Enabling Realtek NIC on VMWare ESXi6.5

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This assumes on-board Intel etc. NIC is already working and add-on Realtek NIC is not resulting into appropriate vnic creation

1. Login into ESXi host web console and go to Manage -> Hardware -> PCI Devices
2. Click on "Realtek NIC line" and verify Device ID: 0x8168 and Vendor ID: 0x10ec. If Subdevice ID is 0x123 and Subvendor ID is 0x10ec then even better.
3. Enable SSH and console to ESXi, if not enabled already
4. SSH to host and run

   esxcli software acceptance set --level=CommunitySupported
   esxcli network firewall ruleset set -e true -r httpClient
   esxcli software vib install -n net51-drivers -d http://vibsdepot.v-front.de

5. Reboot the host using web console
6. Verify through web console that additional nic is visible

Note:

• In case there is no working NIC for SSH and access to drivers hosted on Internet, one should connect to ESXi host using KVM and use 'Alt+F1' to get shell access. Then from there use above commands while providing required vib via USB drive.

Refer:

• https://akhpark.wordpress.com/2017/01/19/enable-realtek-nic-on-vmware-vsphere-6-5/

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