====== Install VMware ESXi 4.x on a Dell !OptiPlex 980 ======
===== Background =====
Initially, I thought that the storage controller was not supported.  I realized later that it was the unsupported NIC chipset that was the culprit.  I was having trouble finding detailed instructions on how to build a custom install.  After installing ESXi to a flash drive on one system and booting it on the 980, this is the workaround I came up with.

  - Placed a drive from the 980 into a 620
  - Installed ESXi 4.x to the drive
  - Placed the drive back in the 980
You now have it installed, but with no network support.
  - Boot to a Linux live CD
  - Copy the essential files and make the necessary edits
  - Reboot to the drive and configure as normal
http://www.vm-help.com/forum/download/file.php?id''353&sid''3e10a09e7d7386730d913a67a9d268ca

In the oem.tgz I've modified the etc/vmware/simple.map to include the line:
<file>
8086:10ef 3041:103c network e1000e
</file>
and modified the etc/vmare/pci.ids to include the lines (under the Intel Corp section):
<file>
      -0ef  82578DM Gigabit Network Connection (SCI to e1000e)
                3041 103c  HP Compaq Elite (SCI to e1000e)
</file>

==== References ====
http://communities.vmware.com/message/1549883

http://www.vm-help.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f''13&t''2263&p''7252#p7252

http://www.vm-help.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f''12&t''1735&start''10

http://www.vm-help.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f''17&t''4

http://www.vm-help.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f''12&t''2194

http://www.vm-help.com/esx40i/ESXi_USB_install.php

http://www.vm-help.com/esx/esx3i/find_PCI_ID.php

http://communities.vmware.com/thread/277183;jsessionid''B34BFD8181641BBD796418D92E93A488?start''0&amp;tstart''0

-- Main.FredPettis - 2010-07-23