SSH into your ESXi host:
esxcli software vib install -v /vmfs/volumes/datastore1/<driver-filename>.vib
Historically, ESXi 6.7 and earlier supported "vmklinux" drivers, which allowed many Realtek chipsets to work out of the box or via simple community VIBs. Starting with , VMware removed the vmklinux subsystem entirely in favor of a 100% native driver architecture. esxi realtek driver
If you already have a functional ESXi installation (e.g., using a supported Intel NIC temporarily), you can install the driver via the command line:
esxcfg-module -e <driver_name> # e.g., r8168 or r8169 SSH into your ESXi host: esxcli software vib
With the release of ESXi 7.0, VMware officially deprecated the legacy VMKlinux driver stack. This broke the old net55 drivers entirely.
The Evolution and Complexity of Realtek Driver Support in VMware ESXi The relationship between VMware ESXi and Realtek network interface cards (NICs) has historically been one of the most significant hurdles for home lab enthusiasts. While Realtek hardware is ubiquitous in consumer motherboards and mini-PCs, its lack of official enterprise certification often leaves users with a "No Network Adapters" error during installation. The journey of Realtek support in ESXi is a narrative of community ingenuity overcoming enterprise-grade restrictions. The Deprecation Era (ESXi 6.7 to 8.0) For years, Realtek support was a moving target. In earlier versions of ESXi, users could rely on community-created This broke the old net55 drivers entirely
esxcli network nic list