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olivia Millie for eServers

Posted on • Originally published at eservers.uk

How to Fix the "No Network Adapters Were Detected" Error in VMware ESXi

#vmware #sysadmin #virtualization #esxi

If you are setting up a private cloud on a bare metal server, VMware ESXi is likely your hypervisor of choice. However, the installation process can quickly come to a halt with a frustrating red screen displaying the message:

"No Network Adapters Were Detected. Either no network adapters are physically connected to the system, or a suitable driver could not be located."

For IT administrators and UK businesses trying to deploy bare-metal dedicated servers, this is a common roadblock. In this tutorial, we will explain why this error occurs and provide a step-by-step guide to fixing it by creating a custom ESXi ISO.

Why Does This Error Occur?

VMware is designed for enterprise environments. To keep the ESXi installation file (ISO) lightweight, VMware strictly adheres to its Hardware Compatibility List (HCL) and does not include drivers for standard, consumer-grade network cards (like Realtek or older desktop-grade Intel NICs).

Prerequisites

  • VMware ESXi Offline Bundle (.zip) from Broadcom/VMware.
  • ESXi-Customizer-PS script (PowerShell script).
  • .VIB driver file for your specific network card.

Step 1: Prepare Your Workspace

Create a folder named C:\ESXi-Build. Inside this folder, place the:

  1. ESXi-Customizer-PS.ps1 script.
  2. ESXi Offline Bundle .zip file.
  3. A subfolder named Drivers (Put your .VIB file inside this).

Step 2: Configure Windows PowerShell

Open PowerShell as Administrator and run the following commands to install PowerCLI and allow the script to run:

Install-Module -Name VMware.PowerCLI -AllowClobber
Set-ExecutionPolicy -ExecutionPolicy RemoteSigned
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Step 3: Inject the Driver and Build the ISO

Navigate to your build folder in PowerShell and run the command to fuse the driver with the ESXi installer:

.\ESXi-Customizer-PS.ps1 -vft -load net55-r8168 -pkgDir C:\ESXi-Build\Drivers
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Step 4: Boot and Install

Once the script finishes, you will find a brand-new, custom .iso file in your folder. Flash this ISO to a USB drive using a tool like Rufus and boot your server. Your network adapter will now be detected!
The Alternative: Enterprise-Grade Hardware
While injecting drivers is a great workaround, the most robust way to avoid hardware incompatibility is to use a server built specifically for virtualization.

At eServers, our UK Bare Metal Dedicated Servers are provisioned with 100% VMware-compatible enterprise hardware, including high-throughput Broadcom and Intel network interfaces.

Check out our secure UK dedicated servers here!

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