Can I run a VM created in ESXi in Workstation?

[damien32vm]

Does a VM created in vSphere/ESXi is able to be run in Workstation? What cavets should I look out for? Do I need to do any importing or can I just run off the vmx file?

[fabio1975]

Ciao 

On VMware workstation there is a command that allows you to copy a VM from an ESXi host to the OS where the Workstation is installed.

You need to connect VMware Workstation to the ESXi host

Enter your credentials

The list of VMs on the ESXi server  appears, open the VM you are interested in and in the properties select Manage-> Download

[Mikero]

Should 'just work'.

Might be driver differences depending... (i.e. pvscsi driver), but you should be able to:

- do what the other poster suggests and connect directly
- Copy the VM folder from the data store, put it on your Workstation machine, double-click the .vmx and 'just work'
- Export the VM as 'OVF' or 'OVA', and import that into WS.

[damien32vm]

Thanks, perhaps I should clarify what I want to do: its restoring a full VM from Veeam (backup of VMs from a ESXI vSphere setup) onto a windows computer and running it. Sounds like it should be similar to a "Copy the VM Folder" and run the vmx. I'll probably test it in Workstation Player to see if "works" and then plan on moving from that point.

Thanks.

[continuum]

One caveat: snapshots created by ESXi
If you use snapshots in sesparse format you must merge them to the basedisk BEFORE you move over.
If you use snapshots in delta format you can use them in Workstation but not in writeable mode. Means you need to add another snapshot and then the way back to ESXi is closed.

The vmdk format used by ESXi itself "createType = VMFS" can be used inside Workstation when you redefine "createType" VMFS to "createType = monolithicFlat"
Read my VMDK-handbook for more on this.

Ulli