Degrade 20 virtual hardware version to 12 virtual hardware version

[yomkipur]

Hello everyone

I made a virtual machine with VmWare Player 17 that it made it in 20 virtual hardware version but I need degrade the 20 virtual hardware version to 12 virtual hardware version, the vmware docs put me three options:

- Go back to a snapshot before but theare is not snapshot before.

- Use VMware vCenter Converter Standalone to degrade de virtual hardware version but I dont have this software.

- Make a new virtual machine (this is my las option).

are there any software to make this? Can I make it with VmWare virtual machine pro or not?

Best regards.

[bluefirestorm · Accepted solution]

You can edit the vmx file, change the

virtualHw.version = "20"
to virtualHW.version = "12"

Alternatively, you can install Workstation Pro 30 day trial. You can change the virtual hardware version from the VM menu Manage - Change Hardware version. After the 30 day trial is over, you can still access the Workstation UI, create VM, etc; but you won't be able to run the VM. You can still run the VM using Player. Player is included with Workstation Pro. You also can continue to use the Virtual Network Editor.

Why would you want to downgrade? Downgrading will also make certain features unavailable (e.g. version 12 only support OpenGL 3.3/DX10 while version 20 supports OpenGL 4.1/DX11.1 inside VMs). Secure boot is available only on version 14 and higher. More advanced CPU features may also not be available in older virtual hardware versions.

[yomkipur]

People who works with old sotware and don´t say anything about it.

I take the last version software to make a VM updated but it wasn´t correct.

Thanks a lot Mr bluefirestorm.

[RDPetruska]

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@bluefirestorm wrote:

Why would you want to downgrade? Downgrading will also make certain features unavailable (e.g. version 12 only support OpenGL 3.3/DX10 while version 20 supports OpenGL 4.1/DX11.1 inside VMs). Secure boot is available only on version 14 and higher. More advanced CPU features may also not be available in older virtual hardware versions.

---

In the majority of use cases, the newer virtual hardware version(s) are unnecessary.  If a VM is working, then there is usually no reason to upgrade it.  And many people only run (sometimes are only ABLE to run) older versions of Workstation/Player, so cannot recognize the newer hardware version VMs, as OP encountered.

To me, the ONLY reason for the newest virtual hardware (and Wks v17 in general) is to run Windows 11 - you know, MS's latest beta OS.  Any of us out here who actually need to run working OS's have major issues with ver 17, as it broke many features/functionality.

[yomkipur]

Bad news my friends

The red hat 9 enterprise linux server can not be executen like a guest operative system y ESXi 6.5 pltaform, in fact It was said by VMWARE Workstation PRO when I have tried to go down vmware hardware compatibility 20 version to 6.5 ESXi version (13)... All problems my firends.

[bluefirestorm]

The release of ESXi 6.5 (2016) preceded that of RHEL 9 (2022).
Would suggest set the OS setting in the ESXi VM to whatever is the latest RHEL version in ESXi 6.5.
If there is a need to re-create the VM in ESXi 6.5, perhaps a shortcut would be using the existing virtual disks; assuming that VM firmware types (BIOS vs UEFI) and storage controllers are not in conflict (SCSI vs SATA, etc).

[yomkipur]

Oh my God, nobody told me about that, bufff.

To be continnued... Thanks a lot. Mr bluefirestorm.