Should the fling install on ESXi 7.0 Update 3g using SSH and the zipped component?

[root@APN-ESXi-01:/vmfs/volumes/63cd7673-57f72a8a-f621-002324bfefb7] vmware -vl
VMware ESXi 7.0.3 build-20328353
VMware ESXi 7.0 Update 3
[root@APN-ESXi-01:/vmfs/volumes/63cd7673-57f72a8a-f621-002324bfefb7] esxcli software component apply -d "/vmfs/volumes/63cd7673-57f72a8a-f621-002324bfefb7/ESXi703-VMKUSB-
NIC-FLING-55634242-component-19849370.zip"
Installation Result
Components Installed:
Components Removed:
Components Skipped: VMware-vmkusb-nic-fling_1.10-1vmw.703.0.50.55634242
Message: Host is not changed.
Reboot Required: false
[root@APN-ESXi-01:/vmfs/volumes/63cd7673-57f72a8a-f621-002324bfefb7]

Re-installed ESXi 7.0 Update 3d since the changelog only mentions support for:

May 24, 2022 - v1.10
Added support for ESXi 7.0 Update 3c & 3d

but the same issue persists:

[root@APN-ESXi-01:~] vmware -vl
VMware ESXi 7.0.3 build-19482537
VMware ESXi 7.0 Update 3
[root@APN-ESXi-01:~] esxcli software component apply -d /vmfs/volumes/APN-ESXi-01\ Local\ \#1/ESXi703-VMKUSB-NIC-FLING-55634242-component-19849370.zip
Installation Result
Components Installed:
Components Removed:
Components Skipped: VMware-vmkusb-nic-fling_1.10-1vmw.703.0.50.55634242
Message: Host is not changed.
Reboot Required: false
[root@APN-ESXi-01:~] esxcli software vib install -d /vmfs/volumes/APN-ESXi-01\ Local\ \#1/ESXi703-VMKUSB-NIC-FLING-55634242-component-19849370.zip
Installation Result
Message: Host is not changed.
Reboot Required: false
VIBs Installed:
VIBs Removed:
VIBs Skipped: VMW_bootbank_vmkusb-nic-fling_1.10-1vmw.703.0.50.55634242
root@APN-ESXi-01:~]

Where am I going wrong?

hi has there been a fix on creating custom iso with esxi 7u3 with image builder. i dont know how to do with powershell always getting errors just wondering if its possible with image builder yet, for fresh install. thanks

Creating custom ISO using Imager Builder has always worked, especially for 7.x. See https://williamlam.com/2021/03/easily-create-custom-esxi-images-from-patch-releases-using-vsphere-image-builder-ui.html

If you're on 8.x, there is an issue using Image Builder PowerCLI cmdets, but again the Image Builder UI works

Hi william thanks for the reply, a lot of your guides have helped me with my home lab setup, I am only getting started and am running on dell optiplex 7060, but i was trying to get another node running on a old laptop of mine, until i get my self a couple more optiplex machines. but esxi 7 is the highest i can go this laptop as its an old cpu. i am running a usb nic and have tried creating a custom iso for 7.0u3 with no luck.

its very strange i have no issue creating custom iso with image builder using all versions including esxi 8 except for esxi 7u3 i have tried with 7.0u3g and 7.0u3i and it always fails when i try export.

I did some google search and others said that there was an issue with the usb nic fling for esxi 7 using with 7.0u3. i have tried both 7.0.3 usb nic drivers and both fail when trying to export.

What version is your vCenter Server that you're trying to create the image from? Or are you just using the Image Builder PowerCLI cmdlets?

I've not tried with ESXi 7.0u3i, but I've been successful with ESXi 7.0u3g, so I don't expect any differences.

In the download, you'll see two versions for 7.0.3, make sure you're grabbing the latest ESXi703-VMKUSB-NIC-FLING-55634242-component-19849370.zip which is the one I'm using with 70u3g

I tried both, neither worked for me with 7.0u3g

PS C:\Users\jordan\downloads\esxi> New-IsoImage -Depots "C:\Users\jordan\Downloads\esxi\VMware-ESXi-7.0U3g-20328353-depot.zip","C:\Users\jordan\Downloads\esxi\ESXi703-VMKUSB-NIC-FLING-55634242-component-19849370.zip" -SoftwareSpec "C:\Users\jordan\Downloads\esxi\ESXi-7.0U3g-vmkusb-iso.json" -Destination "C:\Users\jordan\Downloads\esxi\ESXi-7.0U3g-vmkusb.iso"
New-IsoImage : Error retrieving file for VIB 'VMW_bootbank_vmkusb-nic-fling_1.10-1vmw.703.0.50.55634242': ("<zipfile.ZipExtFile name='vib20/vmkusb-nic-fling/VMW_bootbank_vmkusb-nic-fling_1.10-1vmw.703.0.50.55634242.vib'
mode='r' compress_type=deflate>", "Error opening file object for VIB 'VMW_bootbank_vmkusb-nic-fling_1.10-1vmw.703.0.50.55634242': Expected value '[]' for attribute 'swplatforms', but found value
'[<vmware.esximage.Vib.SoftwarePlatform object at 0x00000214B85CD1C8>]'.").
At line:1 char:1
+ New-IsoImage -Depots "C:\Users\jordan\Downloads\esxi\VMware-ESXi-7.0U ...
+ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
+ CategoryInfo : NotSpecified: (:) [New-IsoImage], FaultException
+ FullyQualifiedErrorId : System.ServiceModel.FaultException,VMware.ImageBuilder.Commands.NewIsoImage

PS C:\Users\jordan\downloads\esxi> New-IsoImage -Depots "C:\Users\jordan\Downloads\esxi\VMware-ESXi-7.0U3g-20328353-depot.zip","C:\Users\jordan\Downloads\esxi\ESXi703-VMKUSB-NIC-FLING-51233328-component-18902399.zip" -SoftwareSpec "C:\Users\jordan\Downloads\esxi\ESXi-7.0U3g-vmkusb-iso.json" -Destination "C:\Users\jordan\Downloads\esxi\ESXi-7.0U3g-vmkusb.iso"
New-IsoImage : Error retrieving file for VIB 'VMW_bootbank_vmkusb-nic-fling_1.8-3vmw.703.0.15.51233328': ("<zipfile.ZipExtFile name='vib20/vmkusb-nic-fling/VMW_bootbank_vmkusb-nic-fling_1.8-3vmw.703.0.15.51233328.vib' mode='r'
compress_type=deflate>", "Error opening file object for VIB 'VMW_bootbank_vmkusb-nic-fling_1.8-3vmw.703.0.15.51233328': Expected value '[]' for attribute 'swplatforms', but found value '[<vmware.esximage.Vib.SoftwarePlatform
object at 0x00000214B81D1F08>]'.").
At line:1 char:1
+ New-IsoImage -Depots "C:\Users\jordan\Downloads\esxi\VMware-ESXi-7.0U ...
+ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
+ CategoryInfo : NotSpecified: (:) [New-IsoImage], FaultException
+ FullyQualifiedErrorId : System.ServiceModel.FaultException,VMware.ImageBuilder.Commands.NewIsoImage

The 8.0 version works for me, using an 8.0 esxi depot.

The Net-Community fling works for me on 7.0u3g but doesn't support my nic. But I can build the ISO with it. Something just seems wrong with the 703 fling?

This is my error when creating custom 7.0.3 esxi with usbfling, hope this helps.

An error occured while performing the task
(None, None, 'Error retrieving file for VIB \'VMW_bootbank_vmkusb-nic-fling_1.10-1vmw.703.0.50.55634242\': ("<_io.BufferedReader name=\'/storage/imagebuilder/vibs/VMW_bootbank_vmkusb-nic-fling_1.10-1vmw.703.0.50.55634242.vib\'>", "Error opening file object for VIB \'VMW_bootbank_vmkusb-nic-fling_1.10-1vmw.703.0.50.55634242\': Expected value \'[]\' for attribute \'swplatforms\', but found value \'[<vmware.esximage.Vib.SoftwarePlatform object at 0x7feb7e72a190>]\'."); ("<zipfile.ZipExtFile name=\'vib20/vmkusb-nic-fling/VMW_bootbank_vmkusb-nic-fling_1.10-1vmw.703.0.50.55634242.vib\' mode=\'r\' compress_type=deflate>", "Error opening file object for VIB \'VMW_bootbank_vmkusb-nic-fling_1.10-1vmw.703.0.50.55634242\': Expected value \'[]\' for attribute \'swplatforms\', but found value \'[<vmware.esximage.Vib.SoftwarePlatform object at 0x7feb7e72a150>]\'.").')

Hide errors for this session.

From the snippet you've shared, it sounds like you're hitting https://williamlam.com/2022/11/heads-up-unable-to-open-vib-archive-in-streaming-mode-using-export-esximageprofile-with-powercli-13-0.html

Can you attempt to use vSphere Lifecycle Manager to construct the image, that should work OR Image Builder UI (rather than CLI)

i am using the ui because i dont know how to use the cli i think my powershell and paths are wrong i couldnt get it working right. i am not sure how to use lifecycle manager. i did try that first. i will look for a guide that can hopefully help me. thanks

I am using vcenter 8 but i also tried with vcenter 7 and it didt work. also i reinstalled 8 to create custom iso for esxi 8 as well, because vcenter 7 wouldnt allow a custom iso for esxi 8. so i went with 8 on my dell.. and yes i tried with both versions of usbfling 7.0.3.

this is the ofline bundle i use VMware-ESXi-7.0U3g-20328353-depot and i have tried with both
ESXi703-VMKUSB-NIC-FLING-51233328-component-18902399
and
ESXi703-VMKUSB-NIC-FLING-55634242-component-19849370

ill give it another try today see if any change.

For ESXi 7.0U3g see https://flings.vmware.com/usb-network-native-driver-for-esxi/comments/21202#comment_21202, comments between September 27th and October 1st.
I've had similar issues at that time and with PowerCLI 12.7 instead of using cloneprofile, creating a new ESXi image profile helped.

Since then the new house keeping chain hit the roads: ESXi 8.0, vCenter 8.0, PowerCLI 13, (VMware Tools).

Morning,

I have 3 Intel NUC 11's in my home lab running vSphere 8 and I also have vCenter 8. Each only have 1 NIC by default, and I purchased 3 USB ethernet adapters to add a pair to each NUC.

I do not see the process to add the 1.11 8 Fling to my existing ESX Hosts - I do not want to build a new image, I just want to be able to use 2 NIC's in each NUC - can you please point me to the process on how to add the Fling, asnd get the additional NIZC's working in vSphere 8 - thank you!

Thank you for the replies - I have it working just fine - these are the NUC's I am using

Intel NUC 11 Pro NUC11PAHi5 - 64 Gigs of Ram - 2 TB NVMe - 4 TB SSD - they are all identical

scp the bundle to the root@host:/tmp directory and then run the package install.

As per instructions:
https://flings.vmware.com/usb-network-native-driver-for-esxi#instructions

esxcli software component apply -d /path/to/the component zip

Worked perfect - thank you

The instructions

https://flings.vmware.com/usb-network-native-driver-for-esxi#instructions

should help.

Also, see comments at
https://williamlam.com/2021/01/esxi-on-11th-gen-intel-nuc-panther-canyon-tiger-canyon.html

Where did you get stuck? Please share the exact Intel nuc 11 model .

I finally got ESXi 8.0 running with a Startech USB31000S (after many hours scouring blog comments!).

This allowed me to generate an ISO for ESXi 8.0 with Fling USB NIC drivers. I hope this helps others:

Software Used:
1. Python 3.7.9 (not 3.7) - refer https://williamlam.com/2022/11/heads-up-unable-to-open-vib-archive-in-streaming-mode-using-export-esximageprofile-with-powercli-13-0.html
2. PowerCLI 13.0
3. ESXi-8.0.0-20513097-standard
4. ESXi800-VMKUSB-NIC-FLING-61054763-component-20826251.zip

Helpful links:
https://gist.github.com/gspivey/69b5c12962e00bf85c9cfdc954ad13f6
https://www.virten.net/2020/04/how-to-add-the-usb-nic-fling-to-esxi-7-0-base-image/

PowerShell Dump:
Windows PowerShell
Copyright (C) Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

Try the new cross-platform PowerShell https://aka.ms/pscore6

PS C:\WINDOWS\system32> cd 'D:\ESXi Images\ESXi Fling ISO\'
PS D:\ESXi Images\ESXi Fling ISO> Add-EsxSoftwareDepot .\ESXi-8.0.0-20513097-standard.zip
WARNING: Please consider joining the VMware Customer Experience Improvement Program, so you can help us make PowerCLI a
better product. You can join using the following command:

Set-PowerCLIConfiguration -Scope User -ParticipateInCEIP $true

VMware's Customer Experience Improvement Program ("CEIP") provides VMware with information that enables VMware to
improve its products and services, to fix problems, and to advise you on how best to deploy and use our products. As
part of the CEIP, VMware collects technical information about your organization’s use of VMware products and services
on a regular basis in association with your organization’s VMware license key(s). This information does not
personally identify any individual.

For more details: type "help about_ceip" to see the related help article.

To disable this warning and set your preference use the following command and restart PowerShell:
Set-PowerCLIConfiguration -Scope User -ParticipateInCEIP $true or $false.

Depot Url
---------
zip:D:\ESXi Images\ESXi Fling ISO\ESXi-8.0.0-20513097-standard.zip?index.xml

PS D:\ESXi Images\ESXi Fling ISO> Add-EsxSoftwareDepot .\ESXi800-VMKUSB-NIC-FLING-61054763-component-20826251.zip

Depot Url
---------
zip:D:\ESXi Images\ESXi Fling ISO\ESXi800-VMKUSB-NIC-FLING-61054763-component-20826251.zip?index.xml

PS D:\ESXi Images\ESXi Fling ISO> New-EsxImageProfile -CloneProfile "ESXi-8.0.0-20513097-standard" -name "ESXi-8.0.0-20513097-standard-USBNIC" -Vendor "VMW"

Name Vendor Last Modified Acceptance Level
---- ------ ------------- ----------------
ESXi-8.0.0-20513097-standar... VMW 23/09/2022 6... PartnerSupported

PS D:\ESXi Images\ESXi Fling ISO> Add-EsxSoftwarePackage -ImageProfile "ESXi-8.0.0-20513097-standard-USBNIC" -softwarePackage "vmkusb-nic-fling"

Name Vendor Last Modified Acceptance Level
---- ------ ------------- ----------------
ESXi-8.0.0-20513097-standar... VMW 28/12/2022 8... PartnerSupported

PS D:\ESXi Images\ESXi Fling ISO> Export-ESXImageProfile -ImageProfile "ESXi-8.0.0-20513097-standard-USBNIC" -ExportToIso -filepath ESXi-8.0.0-20513097-standard-USBNIC.iso -force -NoSignatureCheck
PS D:\ESXi Images\ESXi Fling ISO>