VMware used to provide a Community Networking Driver for ESXi 7.0 (net55-r8168). as of 2024–2025.
When VMware released ESXi 8.0, it brought a wave of modern features, a refreshed user interface, and enhanced security protocols. However, for homelab enthusiasts and small business users running "white box" hardware or consumer-grade workstations, the release brought a familiar, frustrating hurdle: the lack of native support for Realtek network interface cards (NICs). esxi 8 realtek
According to the VMware Hardware Compatibility Guide (HCG), . If you run the standard installer on a machine with a Realtek NIC, you will see the dreaded message: VMware used to provide a Community Networking Driver
: Community testing has shown throughput up to ~5.5Gbps on higher-end chips, though early reports on stability under extreme stress remain mixed. How to Install on ESXi 8.0 There are two primary ways to implement this driver: 1. Creating a Custom ISO (Recommended for New Installs) However, for homelab enthusiasts and small business users