Windows Server 2012 R2 on ESXi 5.1.0?

[eversys]

Dear Experts,

We have an ESXi 5.1.0 (build 1065491) host and wanted to install a Windows 2012 R2 server vm. Although the OS dropdown only had "Windows Server 2012" listed, we were still able to install a Windows 2012 R2 server. Servers seems to work just fine - is it OK to have 2012R2 running on the ESXi 5.1.0 host? When we have the opportunity to upgrade to 5.5 should we then change the OS version from 2012 to 2012R2 for that vm?

Thanks for your help.

Oliver

[brunofernandez1 · Accepted solution]

as you can see, w2k12 r2 is only supported with 5.0 U2 and higher:

VMware Compatibility Guide: Guest/Host Search

by the way, you will never see 2012 r2 as guest OS to select. Don't know why but it's like that probabelly because 2012 and r2 are very similar and not needed to difference...

I have esxi 5.5 U3 and have still no option r2 to select with 2012. in vpshere 6.0 it's still the same...

[MKguy]

The missing selection in the GuestOS dropdown is normal, there is no 2012 R2 option even in newer versions. So you just use the 2012 option as explained here:

VMware KB: Microsoft Windows Server 2012 R2 guest operating system option is not available

Server 2012 R2 is officially supported on ESXi 5.1 with some footnotes depending on the 5.1 Update version, but you should be fine with recent builds:

VMware Compatibility Guide: Guest/Host Search

Updating to the latest 5.5 U2 won't hurt though.