workstation

Run VMware Workstation and Microsoft Hyper-V together in Windows 10

In 2013 I wrote a blog post that it was not possible to run VMware Workstation when the Hyper-V role was enabled (link). Since VMware Workstation 15.5 it is possible to run VMware Workstation and the Hyper-V role together.

Requirements:

  • Windows 10 2004 or newer
  • VMware Workstation 15.5.5 or newer
  • Supported CPU: Intel Sandy Bridge or an AMD Bulldozer or newer

I tested this with my Windows 10 laptop with the Hyper-V role enabled, the Windows Subsystem for Linux running, and VMware Workstation 16 Pro. In Hyper-V and VMware Workstation a Windows 10 VM is running. In the screenshot below you see all the components started:

This is very cool, now you can run VMware Workstation and Hyper-V role at the same time even with the WSL active.

Running Hyper-V and VMware Workstation on Windows 8.x

For testing I use Hyper-V and VMware Workstation 10 on my laptop. One restriction of VMware Workstation is that it does not support VHDX disk files (yet). VMware Workstation support VHD files, so the VHDX files must be converted to a VHD first. After the conversion VMware Workstation can select the VHD as Hard Disk.  This can takes some time.

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1. VHD disk 2. Convert options in Hyper-V

That’s why I use Hyper-V on my laptop sometimes. When trying to start VMware Workstation the following error appears:

VMware Workstation and Hyper-V are not compatible. Remove the Hyper-V role from the system before running VMware Workstation.

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This is because the Hyper-V role is installed and this conflicts with VMware Workstation. To disable Hyper-V from starting the following command can be used:

bcdedit /set hypervisorlaunchtype off

A reboot of of the Windows OS is necessary.

To enable the Hyper-V role again use the following command:

bcdedit /set hypervisorlaunchtype auto

A reboot of of the Windows OS is necessary.

Install Windows Server 2012 in VMware Workstation

This procedure describes how to install Windows Server 2012 in VMware Workstation. The following versions are used:

  • VMware Workstation Technology Preview 2012 e.x.p Build-646643
  • Windows Server 2012 Release Candidate Datacenter Build 8400

In VMware Workstation Technology Preview 2012 create a new VM with the following settings:

  • New Virtual Machine
  • Custom (advanced)
  • Workstation Tech Preview
  • Select “I will install the operating system later”
  • Select “Microsoft Windows” and select as version “Windows 8 x64”
  • Set the Name and Location
  • Minimal 1 processor, 1 core
  • 2048 MB memory
  • Select “Use network address translation (NAT)”
  • Select “LSI Logic SAS”
  • Create a new virtual disk
  • SCSI
  • 60 GB disk size
  • Leave default disk file
  • Finish
  • After the VM is created, edit virtual Machine settings and browse for  the Windows Server 2012 ISO in the the CD/DVD option

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  • Remove the VM from VMware Workstation by clicking on the X icon

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  • Edit the VMX file (i use Notepad++)  and add the following line  to the end to of the VMX file: 
vmGenCounter.enable = FALSE
  • Add the VM back to VMware Workstation by clicking on the *.VMX file
  • During the installation choose the Windows Server 2012 Release Candidate (Server wit GUI)

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  • When the installation is ready you have a working Windows Server 2012 server

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  • Install VMware tools

More information can be found on the VMware Workstation Technology Preview 2012 Community.