Big Sur - Fushion 11

[BoritoPalito]

I've recently bought VMWare Fushion 11 for personal use after the trial of 30 days.

Today I've updated my OS to Big Sur and I can't seem to get it working now. I read only that version 11 is no longer supported for Big Sur. 

I am really wondering if there's anything I can do since I just purchased a license for version 11.

[danwright]

On Version 11 also, installed Big Sur getting this message. Do I now need to buy Fusion 12? Thanks

[wila]

Hi,

If you "just" bought the Fusion 11 license then you might be eligible for a VMware Fusion 12 license or a refund.
For more details on that please see:
https://www.vmware.com/products/fusion/faq.html#licensing-upgrades

For the rest I'm sorry to inform you that only VMware Fusion 12 supports running on Big Sur.

See also:

https://kb.vmware.com/s/article/2088571

https://blogs.vmware.com/teamfusion/2020/09/fusion-12-now-available.html

Perhaps the free Fusion Player 12 will work for you. (there's a link in the 2nd article)

Please note that if that link doesn't work and you are using Firefox, then try again using Safari or a private window.

--
Wil

[scott28tt]

Only Fusion 12 is supported on Big Sur.

If you bought your Fusion license after June 15th 2020 please read the Technology Guarantee Program section of this: https://blogs.vmware.com/teamfusion/2020/08/announcing-fusion-12-and-workstation-16.html

[danwright]

Thank you.

Will probably buy v. 12.

I know Big Sur was just released but are there any "big" issues with running v.12 (any version) on Big Sur?

If so I don't mind waiting to upgrade.

2019 iMac

[wila]

Hi,

Yes, some people have complained about having issues with networking including connecting to SMB shares. (not everybody is seeing these issues)
Another one is that nested virtualisation (running a VM in your VM) is not currently working of your CPU does not offer VMCS shadowing support. VMware probably has an update to address that later this week.

Those are the two main issues that I am aware about atm and they both are only on Big Sur hosts running Fusion 12, neither problem occurs on Catalina hosts when running Fusion 12 (or Fusion 11)

--
Wil

[danwright]

Thank you.

When I decide to upgrade to v. 12 seeing as I can't open Fusion anymore will I have problem installing upgrade?

[wila]

Hi,

No problem, the upgrades are a matter of install and run. It should not be an issue.
The installer is here:
https://www.vmware.com/go/getfusion

--
Wil

[danwright]

I went and bought v. 12 pro. It installed okay and seems to be running okay.

I bought version 11 not that long ago was not expecting to fork over more $$ right now, sort of wish Vmware folks had warned me about what was to come.

Thanks for all your help

[scott28tt]

@danwright 

VMware did publish this notice offering anyone who bought 11.5 from mid-June a 12 license key (the Technology Guarantee Program section)