| Your scenario | Best image type | |--------------|----------------| | Production on Dell/HPE/Lenovo servers | Vendor-customized ISO | | Whitebox server with Intel NICs & LSI HBA | Official VMware ISO | | NUC or mini-PC with Realtek 2.5GbE | Community Fling + USB boot | | Homelab with mixed old hardware | ESXi 6.7/7.0 community driver pack | | vSphere cluster with diverse servers | Base ISO + vendor add-ons via Image Builder |
| Your scenario | Best image type | |--------------|----------------| | Production on Dell/HPE/Lenovo servers | Vendor-customized ISO | | Whitebox server with Intel NICs & LSI HBA | Official VMware ISO | | NUC or mini-PC with Realtek 2.5GbE | Community Fling + USB boot | | Homelab with mixed old hardware | ESXi 6.7/7.0 community driver pack | | vSphere cluster with diverse servers | Base ISO + vendor add-ons via Image Builder |