[Guide] Install Windows 8 on VMware vSphere 5 (ESXi 5)

  2:50 PM    Santosh


There is been lot of discussion on Windows 8 on VMware vSphere 5 (ESXi 5) and VMware ESXi 4. Currently we can use VMware Workstation 8, VirtualBox 4.1 & Parallels Desktop to install Windows 8. But what if you want to run it on Latest VMware vSphere 5. 
Still Windows 8 is not listed in supported version of Guest OS, we need to wait for vSphere 5.1 or Update 1 (anything like that) in future. Well there is workaround if you guys want to run Windows 8 on VMware vSphere 5 or 4. So lets get started,
1. Install VMware workstation on your desktop/laptop
2. Install Windows 8 in VMware workstation 8
3. Install VMware vCenter Converter 5 on your Dekstop/laptop
Now here comes the real steps,
Open VMware vCenter Converter 5 & Click on "Convert Machine"
 Select Source type as "VMware Workstation or other VMware virtual Machine" & Give path of your Windows 8 Virtual machine which you want to convert as shown below,
 Select Destination type as "VMware Infrastructure virtual machine" & Enter VMware Infrastructure Server details i.e. vSphere 5 & click next.
 Assign Name to your Windows 8 Virtual Machine & Click next.
 Select DataStore for your virtual machine, In my case I using default Storage 1
 Set the Parameter for conversation (such as memory, processor etc.) & Click.I am using defaults..
 Review the conversation parameter & Click on Finish to start VM conversation.
 Now Windows 8 VM conversation has been started. So relax for 60 minutes or more..