The VMware Guest Operating System Installation Guide is downloadable as a .pdf or available online. The document’s “About this Book” section summarizes it’s purpose as follows:
“This manual, the Guest Operating System Installation Guide, provides users of VMware® ESX Server, VMware® GSX Server, VMware® Server, VMware® ACE, VMware® Workstation, and VMware FusionTM information about choosing and installing guest operating systems for VMware virtual machines.”
There are sections of installation instructions for every past and present operating system that is supported. What I am posting from this document is a very helpful table that is a quick reference of what VMware products support which VM operating systems. This table has been copied from the online version of the guide.
This table makes it very easy to answer questions like:
- Is a VM running Server 2008 supported on ESX?
- Is Vista supported in VMware ACE?
- Does VMware support running Solaris on VMware Server?
- Can I run Windows ME or Windows 98 in an ESX guest?
- Is Netware supported in VMware Workstation?
The answers to these questions along with every possible supported OS and VMware product combination can be found in this table:
| Guest Operating System |
Workstation |
VMware
ACE |
GSX
Server |
ESX
Server |
VMware Server |
VMware Fusion |
| Windows Server 2008 |
6.0.1-6.0.3 |
2.0.1-2.0.3 |
|
3.5-3.5 U1 |
|
|
| Windows Vista |
6.0-6.0.3 |
2.0-2.0.3 |
|
3.0-3.5 U1 |
|
1.0-1.1.1 |
| Windows Server 2003 |
4.0-6.0.3 |
1.0-2.0.3 |
3.0-3.2.1 |
2.0-3.5 U1 |
1.0-1.0.5 |
1.0-1.1.1 |
| Windows XP |
4.0-6.0.3 |
1.0-2.0.3 |
3.0-3.2.1 |
2.0-3.5 U1 |
1.0-1.0.5 |
1.0-1.1.1 |
| Windows 2000 |
4.0-6.0.3 |
1.0-2.0.3 |
3.0-3.2.1 |
2.0-3.5 U1 |
1.0-1.0.5 |
1.0-1.1.1 |
| Windows NT 4.0 |
4.0-6.0.3 |
1.0-2.0.3 |
3.0-3.2.1 |
2.0-3.5 U1 |
1.0-1.0.5 |
1.0-1.1.1 |
| Windows Me |
4.0-6.0.3 |
1.0-2.0.3 |
3.0-3.2.1 |
|
1.0-1.0.5 |
1.0-1.1.1 |
| Windows 98 |
4.0-6.0.3 |
1.0-2.0.3 |
3.0-3.2.1 |
|
1.0-1.0.5 |
1.0-1.1.1 |
| Windows 95 |
4.0-6.0.3 |
1.0-2.0.3 |
3.0-3.2.1 |
|
1.0-1.0.5 |
1.0-1.1.1 |
| DOS and Windows 3.1x |
4.0-6.0.3 |
1.0-2.0.3 |
3.0-3.2.1 |
|
1.0-1.0.5 |
1.0-1.1.1 |
| Asianux 3.0 |
6.0.3 |
|
|
|
|
|
| Mandriva Corporate Server 4 |
5.5.3-6.0.3 |
2.0-2.0.3 |
|
|
|
|
| Mandriva Linux 2007 |
5.5.3-6.0.3 |
2.0-2.0.3 |
|
|
|
1.0-1.1.1 |
| Mandriva Linux 2006 |
5.5.2-6.0.3 |
2.0-2.0.3 |
|
|
1.0-1.0.5 |
1.0-1.1.1 |
| Mandrake Linux 10.1 |
5.5-6.0.3 |
2.0-2.0.3 |
3.2-3.2.1 |
|
1.0-1.0.5 |
|
| Mandrake Linux 10 |
5.0-6.0.3 |
2.0-2.0.3 |
3.2-3.2.1 |
|
1.0-1.0.5 |
|
| Mandrake Linux 9.2 |
5.0-6.0.3 |
2.0-2.0.3 |
3.0-3.2.1 |
|
1.0-1.0.5 |
|
| Mandrake Linux 9.1 |
|
|
3.1-3.2.1 |
|
|
|
| Mandrake Linux 9.0 |
4.0-6.0.3 |
1.0-2.0.3 |
3.0-3.2.1 |
|
1.0-1.0.5 |
|
| Mandrake Linux 8.2 |
4.0-6.0.3 |
1.0-2.0.3 |
3.0-3.2.1 |
|
1.0-1.0.5 |
|
| Mandrake Linux 8.0 and 8.1 |
|
|
3.0-3.2.1 |
|
|
|
| Novell Linux Desktop 9 |
5.0-6.0.3 |
1.0-2.0.3 |
|
|
1.0-1.0.5 |
1.0-1.1.1 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5 |
5.5.3-6.0.3 |
2.0-2.0.3 |
|
3.0.2-3.5 U1 |
|
1.0-1.1.1 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 4 |
5.0-6.0.3 |
1.0.1-2.0.3 |
3.2-3.2.1 |
2.5.2-3.5 U1 |
1.0-1.0.5 |
1.0-1.1.1 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 3 |
4.5-6.0.3 |
1.0-2.0.3 |
3.0-3.2.1 |
2.0.1-3.5 U1 |
1.0-1.0.5 |
1.0-1.1.1 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 2.1 |
4.0-6.0.3 |
1.0-2.0.3 |
3.0-3.2.1 |
2.0-3.5 U1 |
1.0-1.0.5 |
1.0-1.1.1 |
| Red Hat Linux 9.0 |
4.0.1-6.0.3 |
1.0-2.0.3 |
3.0-3.2.1 |
2.0-2.5.5 |
1.0-1.0.5 |
1.0-1.1.1 |
| Red Hat Linux 8.0 |
4.0-6.0.3 |
1.0-2.0.3 |
3.0-3.2.1 |
2.0-2.5.5 |
1.0-1.0.5 |
|
| Red Hat Linux 7.3 |
4.0-6.0.3 |
1.0-2.0.3 |
3.0-3.2.1 |
2.0-2.5.5 |
1.0-1.0.5 |
|
| Red Hat Linux 7.2 |
4.0-6.0.3 |
1.02.0.3 |
3.0-3.2.1 |
2.0-2.5.5 |
1.0-1.0.5 |
|
| Red Hat Linux 7.1 |
4.0-6.0.3 |
1.0-2.0.3 |
3.0-3.2.1 |
|
1.0-1.0.5 |
|
| Red Hat Linux 7.0 |
4.0-6.0.3 |
1.0-2.0.3 |
3.0-3.2.1 |
|
1.0-1.0.5 |
1.0-1.1.1 |
| Red Hat Linux 6.2 |
|
|
3.0-3.2.1 |
|
|
|
| Sun Java Desktop System 2 |
5.0-6.0.3 |
2.0-2.0.3 |
|
|
1.0-1.0.5 |
|
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 10 |
5.5.2-6.0.3 |
2.0-2.0.3 |
|
3.0.1-3.5 U1 |
1.0-1.0.5 |
1.0-1.1.1 |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 9 |
5.0-6.0.3 |
1.0.1-2.0.3 |
3.2-3.2.1 |
2.5-3.5 U1 |
1.0-1.0.5 |
|
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 8 |
4.0-6.0.3 |
1.0-2.0.3 |
3.0-3.2.1 |
2.0-3.5 U1 |
1.0-1.0.5 |
|
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 7 |
4.0-6.0.3 |
1.0-2.0.3 |
3.0-3.2.1 |
|
1.0-1.0.5 |
|
| Open SUSE Linux 10.3 |
6.0.1-6.0.3 |
2.0.1-2.0.3 |
|
|
|
|
| Open SUSE Linux 10.2 |
6.0-6.0.3 |
2.0-2.0.3 |
|
|
|
|
| SUSE Linux 10.1 |
5.5.2-6.0.3 |
2.0-2.0.3 |
|
|
1.0-1.0.5 |
1.0-1.1.1 |
| SUSE Linux 10 |
5.5-6.0.3 |
2.0-2.0.3 |
|
|
1.0-1.0.5 |
|
| SUSE Linux 9.3 |
5.5-6.0.3 |
2.0-2.0.3 |
|
2.5.2-2.5.5 |
1.0-1.0.5 |
1.0-1.1.1 |
| SUSE Linux 9.2 |
5.0-6.0.3 |
1.0.1-2.0.3 |
3.2-3.2.1 |
2.5.1-2.5.5 |
1.0-1.0.5 |
|
| SUSE Linux 9.1 |
4.5.2-6.0.3 |
1.0-2.0.3 |
3.1-3.2.1 |
2.5-2.5.5 |
1.0-1.0.5 |
|
| SUSE Linux 9.0 |
4.5-6.0.3 |
1.0-2.0.3 |
3.0-3.2.1 |
2.1-2.5.5 |
1.0-1.0.5 |
|
| SUSE Linux 8.2 |
4.0.1-6.0.3 |
1.0-2.0.3 |
3.0-3.2.1 |
2.0-2.5.5 |
1.0-1.0.5 |
|
| SUSE Linux 8.1 |
4.0-6.0.3 |
1.0-2.0.3 |
3.0-3.2.1 |
|
1.0-1.0.5 |
|
| SUSE Linux 8.0 |
4.0-6.0.3 |
1.0-2.0.3 |
3.0-3.2.1 |
|
1.0-1.0.5 |
|
| SUSE Linux 7.3 |
4.0-6.0.3 |
1.0-2.0.3 |
3.0-3.2.1 |
|
1.0-1.0.5 |
|
| Turbolinux 10 Server |
6.0.1-6.0.3 |
2.0.1-2.0.3 |
|
|
|
|
| Turbolinux 10 Desktop |
5.5-6.0.3 |
2.0-2.0.3 |
|
|
1.0-1.0.5 |
1.0-1.1.1 |
| Turbolinux Enterprise Server 8 |
4.0-6.0.3 |
1.0-2.0.3 |
3.0-3.2.1 |
|
1.0-1.0.5 |
1.0-1.1.1 |
| Turbolinux Workstation 8 |
4.0-6.0.3 |
1.0-2.0.3 |
3.0-3.2.1 |
|
1.0-1.0.5 |
|
| Turbolinux 7.0 |
4.0-6.0.3 |
1.0-2.0.3 |
3.0-3.2.1 |
|
1.0-1.0.5 |
|
| Ubuntu Linux 7.10 |
6.0.2-6.0.3 |
|
|
3.5 U1 |
|
|
| Ubuntu Linux 7.04 |
6.0-6.0.3 |
2.0-2.0.3 |
|
3.0.2-3.5 U1 |
|
|
| Ubuntu Linux 6.10 |
6.0-6.0.3 |
2.0-2.0.3 |
|
|
|
1.0-1.1.1 |
| Ubuntu Linux 6.06 |
5.5.2-6.0.3 |
2.0-2.0.3 |
|
|
1.0-1.0.5 |
|
| Ubuntu Linux 5.10 |
5.5-6.0.3 |
2.0-2.0.3 |
|
|
1.0-1.0.5 |
1.0-1.1.1 |
| Ubuntu Linux 5.04 |
5.5-6.0.3 |
2.0-2.0.3 |
|
|
1.0-1.0.5 |
|
| FreeBSD 6.2 |
6.0.1-6.0.3 |
2.0.1-2.0.3 |
|
|
|
|
| FreeBSD 6.1 |
5.5.2-6.0.3 |
2.0-2.0.3 |
|
|
|
1.0-1.1.1 |
| FreeBSD 6.0 |
5.5.2-6.0.3 |
2.0-2.0.3 |
|
|
1.0-1.0.5 |
|
| FreeBSD 5.5 |
5.5-6.0.3 |
2.0-2.0.3 |
|
|
1.0-1.0.5 |
1.0-1.1.1 |
| FreeBSD 5.4 |
5.5-6.0.3 |
2.0-2.0.3 |
|
|
1.0-1.0.5 |
|
| FreeBSD 5.3 |
5.5-6.0.3 |
2.0-2.0.3 |
|
|
1.0-1.0.5 |
|
| FreeBSD 5.2 |
5.0-6.0.3 |
2.0-2.0.3 |
3.1-3.2.1 |
|
1.0-1.0.5 |
|
| FreeBSD 5.1 |
5.0-6.0.3 |
2.0-2.0.3 |
3.2-3.2.1 |
|
1.0-1.0.5 |
|
| FreeBSD 5.0 |
4.5-6.0.3 |
1.0-2.0.3 |
3.0-3.2.1 |
|
1.0-1.0.5 |
|
| FreeBSD 4.11 |
|
|
|
2.5.4-2.5.5 |
|
|
| FreeBSD 4.10 |
|
|
|
2.5-2.5.5 |
|
|
| FreeBSD 4.9 |
|
|
3.2-3.2.1 |
2.5 |
|
|
| FreeBSD 4.4, 4.5, 4.6.2, 4.8 |
4.0-6.0.3 |
1.0-2.0.3 |
3.0-3.2.1 |
|
1.0-1.0.5 |
|
| FreeBSD 4.0, 4.1, 4.2, 4.3 |
4.0-6.0.3 |
1.0-2.0.3 |
3.0-3.2.1 |
|
1.0-1.0.5 |
|
| NetWare 6.5 Server |
4.5-6.0.3 |
1.0-2.0.3 |
3.0-3.2.1 |
2.0.1-3.5 U1 |
1.0-1.0.5 |
1.0-1.1.1 |
| NetWare 6.0 Server |
4.0-6.0.3 |
1.0-2.0.3 |
3.0-3.2.1 |
2.0.1-3.5 U1 |
1.0-1.0.5 |
|
| NetWare 5.1 Server |
4.0-6.0.3 |
1.0-2.0.3 |
3.0-3.2.1 |
2.0.1-3.5 U1 |
1.0-1.0.5 |
|
| NetWare 4.2 Server |
5.5.2-6.0.3 |
2.0-2.0.3 |
3.0-3.2.1 |
|
1.0-1.0.5 |
|
| Solaris 10 Operating System for x86 Platforms |
4.5.2-6.0.3 |
1.0-2.0.3 |
3.1-3.2.1 |
3.0-3.5 U1 |
1.0-1.0.5 |
1.0-1.1.1 |
| Solaris 9 Operating System x86 Platform Edition |
4.5.2-6.0.3 |
1.0-2.0.3 |
3.1-3.2.1 |
|
1.0-1.0.5 |
|
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May 5th, 2008 | 
Author: 
Posted in esx, esxi, microsoft, server 2008, vista, vmware, vmware server | 
Tags: esx, linux, red hat, server2008, suse, ubuntu, virtualmachine, vmware, vmware fusion, vmware server, vmware workstation, windows
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