I tested the NICs below in my VMware ESXi 5.x whitebox server at home. Here the status:
| NIC | Recognized by VMware ESXi 5 | Listed in ESXi 5 as |
| Intel PRO/1000GT Desktop Adapter PCI | Yes | Intel 82541PI Gigabit Ethernet Controller |
| Realtek RTL 8111E | Yes | Realtek 8168 Gigabit Ethernet |
| Intel Gigabit CT Desktop Adapter PCI-e | Yes | Intel Corporation 82574L |
| Intel 82579 Gigabit LAN controller | No You need the make a customized ESXi 5 ISO or VIB file.This is a not supported configuration! |
Intel Corporation 82579V orIntel Corporation 82579LM |
To add for example the Intel 82579 chipset, create a customized ESXi 5 ISO. This is very simple because some people have already done the hard work.
Here are the steps:
1. Download ESXi-Customizer (create by Andreas Peetz) found here.
2. Download the driver (created by Chilly) found here.
3. Start the ESXi-Customizer and follow the 3 steps:
And you’re ready to create the customized VMware ESXi 5 ISO. The ISO supports the Intel 82579V and 82579LM NIC(s) found on many whitebox motherboards today. Possible future updated version(s) of the driver can be found in the following post.
Have this, any hints on a driver that would work esxi 5.1
Realtek RTL 8106E-CG on the motherboard.
Esxi 5.1 will not recognize the adapter.
Tia
Ken
Hi,
I am new to VMware ESXi server, I try to install VMware-VMvisor-Installer-5.5.0.update01-1623387.x86_64 in intel DZ75ML-45k, Intel(R) 82579V Gigabit Network Connection, Every time it show the error “Physically Network Adapter Not Connected……’ and i try ESXi-Customizer too with many variant of .vib file, .tgz and offline_bundle But i can’t install the ESXi server, Pl anyone help me.. Thanks in advance…..
Fred Beck says: 11/11/2013 at 17:28 For 5.5 you can no longer use .tgz files (Deprecated) You can use this application with .vib files and it worked just fine. I picked up the intel 82579 drivers here http://files.v-front.de/net-e1001e-1.0.0.x86_64.vib – See more at: https://www.ivobeerens.nl/2011/12/13/vmware-esxi-5-whitebox-nic-support/#sthash.MzFkdTfp.dpuf
This works fine for me with ESXi 5.5 CU2, It’s very great! Thank you in advance!!
[DependencyError]
VIB DLink_bootbank_DLink-528T_1 requires com.vmware.driverAPI-9.2.0.0, but the req uirement cannot be satisfied within the ImageProfile.
VIB DLink_bootbank_DLink-528T_1 requires vmkapi_2_0_0_0, but the requirement canno t be satisfied within the ImageProfile.
dependency error on 6.5 using DGE 528T. Appreciate your thoughts guys
Dear Fred Beck, many many thanks for the driver.