topic Re: VMware Workstation does not support nested virtualization on this host. in VMware Workstation Pro Discussions

VMware Workstation does not support nested virtualization on this host.

ppan7 — Sat, 30 May 2020 18:29:14 GMT

After Windows update 2020 may build 2004, vmvare doesnt support Virtualize intel Vt-x/EPT. How fix this problem. I update vmvare to 15.5.5, But it didn`t help

Re: VMware Workstation does not support nested virtualization on this host.

hotvooboy — Sun, 31 May 2020 01:30:29 GMT

Hi ppan7,

Thank you for posting your query in community.

Could u please help to check your Win10 2004 Hyper-V status or provide more information about vmware.log?

Also there is a section 5 about Running Workstation on a Hyper-V Enabled Host per https://docs.vmware.com/en/VMware-Workstation-Pro/15.0/workstation-pro-15-user-guide.pdf for your reference.

Thanks.

Re: VMware Workstation does not support nested virtualization on this host.

MFrymanCiber — Tue, 02 Jun 2020 17:44:18 GMT

Same issue here. So the problem is if your Windows 10 gets VBS enabled or you try any Hyper-V functionality on Windows 10, it breaks any and all nested virtualization for VMware Workstation. What we need is information on the minimum steps to turn off, delete, change, whatever is necessary on Windows 10 to re-allow the nested virtualization features, as that is for some of us the most essential function we need. So thank you for pointing us to a document that shows in the details that "by the way this disables your nested virtualization", but what we also need desperately is the information to regain that function of nested virtualization.

Re: VMware Workstation does not support nested virtualization on this host.

ppan7 — Tue, 02 Jun 2020 17:53:41 GMT

I found only this solution :

If u want use vmware : use this command in powershell and reboot system:

bcdedit /set hypervisorlaunchtype off

If u want use hyper-v:

bcdedit /set hypervisorlaunchtype auto

Hyper-v and Vmvare still don't work together

----------------------------------------------------------------

Did you find this helpful? Let us know by completing this survey (takes just 1 minute!)

Re: VMware Workstation does not support nested virtualization on this host.

Mikero — Tue, 02 Jun 2020 19:20:38 GMT

https://vinfrastructure.it/2018/06/vmware-workstation-and-windows-10-security/

To disable Device Guard or Credential Guard the first step is the following:

Disable the group policy setting that was used to enable Credential Guard.
1. On the host operating system, click Start > Run, type gpedit.msc, and click Ok. The Local group Policy Editor opens.
2. Go to Local Computer Policy > Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > System > Device Guard > Turn on Virtualization Based Security.
3. Select Disabled.

We have a KB but, NGL, it's complete trash and I'm having it rewritten.

The reason that nested virtualization doesn't work is because our virtual machine monitor ("vmm", the 'hypervisor' part of the hypervisor) code was designed and optimized to do this, but Hyper-V monitor code is not. We actually test ESXi in Workstation (for linux) VMs in monster CI pipelines.

Our stack is obviously more mature, so when using the Hyper-V API's we had to make some compromises. We're working with MS to address the use-case, but we don't have a solid delivery date to communicate just yet.

Re: VMware Workstation does not support nested virtualization on this host.

MFrymanCiber — Wed, 03 Jun 2020 04:00:44 GMT

Those bcdedit commands worked great! Thank you!!

Re: VMware Workstation does not support nested virtualization on this host.

m_savazzi — Wed, 03 Jun 2020 13:28:01 GMT

Team the BcdEdit solution is a workaround.

Before the upgrade to 2004 everything was fine.

Without any change in configuration I've updated to 2004 and then VMWare is not working anymore.

Re: VMware Workstation does not support nested virtualization on this host.

frehnejc — Thu, 04 Jun 2020 00:04:55 GMT

Totally agree its a workaround, I am in the situation where VMWare and Hyper-V cannot coexist.

Re: VMware Workstation does not support nested virtualization on this host.

sachira — Thu, 04 Jun 2020 01:11:35 GMT

I also got the same issue. I was able to get the VM working by disabling Virtualize Intel VT-x/EPT or AMD-V-RI and Virtualize CPU performance counters under VM Settings -> Processors -> Virtualization Engine. This is still a big upset for me because I was using VMs inside VMs sometimes. But since I want to try WSL2, I'm going to live with it for now.

Re: VMware Workstation does not support nested virtualization on this host.

RPWithey — Fri, 12 Jun 2020 08:11:53 GMT

My VMs worked fine with Hyper-V enabled under 15.5.5. However, since upgrading to 15.5.6, I find that VMs created by 15.5.5 will not start: getting the same error as this ticket. VMs created earlier than that are working without problem.

Re: VMware Workstation does not support nested virtualization on this host.

RPWithey — Fri, 12 Jun 2020 08:15:58 GMT

...or is it because they are linked clones of other VMs?

Re: VMware Workstation does not support nested virtualization on this host.

hotvooboy — Fri, 12 Jun 2020 08:52:34 GMT

Hi，

Thank you for posting your query in community. Actually there is no change in this area between ws15.5.5 and ws15.5.6.

BTW, could you please share some information about your steps/vmware.log and vm-support bundle for investigation.

Thanks.

Re: VMware Workstation does not support nested virtualization on this host.

tom42 — Sat, 13 Jun 2020 22:04:48 GMT

Then why are they advertising that it does work

VMware Workstation 15.5 Now Supports Host Hyper-V Mode - VMware Workstation Zealot - VMware Blogs

Re: VMware Workstation does not support nested virtualization on this host.

RPWithey — Mon, 15 Jun 2020 16:04:28 GMT

Hi,

The chain of events, as I remember it, was that after installing 15.5.5, I enabled the Hyper-V features and rebooted. At that time, I had no problems running VMs. I created two new VMs, which were linked clones of an existing VM (Windows Server 2019) and had no problems with them that day.

Last Thursday, I installed 15.5.6, but did not reboot. I was still able to run all VMs without problem.

On Friday, after a reboot Thursday night, I could run older VMs, but neither of the VMs I had recently created would start: I got the error mentioned previously. Disabling Hyper-V features allowed me to run them as before. Since I rarely use Hyper-V, it's not a big issue, but it would be nice if I could do so without having to reboot.

I didn't check the logs at the time, but these seem to be the relevant lines:

2020-06-12T09:08:47.230+01:00| vmx| I005: Module 'MonitorMode' power on failed.

2020-06-12T09:08:47.230+01:00| vmx| I005: VMX_PowerOn: ModuleTable_PowerOn = 0

2020-06-12T09:08:47.230+01:00| vmx| I005: Vix: [mainDispatch.c:4200]: VMAutomation_ReportPowerOpFinished: statevar=1, newAppState=1873, success=1 additionalError=0

2020-06-12T09:08:47.230+01:00| vmx| I005:

2020-06-12T09:08:47.230+01:00| vmx| I005+ Power on failure messages: VMware Workstation does not support nested virtualization on this host.

2020-06-12T09:08:47.230+01:00| vmx| I005+ Module 'MonitorMode' power on failed.

2020-06-12T09:08:47.230+01:00| vmx| I005+ Failed to start the virtual machine.

2020-06-12T09:08:47.230+01:00| vmx| I005+

2020-06-12T09:08:47.230+01:00| vmx| I005: Vix: [mainDispatch.c:4200]: VMAutomation_ReportPowerOpFinished: statevar=0, newAppState=1870, success=1 additionalError=0

2020-06-12T09:08:47.230+01:00| vmx| I005: Transitioned vmx/execState/val to poweredOff

2020-06-12T09:08:47.231+01:00| vmx| I005: Vix: [mainDispatch.c:4200]: VMAutomation_ReportPowerOpFinished: statevar=0, newAppState=1870, success=0 additionalError=0

2020-06-12T09:08:47.231+01:00| vmx| I005: Vix: [mainDispatch.c:4238]: Error VIX_E_FAIL in VMAutomation_ReportPowerOpFinished(): Unknown error

Re: VMware Workstation does not support nested virtualization on this host.

OzFlip — Fri, 17 Jul 2020 12:25:56 GMT

I had the same errors with 15.5.6 (just got the 2020H1 update) and found that I had to edit a setting. One that works is edit the processor setting and turn the virtualisation options on, then edit again and turn off, but any change to the settings seems to help. Then the VMS started fine for me.

Re: VMware Workstation does not support nested virtualization on this host.

Yagami — Tue, 21 Jul 2020 03:08:37 GMT

Same as here e.e

Re: VMware Workstation does not support nested virtualization on this host.

Yagami — Tue, 21 Jul 2020 22:16:05 GMT

I solved it enabling Hyper-V on additional Windows resources e.e

Re: VMware Workstation does not support nested virtualization on this host.

LAMER_CZ — Fri, 14 Aug 2020 23:19:24 GMT

It works. You must just disable virtualization checkboxes. It is also explained here:
VMware Workstation 15.5 Now Supports Host Hyper-V Mode - VMware Workstation Zealot - VMware Blogs
Don't know how much performance drop is without those checkboxes (BTW, those were never enabled by default when creating new VM).

Anyway VMWARE should at least mention this in some info dialog (instead of ugly and nonsense dialog about nested virtualization) or just disable those checkboxes when running with HYPER-V.

Re: VMware Workstation does not support nested virtualization on this host.

Yagami — Sat, 15 Aug 2020 12:57:30 GMT

But it's still keeps the virtualization on the VM as disabled,VMware needs to solve it fast as possible e.e

Re: VMware Workstation does not support nested virtualization on this host.

LAMER_CZ — Sat, 15 Aug 2020 13:04:54 GMT

But it works concurrently with hyper-v and it is the main point. I don't know how much slower it is. I tried just superpi and it is +- the same speed in VM and host system. I may try other benchmarks.