I too am looking for these drivers.
The reason for my search/inquiry is a sequence of events:
- Windows Server 2012 crashes with PSOD using the e1000/e1000e drivers.
- VMware workaround is to use the vmxnet3 NIC. VMware KB: ESXi 5.x host experiences a purple diagnostic screen with errors for E1000PollRxRing and E1000DevRx
- My servers have been 100% stable since switching to this configuration, *however* in testing a recovery from a network backup...
- Windows Server Preinstallation Environment does not appear to recognize this NIC
- Hence I cannot locate network backups nor perform a network restore operation.
- WSPE does offer an "install driver" option, but where are the VMware vmxnet3 drivers?
- VMware Tools does not install to the WSPE environment.
- I have looked on the VMware Tools CD on a running VM and only located the ...\Drivers\scsi items - no network drivers
- Looking at http://kb.vmware.com/selfservice/microsites/search.do?language=en_US&cmd=displayKC&externalId=1011710 there should be more than the scsi folder, but there is not.
I'm fine with having a standalone installable set for Win Server 2012 (and later for 2012R2) rather than needing to add it to the Win Server CD if that is possible as I can put that on the local datastore.
So I am in agreement with COS that the drivers are needed as Windows Backup network image restores are not presently usable.
As this is this company's first ESXi 5.5 virtualization project, it's entirely possible something is being missed, so any feedback as to what to look at or where to locate the drivers would be appreciated.
Thanks