To configure Windows VMs with a static IP address and add a NIC:
You can only use IPv4
There must be no DHCP remote service and no NSX device
You must set 'com.abiquo.esxi.experimental.customize.win.unattendfile=false'
When you are not using an unattend.xml file, there are the following limitations:
netBios is always disabled
DNS domain is only set globally, not at vNIC level, but DNS servers are set for each vNIC, not globally
No OOBE specific configuration (in unattend.xml by default it sets SkipMachineOOBE / HideEULAPage / SkipUserOOBE / ProtectYourPC)
No autologon - when no password is specified, then always autologon
Time zone can be set with a property
Always join working group WORKGROUP (same as default in unattend) - no user/pass - no joindomain
No LicenseFilePrintData
No initial commands executed
No Windows key (setting user name and org name but no effect without key)