank_esx-base_5.5.0-3.107.7618464, VMware_bootbank_esx-base_5.5.0-2.58.2638301,
VMware_bootbank_esx-base_6.5.0-2.79.11925212, VMware_bootbank_esx-base_6.0.0-0.0.2494585,
VMware_bootbank_esx-base_6.5.0-0.11.5146843, VMware_bootbank_esx-base_6.0.0-1.20.3073146,
VMware_bootbank_esx-base_5.1.0-0.10.1021289, VMware_bootbank_esx-base_5.5.0-1.18.1881737,
VMware_bootbank_esx-base_5.5.0-3.84.3568722, VMware_bootbank_esx-base_6.0.0-3.66.5485776,
VMware_bootbank_esx-base_6.5.0-3.120.15256549, VMware_bootbank_esx-base_6.5.0-2.64.10390116,
VMware_bootbank_esx-base_5.5.0-2.55.2456374, VMware_bootbank_esx-base_5.5.0-0.15.1746974,
VMware_bootbank_esx-base_6.0.0-2.49.4558694, VMware_bootbank_esx-base_6.0.0-2.54.5047589,
VMware_bootbank_esx-base_5.1.0-3.50.2323236, VMware_bootbank_esx-base_5.1.0-2.44.2191751,
VMware_bootbank_esx-base_6.5.0-2.88.13635690, VMware_bootbank_esx-base_6.0.0-1.22.3247720,
VMware_bootbank_esx-base_6.0.0-3.116.13635687, VMware_bootbank_esx-base_6.5.0-3.138.16576891,
VMware_bootbank_esx-base_5.5.0-3.120.9313066, VMware_bootbank_esx-base_5.5.0-2.39.2143827,
VMware_bootbank_esx-base_6.0.0-3.69.5572656, VMware_bootbank_esx-base_6.5.0-1.47.8285314,
VMware_bootbank_esx-base_6.5.0-3.134.16576879, VMware_bootbank_esx-base_6.0.0-3.113.13003896,
VMware_bootbank_esx-base_5.1.0-0.9.914609, VMware_bootbank_esx-base_5.1.0-2.47.2323231,
VMware_bootbank_esx-base_5.5.0-3.75.3247226, VMware_bootbank_esx-base_6.5.0-0.0.4564106,
VMware_bootbank_esx-base_5.5.0-3.100.4722766, VMware_bootbank_esx-base_5.1.0-3.55.2583090,
VMware_bootbank_esx-base_6.5.0-0.14.5146846, VMware_bootbank_esx-base_5.1.0-2.27.1743201,
VMware_bootbank_esx-base_5.1.0-3.60.3070626, VMware_bootbank_esx-base_5.1.0-2.28.1743533,
VMware_bootbank_esx-base_5.5.0-2.42.2302651, VMware_bootbank_esx-base_6.0.0-1.31.3568943,
VMware_bootbank_esx-base_6.5.0-3.101.14320405, VMware_bootbank_esx-base_5.1.0-1.16.1157734,
VMware_bootbank_esx-base_6.5.0-3.126.16207673, VMware_bootbank_esx-base_6.5.0-0.15.5224529,
VMware_bootbank_esx-base_5.1.0-0.5.838463, VMware_bootbank_esx-base_6.0.0-0.14.3017641,
VMware_bootbank_esx-base_5.1.0-1.19.1312874, VMware_bootbank_esx-base_6.0.0-1.23.3341439,
VMware_bootbank_esx-base_5.5.0-3.81.3343343, VMware_bootbank_esx-base_5.5.0-3.114.7967571,
VMware_bootbank_esx-base_5.5.0-3.103.6480267, VMware_bootbank_esx-base_6.5.0-3.96.13932383,
VMware_bootbank_esx-base_6.0.0-3.145.15517548, VMware_bootbank_esx-base_5.5.0-0.8.1474528,
VMware_bootbank_esx-base_5.5.0-1.16.1746018, VMware_bootbank_esx-base_6.0.0-3.138.15169789,
VMware_bootbank_esx-base_6.0.0-2.40.4179598, VMware_bootbank_esx-base_6.5.0-2.57.9298722,
VMware_bootbank_esx-base_5.5.0-2.65.3029837, VMware_bootbank_esx-base_6.0.0-3.125.14475122,
VMware_bootbank_esx-base_6.5.0-3.129.16389870, VMware_bootbank_esx-base_6.5.0-1.41.7967591,
VMware_bootbank_esx-base_5.5.0-1.28.1892794, VMware_bootbank_esx-base_6.0.0-3.100.9313334,
VMware_bootbank_esx-base_5.1.0-3.57.3021178, VMware_bootbank_esx-base_6.0.0-3.107.10474991,
VMware_bootbank_esx-base_5.5.0-1.25.1892623, VMware_bootbank_esx-base_6.0.0-3.76.6856897,
VMware_bootbank_esx-base_6.0.0-2.46.4510822, VMware_bootbank_esx-base_6.5.0-2.83.13004031,
VMware_bootbank_esx-base_6.5.0-2.67.10719125, VMware_bootbank_esx-base_5.1.0-2.41.2191354,
VMware_bootbank_esx-base_6.0.0-0.11.2809209, VMware_bootbank_esx-base_6.0.0-2.37.3825889,
VMware_bootbank_esx-base_5.5.0-3.89.4179633, VMware_bootbank_esx-base_5.5.0-0.14.1598313,
VMware_bootbank_esx-base_6.0.0-1.29.3568940, VMware_bootbank_esx-base_6.0.0-1.26.3380124,
VMware_bootbank_esx-base_6.0.0-0.6.2715440, VMware_bootbank_esx-base_5.5.0-3.101.5230635,
VMware_bootbank_esx-base_6.0.0-3.57.5050593, VMware_bootbank_esx-base_6.5.0-1.36.7388607,
VMware_bootbank_esx-base_5.5.0-1.30.1980513, VMware_bootbank_esx-base_6.0.0-1.17.3029758,
VMware_bootbank_esx-base_5.1.0-1.22.1472666, VMware_bootbank_esx-base_6.5.0-2.75.10884925,
VMware_bootbank_esx-base_5.1.0-2.23.1483097, VMware_bootbank_esx-base_5.5.0-3.97.4756874,
VMware_bootbank_esx-base_5.5.0-2.62.2718055, VMware_bootbank_esx-base_5.1.0-1.13.1117900,
VMware_bootbank_esx-base_5.5.0-3.71.3116895, VMware_bootbank_esx-base_5.5.0-2.59.2702869,
VMware_bootbank_esx-base_6.0.0-3.84.7967664, VMware_bootbank_esx-base_6.5.0-1.29.6765664,
VMware_bootbank_esx-base_6.5.0-2.92.13873656, VMware_bootbank_esx-base_6.0.0-3.135.15018929,
VMware_bootbank_esx-base_5.1.0-2.35.2000251, VMware_bootbank_esx-base_6.5.0-1.33.7273056,
VMware_bootbank_esx-base_5.5.0-0.0.1331820, VMware_bootbank_esx-base_6.0.0-0.8.2809111,
VMware_bootbank_esx-base_6.0.0-3.58.5224934, VMware_bootbank_esx-base_5.1.0-1.12.1065491,
VMware_bootbank_esx-base_5.5.0-3.117.8934887 from depot can satisfy this requirement.
WARNING:   VIB VMware_bootbank_net-r8168_8.013.00-3vmw.510.0.0.799733 requires vmkapi_2_1_0_0, but the requirement
cannot be satisfied within the ImageProfile. However, additional VIB(s) VMware_bootbank_esx-base_6.0.0-0.5.2615704,
VMware_bootbank_esx-base_6.5.0-3.116.15256468, VMware_bootbank_esx-base_6.0.0-2.34.3620759,
VMware_bootbank_esx-base_6.5.0-0.23.5969300, VMware_bootbank_esx-base_5.1.0-0.11.1063671,
VMware_bootbank_esx-base_6.0.0-3.93.9239792, VMware_bootbank_esx-base_5.1.0-2.32.1904929,
VMware_bootbank_esx-base_6.5.0-0.9.4887370, VMware_bootbank_esx-base_5.1.0-1.15.1142907,
VMware_bootbank_esx-base_6.0.0-3.79.6921384, VMware_bootbank_esx-base_6.5.0-3.111.15177306,
VMware_bootbank_esx-base_6.5.0-1.26.5969303, VMware_bootbank_esx-base_6.5.0-0.19.5310538,
VMware_bootbank_esx-base_5.1.0-3.85.3872664, VMware_bootbank_esx-base_6.0.0-3.87.8934903,
VMware_bootbank_esx-base_6.0.0-2.43.4192238, VMware_bootbank_esx-base_5.5.0-0.7.1474526,
VMware_bootbank_esx-base_6.5.0-3.108.14990892, VMware_bootbank_esx-base_6.5.0-2.71.10868328,
VMware_bootbank_esx-base_5.5.0-3.78.3248547, VMware_bootbank_esx-base_6.5.0-2.50.8294253,
VMware_bootbank_esx-base_5.5.0-2.33.2068190, VMware_bootbank_esx-base_5.5.0-2.51.2352327,
VMware_bootbank_esx-base_6.0.0-3.72.6765062, VMware_bootbank_esx-base_5.1.0-0.0.799733,
VMware_bootbank_esx-base_5.5.0-3.95.4345813, VMware_bootbank_esx-base_5.1.0-3.82.3872638,
VMware_bootbank_esx-base_5.1.0-1.20.1312873, VMware_bootbank_esx-base_6.0.0-2.52.4600944,
VMware_bootbank_esx-base_5.1.0-3.52.2575044, VMware_bootbank_esx-base_6.0.0-3.129.14513180,
VMware_bootbank_esx-base_5.5.0-3.124.9919047, VMware_bootbank_esx-base_5.5.0-1.15.1623387,
VMware_bootbank_esx-base_6.5.0-2.54.8935087, VMware_bootbank_esx-base_5.5.0-2.36.2093874,
VMware_bootbank_esx-base_6.5.0-2.61.10175896, VMware_bootbank_esx-base_6.5.0-3.105.14874964,
VMware_bootbank_esx-base_5.5.0-3.68.3029944, VMware_bootbank_esx-base_5.5.0-3.106.6480324,
VMware_bootbank_esx-base_5.1.0-2.29.1900470, VMware_bootbank_esx-base_5.5.0-3.86.4179631,
VMware_bootbank_esx-base_5.5.0-3.92.4345810, VMware_bootbank_esx-base_6.0.0-3.96.9239799,
VMware_bootbank_esx-base_5.1.0-0.8.911593, VMware_bootbank_esx-base_6.0.0-3.110.10719132,
VMware_bootbank_esx-base_5.5.0-2.54.2403361, VMware_bootbank_esx-base_5.1.0-2.26.1612806,
VMware_bootbank_esx-base_5.5.0-3.107.7618464, VMware_bootbank_esx-base_5.5.0-2.58.2638301,
VMware_bootbank_esx-base_6.5.0-2.79.11925212, VMware_bootbank_esx-base_6.0.0-0.0.2494585,
VMware_bootbank_esx-base_6.5.0-0.11.5146843, VMware_bootbank_esx-base_6.0.0-1.20.3073146,
VMware_bootbank_esx-base_5.1.0-0.10.1021289, VMware_bootbank_esx-base_5.5.0-1.18.1881737,
VMware_bootbank_esx-base_5.5.0-3.84.3568722, VMware_bootbank_esx-base_6.0.0-3.66.5485776,
VMware_bootbank_esx-base_6.5.0-3.120.15256549, VMware_bootbank_esx-base_6.5.0-2.64.10390116,
VMware_bootbank_esx-base_5.5.0-2.55.2456374, VMware_bootbank_esx-base_5.5.0-0.15.1746974,
VMware_bootbank_esx-base_6.0.0-2.49.4558694, VMware_bootbank_esx-base_6.0.0-2.54.5047589,
VMware_bootbank_esx-base_5.1.0-3.50.2323236, VMware_bootbank_esx-base_5.1.0-2.44.2191751,
VMware_bootbank_esx-base_6.5.0-2.88.13635690, VMware_bootbank_esx-base_6.0.0-1.22.3247720,
VMware_bootbank_esx-base_6.0.0-3.116.13635687, VMware_bootbank_esx-base_6.5.0-3.138.16576891,
VMware_bootbank_esx-base_5.5.0-3.120.9313066, VMware_bootbank_esx-base_5.5.0-2.39.2143827,
VMware_bootbank_esx-base_6.0.0-3.69.5572656, VMware_bootbank_esx-base_6.5.0-1.47.8285314,
VMware_bootbank_esx-base_6.5.0-3.134.16576879, VMware_bootbank_esx-base_6.0.0-3.113.13003896,
VMware_bootbank_esx-base_5.1.0-0.9.914609, VMware_bootbank_esx-base_5.1.0-2.47.2323231,
VMware_bootbank_esx-base_5.5.0-3.75.3247226, VMware_bootbank_esx-base_6.5.0-0.0.4564106,
VMware_bootbank_esx-base_5.5.0-3.100.4722766, VMware_bootbank_esx-base_5.1.0-3.55.2583090,
VMware_bootbank_esx-base_6.5.0-0.14.5146846, VMware_bootbank_esx-base_5.1.0-2.27.1743201,
VMware_bootbank_esx-base_5.1.0-3.60.3070626, VMware_bootbank_esx-base_5.1.0-2.28.1743533,
VMware_bootbank_esx-base_5.5.0-2.42.2302651, VMware_bootbank_esx-base_6.0.0-1.31.3568943,
VMware_bootbank_esx-base_6.5.0-3.101.14320405, VMware_bootbank_esx-base_5.1.0-1.16.1157734,
VMware_bootbank_esx-base_6.5.0-3.126.16207673, VMware_bootbank_esx-base_6.5.0-0.15.5224529,
VMware_bootbank_esx-base_5.1.0-0.5.838463, VMware_bootbank_esx-base_6.0.0-0.14.3017641,
VMware_bootbank_esx-base_5.1.0-1.19.1312874, VMware_bootbank_esx-base_6.0.0-1.23.3341439,
VMware_bootbank_esx-base_5.5.0-3.81.3343343, VMware_bootbank_esx-base_5.5.0-3.114.7967571,
VMware_bootbank_esx-base_5.5.0-3.103.6480267, VMware_bootbank_esx-base_6.5.0-3.96.13932383,
VMware_bootbank_esx-base_6.0.0-3.145.15517548, VMware_bootbank_esx-base_5.5.0-0.8.1474528,
VMware_bootbank_esx-base_5.5.0-1.16.1746018, VMware_bootbank_esx-base_6.0.0-3.138.15169789,
VMware_bootbank_esx-base_6.0.0-2.40.4179598, VMware_bootbank_esx-base_6.5.0-2.57.9298722,
VMware_bootbank_esx-base_5.5.0-2.65.3029837, VMware_bootbank_esx-base_6.0.0-3.125.14475122,
VMware_bootbank_esx-base_6.5.0-3.129.16389870, VMware_bootbank_esx-base_6.5.0-1.41.7967591,
VMware_bootbank_esx-base_5.5.0-1.28.1892794, VMware_bootbank_esx-base_6.0.0-3.100.9313334,
VMware_bootbank_esx-base_5.1.0-3.57.3021178, VMware_bootbank_esx-base_6.0.0-3.107.10474991,
VMware_bootbank_esx-base_5.5.0-1.25.1892623, VMware_bootbank_esx-base_6.0.0-3.76.6856897,
VMware_bootbank_esx-base_6.0.0-2.46.4510822, VMware_bootbank_esx-base_6.5.0-2.83.13004031,
VMware_bootbank_esx-base_6.5.0-2.67.10719125, VMware_bootbank_esx-base_5.1.0-2.41.2191354,
VMware_bootbank_esx-base_6.0.0-0.11.2809209, VMware_bootbank_esx-base_6.0.0-2.37.3825889,
VMware_bootbank_esx-base_5.5.0-3.89.4179633, VMware_bootbank_esx-base_5.5.0-0.14.1598313,
VMware_bootbank_esx-base_6.0.0-1.29.3568940, VMware_bootbank_esx-base_6.0.0-1.26.3380124,
VMware_bootbank_esx-base_6.0.0-0.6.2715440, VMware_bootbank_esx-base_5.5.0-3.101.5230635,
VMware_bootbank_esx-base_6.0.0-3.57.5050593, VMware_bootbank_esx-base_6.5.0-1.36.7388607,
VMware_bootbank_esx-base_5.5.0-1.30.1980513, VMware_bootbank_esx-base_6.0.0-1.17.3029758,
VMware_bootbank_esx-base_5.1.0-1.22.1472666, VMware_bootbank_esx-base_6.5.0-2.75.10884925,
VMware_bootbank_esx-base_5.1.0-2.23.1483097, VMware_bootbank_esx-base_5.5.0-3.97.4756874,
VMware_bootbank_esx-base_5.5.0-2.62.2718055, VMware_bootbank_esx-base_5.1.0-1.13.1117900,
VMware_bootbank_esx-base_5.5.0-3.71.3116895, VMware_bootbank_esx-base_5.5.0-2.59.2702869,
VMware_bootbank_esx-base_6.0.0-3.84.7967664, VMware_bootbank_esx-base_6.5.0-1.29.6765664,
VMware_bootbank_esx-base_6.5.0-2.92.13873656, VMware_bootbank_esx-base_6.0.0-3.135.15018929,
VMware_bootbank_esx-base_5.1.0-2.35.2000251, VMware_bootbank_esx-base_6.5.0-1.33.7273056,
VMware_bootbank_esx-base_5.5.0-0.0.1331820, VMware_bootbank_esx-base_6.0.0-0.8.2809111,
VMware_bootbank_esx-base_6.0.0-3.58.5224934, VMware_bootbank_esx-base_5.1.0-1.12.1065491,
VMware_bootbank_esx-base_5.5.0-3.117.8934887 from depot can satisfy this requirement.

All done.

Booting that image didn’t yield any changes, and the messages there hinted that there might just be some incompatibility.

Further digging brought me to the realization that the people from v-front.de had their own repository for legacy, community drivers, which you can enable with the -vft option.

Solution

Building the image now with


PS C:\Users\JensHoffrichter\Downloads> .\ESXi-Customizer-PS-v2.6.0.ps1 -vft -load net55-r8168

This is ESXi-Customizer-PS Version 2.6.0 (visit https://ESXi-Customizer-PS.v-front.de for more information!)
(Call with -help for instructions)

Logging to C:\Users\JENSHO~1\AppData\Local\Temp\ESXi-Customizer-PS-39816.log ...

Running with PowerShell version 5.1 and VMware PowerCLI version 12.0.0.15939655

Connecting the VMware ESXi Online depot ... [OK]

Connecting the V-Front Online depot ... [OK]

Getting Imageprofiles, please wait ... [OK]

Using Imageprofile ESXi-6.7.0-20200804001-standard ...
(dated 08/08/2020 04:12:43, AcceptanceLevel: PartnerSupported,
Updates ESXi 6.7 Image Profile-ESXi-6.7.0-20200804001-standard)

Load additional VIBs from Online depots ...
   Add VIB net55-r8168 8.045a-napi [New AcceptanceLevel: CommunitySupported] [OK, added]

Exporting the Imageprofile to 'C:\Users\JensHoffrichter\Downloads\ESXi-6.7.0-20200804001-standard-customized.iso'. Please be patient ...


All done.

With this, ESXi booted without issue, it just had a warning that I was using not officially supported hardware (which I knew and was fine with). It found my SATA controller with SSD and HDD without problem, and is now standing in my “server room”, waiting to be filled with VMs.