Esxi5 Install

[PJo201110141]

Hello,

Im trying to set a lab. Can we install nested VM's? I created a windows 2008 VM and installed vmware work station then tried to install esxi 5.0 as a VM inside work station.It was giving me error ( host is compatible for 64bit). What is the best way to instal esxi in a VM or is there any alternative way.

Thanks

[abhilashhb]

What are you using to run the 2008 VM? A workstation or a esxi server? You will have to enable the VT on VM and also add couple of rows in configuration parameters. But this is ok if you are testing installation of ESXi. if you want to create VM's on nested ESXi then i don't think its possible.

[PJo201110141]

Hello Abhi,

VM is installed on a host. I was trying to install esxi on this VM which has a work station and planning to create VM's on that host which is running on a VM. Is this possible?

Thanks

[tomtom901]

Yes, this is possible. I run it in my lab as following:

One physical server (Mac Mini in my case) running VMware vSphere 5.5. On top of that, I've created several VMware ESXi installations (OS Type: Other 2.6 Linux 64 bit) which are running as a nested installation. You need to configure some settings on the physical ESXi hosts to ensure full functionality in your virtual ESXi installations:

-> Set promiscuous mode on the port group to accept (default reject).

-> Set the correct MMU virtualization mode on the guest (do this for every VMware virtual guest)to Use intel VT-x and AMD MMU (etc..).

That works like a charm for me, I'm able to run 64 bit virtual machines in my virtual VMware installation!

[abhilashhb · Accepted solution]

tom you are running an ESXi--->Couple of ESXi's----->VM's on it.

The case here is. Host----->Windows VM----->VMware Workstation----->ESXi on a VM------>VM's on that.

Don't you think its a little complicated?

PJo201110141 , Why don't you run ESXi directly on VM that is there on your host. like you have  Windows VM, create another VM and install ESXi in that. And after that you can run VM's inside that. That avoids one nesting.

[tomtom901]

Correct, but in theory it should work. I also posted my setup, because that would be the simpeler and more efficient solution, just as you pointed out.

[abhilashhb]

Yes in theory it should work but why make it complicated. The real pain is when an error/issue pops up. Yes your setup is a better solution and everyone does the same way.

And one more thing. Now we can choose ESXi 5.x as operating system ( before we had to use other linux 64 bit).

[PJo201110141]

Thanks everybody! It was success.got it done