Part 102: HOW TO: Create a Custom VMware ESXi 8.0 ISO with VMware Realtek Driver Fling (PowerCLI)

With the release of the ESXi 8.0 Realtek Driver Fling, it’s now possible for homelabs and whitebox systems to run ESXi 8.0 on hardware that uses Realtek NICs. In this video, I explain what the driver is, why it matters, and how to correctly inject (slipstream) it into an ESXi 8.0 depot file to produce both a bootable ISO and a ZIP bundle. I demonstrate two different approaches: A manual PowerCLI method, showing each command step-by-step A scripted method using my downloadable PowerShell script from GitHub Along the way, I also explain: What ESXi depot files and image profiles are Why PowerShell 7 is now required Why Python 3.12 is part of the toolchain Which ESXi versions you can legally download for free Why I cannot provide depot files or custom ISOs This video is aimed squarely at homelab users, lab environments, and learning scenarios — not production workloads. ⏱️ Chapters 00:00 - Intro 00:08 - Welcome to Hancock's VMware Half Hour 01:00 - We now have a ESXi 8.0 Realtek Driver 01:30 - Homelabs can now work with the new ESXi 8.0 Realtek Network driver 02:33 - Todays video - HOW TO Create a Customised ESXI 8.0 ISO 03:00 - I'll show you how to create the ISO and ZIP Bundle 03:30 - We will "slipstream" the Realtek driver into the ESXi 8.0 depot file 04:00 - If I use the word slipstream I mean inject the driver! 04:30 - You will need Powershell 7, VMware PowerCLI and Pythin 3.12 04:46 - Powershell 7 ! We're no longer in DOS anymore Toto! 05:25 - I'm going to demonstrate two methods, Manual and Scripted 05:43 - We also have a script you can download called Hancocks-VMware-Half-Hour-ESXi-Customizer1.ps1 available from GitHub 06:08 - Method 1 - Don't forget the Preqs - Powershell 7, VCF or VMware PowerCLI, and Python 3.12 06:19 - You will need the depot file and realtek driver for this receipe 07:00 - Depot files are available for free for 8.0.3e and 8.0.3f 07:10 - Depot files are available for 8.0.3g and 8.0.3h if you have a Contract with Broadcom 07:18 - Do not ask me for the depot files, do not ask me for customised isos 07:34 - Seek and yea, shall find ! 07:53 - I have no rights to distribute Broadcom Software 08:06 - The demonstration and here are the commands 08:54 - Add-EsxSoftwareDepot .\VMware-ESXi-8.0U3h-25067014-depot.zip 10:15 - Add-EsxSoftwareDepot .\VMware-Re-Driver_1.101.01-5vmw.800.1.0.20613240.zip 10:35 - Get-EsxImageProfile |Select Name 12:47 - Explaination of the Profiles in the depot file 13:44 - $newProfile = New-EsxImageProfile -CloneProfile 'ESXi-8.0U3h-25067014-standard' -name 'ESXi-8.0U3h-25067014-standard-Realtek-nic' -Vendor "Hancock's VMware Half Hour" 15:11 - Add-EsxSoftwarePackage -ImageProfile $newProfile -SoftwarePackage "if-re" 15:53 - Export-ESXImageProfile -ImageProfile $newProfile -ExportToIso -filepath "$($newProfile.Name).iso" 16:51 - Export-ESXImageProfile -ImageProfile $newProfile -ExportToBundle -filepath "$($newProfile.Name).zip" 17:18 - Check the output using dir 17:46 - Customized ESXi 8.0 iso and zip bundle created using manual method 18:14 - Method 2 - The script - Hancocks-VMware-Half-Hour-ESXi-Customizer1.ps1 19:00 - Whoops! It's borked already! 22:45 - Demonstration ESXi host installation 23:18 - Realtek Driver - Voila! 23:39 - Completed and Done 24:06 - Thanks for Watching 🔧 What You’ll Need PowerShell 7 VMware PowerCLI (VCF or VMware edition) Python 3.12 ESXi 8.0 depot file Realtek Driver Fling ZIP ⚠️ Important Notes I do not provide ESXi depot files I do not provide customised ISOs I have no rights to distribute Broadcom software This video is for educational and lab use only ☕ Enjoying the content? Support me with an espresso coffee! 👉 Buy Me an Espresso Coffee! - https://buymeacoffee.com/einsteinagogo Donate - https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/Andre... 🐝 Want to support British beekeeping? Get RAW PURE honey here! 👉https://meltonbyhoney.com/ Sorry UK only, unless demand increases to international destinations! 💡 Follow Hancock’s VMware Half Hour for more: YouTube -    / @einsteinagogo   Twitter -   / einsteinagogo   LinkedIn-   / andrewhancock