VM /ETC

Everybody talks about running VMware ESX on VMware Workstation, but how come we don’t see more about running ESX on VMware Server 2.0? I’ve tried and been semi successful. This post is sort of a “how to” and kind of “need help” post about this topic.

First, Duncan Epping over at yellow-bricks.com made a quick post to remind himself of the configurations necessary to run ESX/ESXi 3.5 on VMware Workstation 6.5. There are numerous other posts about how to do this, but the post ESX in Workstation contains just the basic information to remember. If you’ve never done this before and you need pictures and a good explanation then I recommend the .pdf from Xtravirt.com titled VI 3.5 in a box.

Trying to take this a step further, I have moved the ESX 3.5 VMs I created on Workstation 6.5 to a VMware Server 2.0 running on a 64 bit Ubuntu 8.10 Desktop. I can start the ESX server VMs just fine, but unfortunately I can’t run the VMs (hosted on the ESX VMs). It’s still a convenient option for learning, testing and configuring the latest builds and features even without running VMs.

Using basically the same configuration settings I’ve also been able to install and run Citrix XenServer 5.0 and Microsoft Hyper-V on both VMware Workstation and VMware Server 2.0. Here is a screenshot of my VMware Server Summary tab. Click on it for a larger view.

If anybody else has figured out how to make the full VI 3.5 in a box work with running VMs on Server 2.0 please let me know.

In a shameless act of plagiarism I am copying Duncan’s steps here at VM /ETC for my reference too.

1. Create Virtual Machine, Custom
2. WS 6.5 Compatibility
3. Linux Kernel, other
4. Number of processors: 2
5. Memory: 1024
6. Bridged Networking (change to team later on)
7. LSI Logic
8. New disc, SCSI
9. 6GB, pre-allocated, single file
10. Customize hardware, remove: soundcard, usb, floppy
    set execution mode to:
    Intel VT-x
11. Edit .vmx and add the following:
    ethernet0.virtualDev =
"e1000"
monitor_control.restrict_backdoor = "true"
12. Install ESX
13. Add VM to Team and select “LAN 1? for networking(keep the test vm’s
    completely isolated)

Thanks Duncan!

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