Vmware workstation 17 pro unable to create new virtual machine

[Dru0pa]

I have had the same issue with Vmware workstation 16.2 pro.

If I create a new VM it creates the following files only.

VMX and VMDK.

That is all it creates.

If I try to add a VM that was created some time back and was usable it does not add the VM any more.

[wila]

Hi,

Your post is a bit confusing, which I guess is why you haven't gotten a reply yet.

A .vmx and vmdk file is the minimum for having a VM, so -at least in theory- it would be fine.
Other files are created the moment you boot the VM.

From your description, it is unclear if you can or cannot start and run the VM.

I'm also not 100% clear on what the statement "If I try to add a VM that was created some time back and was usable it does not add the VM any more." Does the VM work or not? Is the issue that it isn't added to the list of recent virtual machines? Is it not added to the list on the left.

Are you running Windows or Linux as a host?

--
Wil

[Dru0pa]

This is running on Windows 11

I have access to some of my VMs. many of my VM start with no problem at all.

I am unable to add or create new VMs.

If I create a new VM it only creates VMX and VMDK. Nothing else will make the new VM useless as it will not list in VMware Workstation.

If I try to add a previously usable VM it does not add it to the list of VMs.

If I do a scan the VM will list but will immediately ask to remove the VM.

This looks to be a limitation of VMware Workstation running on Windows.

The limit is to 28 VMs accessible for Windows.

The limit to run is 24 VMs of those accessible 28 for Windows.

[wila]

Hi,

OK, I understand better what you are saying now and that's awfully specific.

Not only that, but I can confirm what you are seeing.

I just tested with Workstation Tech Preview (e.x.p build-22060606) and created new small Linux VM's until I had 28 VM's in the list. Creating another new VM does EXACTLY what you are saying, it is no longer added to the list on the left hand side, nor does it create the same files.

Some screenshots to explain to VMware...

and:

and then for the 29'th VM, you'll get this:

Please @Mikero can you check this is on the list of things to look into?

What a weird limit.

--
Wil

[wila]

Right...I found a workaround.

Looks like it is a limit of the number of tabs you can have open at the same time.

If you close tabs at the top, then you can add new VM's to the list.

Eg. I closed tab 12 to 28 and then added VM 30..

If you want to have more tabs open at the same time.
Start a new copy of VMware Workstation.... IIRC that's also the workaround for running more than 24 VM's at the same time.

--
Wil

[RDPetruska]

"IIRC that's also the workaround for running more than 24 VM's at the same time"

Wil, are you sure about that?  I thought I remembered that 24 VMs running simultaneously was a hard limit for Windows hosts, due to some certain resource which VMware uses 2 per running VM.  I can't remember what it was called, but Windows had a maximum number (perhaps that has been increased in newer Windows versions though).

[Dru0pa]

Thank you

This works great will now have to remember to close tabes down all the time

[wila]

---

@RDPetruska wrote:

"IIRC that's also the workaround for running more than 24 VM's at the same time"

Wil, are you sure about that?  I thought I remembered that 24 VMs running simultaneously was a hard limit for Windows hosts, due to some certain resource which VMware uses 2 per running VM.  I can't remember what it was called, but Windows had a maximum number (perhaps that has been increased in newer Windows versions though).

---

Me sure? No, that's why I said "IIRC", I also do not have a use case for running that many VM's concurrently. But some people might...

FWIW, here's the references about those limits as stated by VMware employees:
https://communities.vmware.com/t5/VMware-Workstation-Pro/VMware-Workstation-12-Pro-Maximum-number-of...

https://communities.vmware.com/t5/VMware-Workstation-Pro/VMware-Workstation-Maximum-VM-limit/m-p/239...

--
Wil

[RDPetruska]

Ahh, OK.  From the more recent post, from Darius' reply, it is a limit per UI, so you were correct.  🙂