The online VMware Compatibility Guide replaces the former compatibility guides for systems, I/O devices, operating systems, and storage arrays for ESX 3.0 and greater versions, as well as VMware View Client. For compatibility guides of other VMware products or earlier ESX releases and VMware View Client, please use the "Other Documents" tab.
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VMware ESX is tested for compatibility with a variety of major guest operating systems running in virtual machines. Additionally, VMware ESX is tested for compatibility with currently shipping platforms from the major server manufacturers in pre-release testing. Our goal is to support a variety of storage and network adapters used as standard options for these platforms as they come to market.
If a specific server, storage array, or device is not listed on the Systems Compatibility Guide, please contact the vendor of that hardware to find out the plans for supporting that hardware with VMware vSphere.
vSphere 4.0 requires 64bit hardware . For proper support of the 64bit Guest Operating Systems, necessary virtualization BIOS settings need to be enabled. Please see KB article 1003944 (http://kb.vmware.com/kb/1003944)for more information.
In addition, many server vendors started implementing some or all VMware specified CIM providers for server manageability. Therefore, health and monitoring information may be incomplete or inaccurate. Please read KB article 1010716 (http://kb.vmware.com/kb/1010716) for more information.
If you are having a technical issue with 3rd party HW/SW and it is not found on this list, please refer to our 3rd Party HW/SW support policy at http://www.vmware.com/support/policies/ThirdParty.html.
Depopulated Sockets - VMware supports all configurations from 1 socket to N sockets being populated on an N-socket server that is in this Systems Compatibility Guide. The depopulated Server Configuration must have at least 2 physical cores. In addition, the OEM must support the depopulated Server Configuration. All servers are supported in depopulated configuration mode unless noted otherwise via a footnote.
Note to VMware System Builder Partners: VMware supports servers listed as available in 'Mother Board' form factor produced by a limited set of VMware Original Design Manufacturer (ODM) server hardware partners that have been certified by the ODM partner for a given ESX release with a fixed set of network and storage I/O devices populated in a reference server system. As such, these server motherboards are listed in this Systems Compatibility guide for informational purposes only to provide a means for OEM partners of this limited set of VMware ODM partners to verify that the complete server systems they build with these server motherboards, and the exact same set of network and storage I/O devices can also be submitted for support by VMware through VMware's Server Certification Equivalency Tool (SCET).
VMware works closely with each of its OEMs to drive towards mutual support of ESX at the time of announcement. Due to different product release cycles, levels of testing, and OEM agreements, not all OEM devices will be supported at the general availability date of a new version of ESX.
For Intel and AMD processors, VMware supports the processor series and the processor model that are listed with each server. Please check with the server vendor for specific CPU support.
RECOMMENDED CPU CLOCK SPEED
ESX 3.0:
* Minimum CPU clock speed - 1500 MHz
* Minimum CPU clock speed, Virtual SMP - 1500 MHz
ESX 3.0.1:
* Minimum CPU clock speed - 1500 MHz
* Minimum CPU clock speed, Virtual SMP - 1500 MHz
ESX 3.0.2:
* Minimum CPU clock speed - 1500 MHz
* Minimum CPU clock speed, Virtual SMP - 1500 MHz
ESX 3.0.3:
* Minimum CPU clock speed - 1500 MHz
* Minimum CPU clock speed, Virtual SMP - 1500 MHz
ESX 3.5:
* Minimum CPU clock speed - 1500 MHz
* Minimum CPU clock speed, Virtual SMP - 1500 MHz
ESX 3i Embedded:
* Minimum CPU clock speed - 1500 MHz
* Minimum CPU clock speed, Virtual SMP - 1500 MHz
ESX 3i Installable:
* Minimum CPU clock speed - 1500 MHz
* Minimum CPU clock speed, Virtual SMP - 1500 MHz
VMware Fault Tolerance (FT) is a component of VMware vSphereT that ensures continuous availability for virtual machines against hardware failures. VMware FT creates virtual machine "pairs" that run in lock step - mirroring the execution state of a VM. Support of VMware FT varies by system. Please review the system details to determine its specific support for VMware FT.
Server Device and Model Information
The detailed lists show actual vendor devices that are either physically tested or are similar to the devices tested by VMware or VMware partners. VMware provides support only for the devices that are listed in this document
Click on the 'Model' for details.
Click on the 'CPU Series' for details including EVC and Fault Tolerant modes.
Notes:
VMware Knowledge Base Documents:
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THE VMWARE COMPATIBILITY GUIDE IS UPDATED FROM TIME TO TIME WITHOUT NOTICE. FOR THE LATEST VMWARE COMPATIBILITY GUIDE, PLEASE GO TO THE FOLLOWING LINK: http://www.vmware.com/resources/compatibility