esxi 4.1 and realtek 8168 and oem.tgz

[saariko]

Hi All,

i am trying to install esxi 4.1 on a new machine, which has on board tealtek 8168.  I know esxi does not support the realtek 8168, but I also learn that you can update the oem.tgz and have an install that can support it.

However, I am not sure how to do it, and this is where I ask for help.

- I downloaded the ESXi 4.1 Installable Update 1 (CD ISO) 02/10/11  |  4.1 Update 1  |  394 MB  |  Binary (.iso)

   from VMWARE download area

- I also downloaded the Realtek 8168 support oem.tgz that was compiled in

     http://www.vm-help.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=1272&p=9462#p9462

- When I extract the .iso  I don't see anywhere where to copy the new .o file I have

- There is a .dd file, but how to I edit that?

The instructions that are available, I assume talking about installing esxi using a linux machine.  My mahcine has nothing on it, and the .ISO is the one that installs it self.

I will appreciate any help.

thanks,

Saar

[nkrishnan]

One option that i can think is, install ISO on a USB Key and boot from it. once it got booted go to /bootbank partition and replace oem.tgz with the one you downloaded.

Here you can use local harddrive for VMFS ( I am not sure whether VMFS on SATA Harddrive is support or not)

Thanks

Nithin

[nkrishnan]

I could also find http://uuilee.wordpress.com/2010/10/06/create-an-esxi-v4-whitebox-iso-with-third-party-driver-oem-tg...

[saariko]

Thank you, however, this means using ubuntu, and I have a totally clean machine.

I am still puzzled, and I have a feeling, the best solution will be to simply by a NON realtek NIC

[krishnaprasad]

Hello, You can update your ISO image by extracting the dd image from it. Mount the dd image and update oem.tgz in it. Step by step instructions are available @ http://www.nokernel.com/2011/03/creating-custom-esxi-4-0-installation-cd/

Thanks,

Krishnaprasad

[saariko]

Thanks,

But again, these all assume I have a unix machine to work with, which I don't (do I?)

As I said, I have a clean machine, which I can't really do anything.

When I use the CD, it hangs with the vmfs3 error.

Is there a non unix process that I can do this with?

[maumar]

Hopefully to be not OT, otherwise i will open a new thread...

I have ESXi 4.1 and a server with supermicro mobo and nic onboard nicely recognized; 'til here, no problems.

Thi sserve has tho pci nic's, either Realtek, I would ask you:

how should i install r8168.o that i found where u suggested in thi svery helpful thread:

http://www.vm-help.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=1272&p=9462#p9462

i dowloaded oem-r8168-8.018.00+ssh+ftp+wget+rsync.tgz

uncompressed it, and s-copied kernel module r8168.o

into the right dir:

scp r8168.o 192.168.0.1:/usr/lib/vmware/vmkmod/

where 192.168.0.1 is the ip of ESXi, of course

after reboot, i should see the 2 nic (or 1 of them) into Network Adapter list, should'nt it?

But i can see only the broadcom onboard, still...

I have made something wrong or simply this kernel module does not recognize the 2 nics?

[lafleurm]

I know this post is a year old but this may help others:

Use ESXi Customizer, it automates the process of customizing the ESXi install-ISO with drivers that are not originally included. All you need is the original ESXi ISO and the OEM.tgz and it will create a new ISO.

http://v-front.blogspot.com/p/esxi-customizer.html

[adelisa]

Hi saariko,

If your in testing environment then its ok .

But if you are planning to use in production environment I will not suggest to use Hardware

which dosent listed in HCL.

Generally unsupported hardware are not hasselfree and have to follow hit and trial method.

" Affirmation without discipline is the beginning of delusion."