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nexweb1
Contributor
Contributor

How to correctly install MacOS on ESXi 6.7 or 6.5 Server Hypervisors

Our company has a VMware ESXi 6.7 & 6.5 servers that run mostly Windows and Linux servers. We need to host Mac OS servers such as (MacOS 3.13 High Sierra) or (MacOS 3.14 Mojave). Here is a video that shows step by step how to implement:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7VgfzC7-eF8&vl=en

Apparently it does not install as it keep looping back to the the black and white Apple logo screen.

https://www.sysnettechsolutions.com/en/vmware/install-macos-high-sierra-vmware-esxi/

After some reading no the web that before installing MacOS with VMware ESXi, we need to prepare the virtual machine for MacOS. We should use the VMware Unlocker "VMwareUnlocker2.1.1forESXi6.7" to run MacOS systems on VMware ESXi which I downloaded here:

[removed]

Below is another location where I have read about this VMWare Unlocker plugin:

[removed]

So I need to know if you have done this or if there is another better or correct way to install MacOS Virtual Server on ESXi 6.5 or 6.7 Host Servers?

Moderator edit by wila: removed links to the unlocker binaries

21 Replies
daphnissov
Immortal
Immortal

MacOS is only able to be installed on Apple-branded, official hardware. Apple does not license you to install it otherwise. By using that "unlocker" program--which is actually a circumvention or "crack" device--you would be violating the EULAs of both Apple and VMware. So, the only way you are legally able to run MacOS in a virtual machine is on official Apple hardware. Any other installation type is illegal.

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FrancisAugusto
Enthusiast
Enthusiast

I am running on official Apple harware, and still facing the same problem, ie., the installer loops.

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daphnissov
Immortal
Immortal

Please show screenshots of the hardware you're using within the host client.

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FrancisAugusto
Enthusiast
Enthusiast

Screenshot 2019-03-14 at 14.24.16.png

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daphnissov
Immortal
Immortal

Ok, this is one of the 2014 Mac Minis that should work. Occasionally I've seen problems with the latest one. What OS version are you trying to install, and how are you going about doing it? What hardware version are you using when you create the VM?

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FrancisAugusto
Enthusiast
Enthusiast

This is a 2018 Mac mini. I tried High Sierra and Mojave. I tried installing it from an ISO on the ESXi host, and I also tried to upload an installed VM from fusion to the ESXi host. I tried several hardware models - 10, 12 and 14.

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daphnissov
Immortal
Immortal

My mistake, it is the latest one. When you try those two OSs, what hardware version are you using and what's the configuration? Please show what you're trying to do here.

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FrancisAugusto
Enthusiast
Enthusiast

As I said, I tried first to create it from scratch on ESXi. There I didn't specify any hardware version. Just did the basics: 8gb ram, 40gb HD, etc. Pretty much everything by default. Then I connected a Mojave.iso installer as CD rom, and the installer just restarts on the middle of the progress bar.

As for the other machines, similar config, except that those are VM's that I use under Fusion 11. I had to downgrade them to hardware 14, uploaded to the ESXi via Fusion, and got the same behaviour. Tried with several of the hardware versions, down to 10, and still didn't;t work,.

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FrancisAugusto
Enthusiast
Enthusiast

daphnissov​ any tips?

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daphnissov
Immortal
Immortal

Do you know where you got these ISOs? I'm wondering if maybe there's some corruption in them. If you can share the source, you might look to see if they have a checksum published, then compare yours to theirs to see. Alternatively, although you have a 2018 Mini and I have a late 2014, I could still test this in my lab to see if I get the same result, although I haven't heard anyone else with a 2018 model having similar issues.

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FrancisAugusto
Enthusiast
Enthusiast

The ESXi’s ISO, you mean? I got it via Powercli, as I had to smcustomize it with the NIC driver. And the host works well, I have a working Windows 10 VM and all.

Best,

Francis

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daphnissov
Immortal
Immortal

No, the MacOS installation images. Where did you get them? Can you validate their checksums are good against known hashes?

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FrancisAugusto
Enthusiast
Enthusiast

All downloaded via App Store and got the iso’s By using Apple methods. the VM’s run fine under Fusion, but got this loop during boot when starting them Under Esxi.

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daphnissov
Immortal
Immortal

If you can reproduce the problem, after that boot loop happens, shutdown the VM and pull the vmware.log file (plus the .1 file) and upload them to see what's going on.

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FrancisAugusto
Enthusiast
Enthusiast

I just attached the logs. Can you see something useful in them?

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FrancisAugusto
Enthusiast
Enthusiast

It could be this:

2019-03-18T15:07:18.440Z| vcpu-1| I125: HostSMCRead: Unable to read key "OSK0".

2019-03-18T15:07:18.443Z| vcpu-1| W115: DarwinPanic: panic(cpu 1 caller 0xffffff7f8f890b1e): "DSMOS: SMC read error K0: 133"@/BuildRoot/Library/Caches/com.apple.xbs/Sources/DontStealMacOS/DontStealMacOS-27.200.2/Dont_Steal_MacOS.cpp:191

2019-03-18T15:07:18.449Z| vcpu-0| I125: Destroying virtual dev for scsi0:0 vscsi=8974

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daphnissov
Immortal
Immortal

Yes, I was just about to post that. This is a similar message seen when people try and install macOS on non-Apple hardware. Is it possible you've installed some third-party software called "unlocker" on this ESXi host? If not, only other thing I can suggest is to install MacOS on the bare metal and use it long enough to update the SMC firmware in case this is a bug. Otherwise, if you have support you may want to open an SR with VMware on this.

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CharlieOPS
Contributor
Contributor

Has anyone found a solution to this?

I have two mac minis that fail with the latest OSX.

  • 2014 mac mini with ESXi 6.5 or 6.7
  • Latest mac mini with ESXi 6.5 o 6.7

Old OSX (10.9) works on the 2014 mac mini. Doesn't on the new one. New OSX (Mojave) doesn't install on either

Has anyone got the latest OSX to work on any ESXi version/mac mini combination?

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scott28tt
VMware Employee
VMware Employee

Moderator note: Moved to ESXi


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