In my new video, I demonstrate, step by step, how you can run VMware ESX Server 3.5 and ESXi 3.5 inside VMware Workstation 6.5. This is also shown in my Train Signal VMware ESX Server video training course.
While you wouldn’t run ESX in Workstation for a production server, running ESX in Workstation is an excellent way to test and demonstrate ESX Server (and the entire VMware Virtual Infrastructure suite) on a single PC. Think about it - what if you had a single PC with 2 ESX Servers, an iSCSI virtual SAN, and a Windows Server running Virtual Center. With that, you would have “VMware Infrastructure in a box” and be able to run powerful features like VMotion, SVMotion, VMHA, and Update Manager, all on a single PC.
Special thank you to Xtravirt.com for their “VI in a box” whitepaper that shows how to run ESX Server in VMware Workstation.
David Davis (CCIE #9369, VCP, CISSP, MCSE) has been in the IT industry for 15+ years. He has authored over 300 articles, 6 video training courses, and co-authored one book. Learn about David's certifications, video courses, and where you can find his content on our
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I am running Vista Ultimate on an Acer Ferrai 1000 notebook, and I dl VMware Server ESX 3.5 and tried to install it, but it kicked back saying that ESX has to be loaded into a server infrastructure. I am trying to clarify that I can install VMware workstation onto my vista system, then install VMware Server into the VM WS.
My question seems convoluted so I hope you understand what I am trying to ask.
As I demonstrated in the video, you can install ESX Server or ESXi inside Workstation. However, you cannot install VMware Server 1.x or 2.x inside Workstation.
You can also run ESX within Fusion on the Mac, I did it a while back, but then I ended up deleting the VM because my trial version of ESX expired. Now that ESXi is free, and that I just picked up the latest VI3 ATDG book from Oglesby, Herold, and Laverick I am going to have to try installing ESXi on the new Fuson 2. Here is a post where I previously mentioned how I got ESX to work in Fusion:
http://www.brianmadden.com/Forum/Topic/100450
hi,
my ESX in running within a VMWARE Server 1.0.7
but if y try to start a virt.machine in ESX Server:
“you may not power on a virtual machine in a virtual machine”
any Ideas?
You need to use VMware Workstation, not VMware Server, to run ESX.
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-David
I just tried it. i am getting an error saying not all hardware virtualization features are supported.
My system is running xp sp3 and latest build of workstation 6.5
AMD-V support is enabled on asus m2npv -vm in bios. RUnning
AMD Athlon X2 5200+…AM2 socket
Does anybody have an idea what could be wrong?
I believe my hardware is AMD-V ready and should be able to run it.
It’s monitor_control.restrict_backdoor=true
not monitor_console…
@sumdom
Same here. Hyper-V Server and XenServer 5.0 Express runs flawlessy on my Athlon X2 5200+, but when Execution Mode is set to “Intel VT-x or AMD-V” I get “This host does not support all of the hardware virtualization features required by VMware Workstation. Using software virtualization instead.”
VMware.log:
Oct 05 16:47:41.156: vmx| MONITOR MODE: allowed modes : BT
Oct 05 16:47:41.156: vmx| MONITOR MODE: user requested modes : HV
Oct 05 16:47:41.156: vmx| MONITOR MODE: guestOS preferred modes: BT HWMMU HV
Hi,
I tried to install ESX server 3.5 on Vmware Workstation 6.5, but during installation it exits stating ‘install exited abnormally’
I have AMD Athlon X2 64 bit processor, with 2 gb ram, Asus M2N-PV-VM motherboard. Is my hardware not supported? Please guide me.
Hi
I am running this on an Intelx64 server in VMWkstn 6.5 but appear unable to ping to or from ESX server?
Also tried to install on HP laptop with AMD Turion x2 which I believe to AMD-V complient. I to get “This host does not support all of the hardware virtualization features required by VMware Workstation. Using software virtualization instead.” and it runs dead slow ?
I got the same problem as Red. my computer is acer with AMD Turion 64 x 2( which is AMD-V complient). i’m not getting any error messages but it is not working?
AMD Turion 64 x 2
OS : Vista
Running on : workstation 6.5
Memory : 3 GB DDR2
i also tried “Monitor_control.enable_svm = TRUE” this line still the same. not working? any idea?
I’ve found the answer:
http://communities.vmware.com/message/1072062#1072062
“Workstation 6.5 only supports AMD-V on Family 10H and later processors (e.g. Barcelona, Phenom).”
hi, im trying to power on a VM within ESXi. I get the following error
“you may not power on a virtual machine in a virtual machine”. I am using Workstation 6.5 and VIC.
got any ideas on a fix/workaround
Dru- are you saying that you are running Workstation 6.5 on a VM that is running inside ESXi. If so, sorry, I don’t think that will work.
I can Install ESXi as a VM in Workstation 6.5, but I can’t run any *VM* inside the ESXi VM! I get the following error every time I power on the *VM*: “you may not power on a virtual machine in a virtual machine”.
Can you confirm that it’s possible to run a *VM* inside ESXi VM running on Workstation 6.5? and what are the required steps to make it work?
Hi,
Im using dell inspiron 1420 with 250 Gb HDD, 2 GB RAM, intel 2 GB processor with winodws VISTA operation system.
I installed ESX 3.5 Server in VMware work station 6.0 with IP 192.168.10.10.
When i try to connect this ESX server through VIC ( virtual infrastructure client ) it shows connection failed. even im not pingable
ESX server from other guest OS’s which is installed in same VMware work station with same class of IP. like 192.168.10.11
can you please give me an advice, How can i connect ESX server..? is there any problem with VISTA..?
I installed ESX 3.5 in VMware workstation 6.5 as you described and everything went well. Except when ESX starts, the system “hangs” with the line: Loading VMkernel mptscsi_2xx.0 (options: ”).
Before this it said “1.vmkernel succeeded”. What can be wrong?
I have the same issue:
“you may not power on a virtual machine in a virtual machine”
I installed ESXI on Vmware workstation 6.5 , everything work fine but I can’t create virtual machine on ESXI.
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