ESX / ESXi Bios Tools

Discussion in 'Virtualization' started by pix, Nov 22, 2009.

  1. pandabianco

    pandabianco MDL Novice

    Sep 12, 2009
    9
    13
    0
    Thanks!!!
     
  2. pantagruel

    pantagruel MDL Addicted

    Aug 30, 2007
    520
    1,895
    30
    Stop hovering to collapse... Click to collapse... Hover to expand... Click to expand...
  3. pantagruel

    pantagruel MDL Addicted

    Aug 30, 2007
    520
    1,895
    30
    #484 pantagruel, Nov 14, 2022
    Last edited: Nov 21, 2022
    ESXi 8.0 | 11 OCT 2022 | Build 20513097

    I noticed a couple new ROMs in ESXi 8.0. How does EFI20-64.ROM differ from EFI64.ROM? As far as modding/activation I don't see any difference. Anyone know?

    BIOS.440.ROM
    EFI20-32.ROM *new*
    EFI20-64.ROM *new*
    EFI32.ROM
    EFI64.ROM

    Screenshot_1.png

    Update: Both Server 2022 / Windows 7 (Pro) VMs use EFI20-64.ROM by default. (EFI ROM version: VMW201.00V.20192059.B64.2207280713 (64-bit RELEASE)).

    Update 2: BIOS.440.ROM (build 497) is unchanged from ESXi 7.0.3 and can be used for OEM:SLP activation.

    EFI behavior on ESXi 8.0 is strange (on my installation anyway). ESXi 8.0 insists on using the default stock EFI20-64.ROM in every case, any EFI (modded or stock) specified in the .vmx is ignored, so OEM:SLP activation is not possible.

    Update 3: Not so strange maybe:

    EFI20-64.ROM = tpm support

    Any EFI based VM created with ESXi 8.0 will use EFI20-64.ROM (TPM support) and the 'efi64.filename = "CUSTOM_EFI64.ROM"' .vmx entry will be disabled - to prevent potential tpm issues?

    Existing VMs can continue to use modded EFIs via .vmx entry.

    Both newly created and existing VMs can be activated with a modded BIOS.440.ROM

    Something else, ESXi 8.0 added support for Server 2025 as a Guest OS.

    Screenshot 2022-11-2c.png
     
    Stop hovering to collapse... Click to collapse... Hover to expand... Click to expand...
  4. pm67310

    pm67310 MDL Guru

    Sep 6, 2011
    2,304
    1,534
    90
    Stop hovering to collapse... Click to collapse... Hover to expand... Click to expand...
  5. edelweiss

    edelweiss MDL Novice

    Jul 18, 2010
    4
    0
    0
    Hi, all!
    Where I can download the latest modded BIOS/EFIs for the latest ESXi 8.0 ?
    Thanks&Regards!
     
  6. mirkoippoliti

    mirkoippoliti MDL Novice

    Sep 16, 2021
    5
    0
    0
    Does someone knows where the default stock EFI-64.ROM is located? Can this stock EFI-64.ROM be overwritten with a modded one to permit OEM:SLP activation?
     
  7. pantagruel

    pantagruel MDL Addicted

    Aug 30, 2007
    520
    1,895
    30
    #490 pantagruel, Dec 2, 2022
    Last edited: Jan 8, 2023
    Stop hovering to collapse... Click to collapse... Hover to expand... Click to expand...
  8. mirkoippoliti

    mirkoippoliti MDL Novice

    Sep 16, 2021
    5
    0
    0
    Thank you pantagruel

    I tried to install windows server 2022 standard on ESXi 8.0 with VM Options -> Boot Options -> Firmware BIOS but as soon as the VM starts I got the following error:
    "acpi motherboard layout requires efi"

    The very same setup works perfectly fine under ESXi 7.0 Update 3 and even activate.
     
  9. pantagruel

    pantagruel MDL Addicted

    Aug 30, 2007
    520
    1,895
    30
    #492 pantagruel, Dec 2, 2022
    Last edited: Dec 3, 2022
    To double-check I just now set up Server 2022 Standard (BIOS) in ESXi 8.0, added the .vmx entry etc., and it's activated. I don't know why you're getting "acpi motherboard layout requires efi". Are you sure you specified 'Firmware BIOS'? Maybe try again?

    esxi8.0setup.png

    Edit: try setting 'Boot Delay' (under Firmware BIOS) to 100 milliseconds.
     
    Stop hovering to collapse... Click to collapse... Hover to expand... Click to expand...
  10. mirkoippoliti

    mirkoippoliti MDL Novice

    Sep 16, 2021
    5
    0
    0
    As soon as I will able to test it I will try. Also I will try Boot Delay of 100 milliseconds.
    I do not have an OEM windows 2022 server iso image so for my tests I use the 180 days eval downloaded from microsoft.
    Then I convert it to retail with the DSIM cmmand.
    Maybe someone has a download link for an OEM windows 2022 server retail iso image.
    But wait a moment, you say in a previous post that ESXi 8.0 ignore .vmx entries about BIOS/EFI ROM files, do you have found a way to force ESXi 8.0 to force it to take into account .vmx entry BIOS/EFI ROM files?
     
  11. pantagruel

    pantagruel MDL Addicted

    Aug 30, 2007
    520
    1,895
    30
    #494 pantagruel, Dec 4, 2022
    Last edited: Jan 8, 2023
    Sure, here's some links. Install the DELL OEM key/cert after installation. I used this image:

    https://forums.mydigitallife.net/th...20348-1-fe_release.83200/page-57#post-1760812

    Another link:

    https://forums.mydigitallife.net/th...20348-1-fe_release.83200/page-56#post-1760500

    Also, I didn't need to 'force' the BIOS .vmx entry. Maybe I wasn't clear: Only EFI VMs created with ESXi 8.0 ignore .vmx entries.
     
    Stop hovering to collapse... Click to collapse... Hover to expand... Click to expand...
  12. mirkoippoliti

    mirkoippoliti MDL Novice

    Sep 16, 2021
    5
    0
    0
    Thank you Pantagruel!

    > Also, I didn't need to 'force' the BIOS .vmx entry. Maybe I wasn't clear: Only EFI VMs created with ESXi 8.0 ignore .vmx entries.

    So there is no need to install the BIOS/EFI ROM? Only installing the DELL OEM key/cert after installation is sufficient?

    Last but not least (I am not an expert) does the certificates have an expiring date? If yes, what happens *after* the expiring date?
     
  13. pantagruel

    pantagruel MDL Addicted

    Aug 30, 2007
    520
    1,895
    30
    You need to use the modded BIOS, it has a SLIC (software licensing description table) which matches the cert. The cert doesn't expire. Use ESXI8.0_DELL2.6_BIOS.440.ROM and follow the 'How to Use Mod in ESXi'.pdf included in the mod download and you'll be OK.
     
    Stop hovering to collapse... Click to collapse... Hover to expand... Click to expand...
  14. mirkoippoliti

    mirkoippoliti MDL Novice

    Sep 16, 2021
    5
    0
    0
    Thank you so much Pantagruel: it works like a charm!
     
  15. edelweiss

    edelweiss MDL Novice

    Jul 18, 2010
    4
    0
    0
    Hi, Pantagruel!
    Can you explain this statement in more detail?
    How I can use modded efi ROM in EFI VMs with ESXi 8.0?
    Thanks&Regards!
     
  16. pantagruel

    pantagruel MDL Addicted

    Aug 30, 2007
    520
    1,895
    30
    #499 pantagruel, Dec 11, 2022
    Last edited: Jan 8, 2023
    There's not much detail I can add to what I've already posted, but to summarize:
    • it is not possible to overwrite the stock roms in /usr/lib/vmware/roms with modded roms. From 7.x they are read-only with restricted permission changes.
    • it is not possible to use a .vmx entry to specify a EFI rom (modded or unmodded) in VMs created with ESXi 8.0, the entry is ignored. Use efi20-64.filename in the .vmx.
    • it is possible to use a .vmx entry to specify a EFI rom (modded or unmodded) in VMs created with ESXi < 8.0, the entry is accepted.
    So, to use a modded EFI in ESXi 8.0 your best bet is to import a VM created in ESXi < 8.0, that way you can still specify the modded EFI64.ROM in the .vmx. It's not ideal, but it works.
     
    Stop hovering to collapse... Click to collapse... Hover to expand... Click to expand...
  17. pantagruel

    pantagruel MDL Addicted

    Aug 30, 2007
    520
    1,895
    30
    #500 pantagruel, Jan 6, 2023
    Last edited: Jan 8, 2023
    @edelweiss
    Made a mistake, to use a modded EFI in ESXi 8.0 you must specify:

    efi20-64.filename = "name of modded efi.rom"

    not

    efi64.filename = "name of modded efi.rom"

    then it works.

    EDIT: To make things more clear, if the vmx entry is virtualHW.version = "20" use efi20-64.filename, otherwise use efi64.filename.
     
    Stop hovering to collapse... Click to collapse... Hover to expand... Click to expand...