ESXi 5.1 – Nesting Microsoft Hyper-V 2012 On ESXi Free

ESXi 5.1 – Nesting Microsoft Hyper-V 2012 On ESXi Free

Introduction

This article provides the steps required to create a Microsoft Hyper-V Server 2012 server as a nested Hypervisor on ESXi 5.1 with Update 1 installed and without vCenter.

The procedure to create a nested Hyper-V 2012 server on ESXi 5.1 consists of the following steps :-

  • Creating The Virtual Machine
  • Upgrading The Virtual Machine Hardware To Version 9
  • Modifying The VMX Configuration File

Creating The Virtual Machine

The first step to create in nesting Microsoft Hyper-V Server 2012 on ESXi 5.1 Update 1 is to create the Virtual Machine by performing the following steps :-

  • Connect to the ESXi host using the vSphere Client
  • Righ Click on the server name and select New Virtual Machine
  • Select Custom for the Configuration type and then click on Next
  • When prompted enter the Name you wish for the new Virtual Machine and then click on Next
  • When prompted select the Datastore you wish the Virtual Machine to reside on and then click on Next
  • Leave the Virtual Machine Version as 8 and then click on Next 
  • When prompted for the Guest Operating System click on Next as we will change it in the VMX Configuration File later
  • When prompted select the amount of Virtual Sockets and Cores Per Socket you require and then click on Next
  • When prompted select the amount of Memory you require and then click on Next
  • When prompted configure the Network Cards you require and then click on Next
  • When prompted configure the SCSI Controller as LSI Logic SAS and then click on Next
  • When promtped configure the Disks you require and then click on Next
  • When prompted change to change the  Virtual Disk Node click on Next
  • At the Ready To Complete screen click on Finish to create the new Virtual Machine

Upgrading the Virtual Machine Hardware To Version 9

Once the Virtual Machine has been created the next step is to upgrade the Virtual Machine Hardware to Version 9 by performing the following steps :-

  • In the vSpere Client Right Click on the newly created Virtual Machine and select Upgrade Virtual_Hardware

Modifying The VMX Configuration File

Once the Virtual Machine Hardware has been upgraded to Version 9 the next step is to edit the VMX Configuration File  by performing the following steps :-

  • Connect to the ESXi Server through SSH and logon as the root user
  • Navigate to the Virtual Machine folder on the ESXi Server :-

cd /vmfs/volumes/{Datastore Name}/{Virtual Machine Name}

E.G. cd /vmfs/volumes/DataStore1/Hyper-V-VM

  • Edit the vmx file for the Virtual Machine using vi :-

vi {Virtual Machine Name}

E.G. vi Hyper-V-VM.vmx

  • Search and locate the string guestOS
  • Change the contents of the setting to winhyperv :-

guestOS = “winhyperv”

  • Save and exit the file

Once the three steps above have been performed you should then be able to power on the VM and install Microsoft Hyper-V 2008 R2 or 2012 Server.