Can ESXi with a 64 bit processor run 32 bit guests?

[RickHogan]

This (stupid) question has probably been asked a hundred times, but I couldn't get anything out of the search, and I really need to confirm this before allocating a large percentage of my hardware budget to a new server (A decision has to be made in the AM tomorrow, or someone else gets my $$)...

Can I put my current 32bit (Windows 2000 / 2003) Guest VM's onto an ESXi host running 64 bit (Quad-core Xeon) processors?

And as long as I am cluttering up the forum with stupid questions, are there any known problems in running this configuration?

Thanks for all your help!

Rick

[RDPetruska · Accepted solution]

Yes, ALL processors can run 32-bit guests. 64-bit guests require certain hardware features of CPU and motherboard/BIOS.

[RParker]

Can I put my current 32bit (Windows 2000 / 2003) Guest VM's onto an ESXi host running 64 bit (Quad-core Xeon) processors?

YES.

And as long as I am cluttering up the forum with stupid questions, are there any known problems in running this configuration?

NO

[RickHogan]

Excellent!!!

Thank you guys for the quick and direct answers!!

Rick

[RParker]

Yes, ALL processors can run 32-bit guests. 64-bit guests require certain hardware features of CPU and motherboard/BIOS.

ALL PENTIUM equivalent processors can run 32-bit Guests x86 pre P60 cannot 0;