How to Install and Run macOS on VMware ESXi

Running Windows OS or Linux on a virtual machine is never a big deal, but sometimes, trying to run macOS on a VM can be challenging because, by default, macOS is not supported on virtual machines. But then, VMware virtualization platforms support macOS, which makes it much more seamless for such deployments. This article explains how you can run Apple’s macOS platform on a VM hosted on VMware ESXi or VMware Workstation.

Why Run macOS on VMware ESXi and WMware Workstation?

It’s common to run Windows OS or Linux OS on virtual machines, but someone may want to try out macOS. However, macOS is not supported by default on VMs, which is where VMware ESXi and VMware Workstation come in handy. These hypervisors are much more flexible and intuitive; setting up macOS on any of these is achievable and the process is explained below.

How To Run macOS on VMware ESXi

First things first, you have to set the ground for your new VM to run macOS. To achieve this, you must install a macOS image on the new VM.

Converting Your macOS ISO Image to a VM Bootable File

Launch Apple’s command-line utility, called Terminal, and run the hdiutil command. The hdiutil command is used to alter macOS disk images. On the Terminal interface, run the following commands:

• To get root privileges: sudo –i
• Now, create a blank Ventura ISO image of 16384 MB with a single partition in /tmp/ directory: hdiutil create -o /tmp/Ventura -size 16384m -volname Ventura -layout SPUD -fs HFS+J
• Where the Apple partition layout is SPUD and the “journaled” macOS file system is HFS+J.
• Note: You can create a larger image than the size of all the files in an installer image, but you can’t create a smaller image.
• The created Ventura.dmg file will be saved in the /tmp/ directory.
• Mount the Ventura installer image to /Volumes/Ventura: hdiutil attach /tmp/Ventura.dmg -noverify -mountpoint /Volumes/Ventura
• You should get an output result like this:
• /dev/disk3         Apple_partition_scheme
• /dev/disk3s1     Apple_partition_map
• /dev/disk3s2     Apple_HFS    Volumes/Ventura
• At this point, the mounted disk should appear in the Disk Utility menu, and then it’s time to create the bootable installation media.
• Create bootable media from the new mount point: /Applications/Install\ macOS\ Ventura.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia --volume /Volumes/Ventura –nointeraction
• Note: ensure you entered the paths correctly.
• Remove the attached installation disk image: hdiutil eject -force /Volumes/Install\ macOS\ Ventura
• Now, convert the bootable .dmg image to .cdr and save to your desktop or any directory you prefer: hdiutil convert /tmp/Ventura.dmg -format UDTO -o /Users/testuser/Desktop/Ventura.cdr
• Rename the file to Ventura.iso: mv -v /Users/testuser/Desktop/Ventura.cdr /Users/testuser/Desktop/Ventura.iso

Now, the macOS Ventura installation ISO image is ready for you to run on your VMware ESXi or Workstation VM. If you wish, you can delete the dmg file to free up some space on your storage and exit the console/terminal afterward: rm -fv /tmp/Ventura.dmg

Transfer The Files To Datastore

With the patch file downloaded, copy it along with the macOS ISO image file to your ESXi datastore at once. You can do this by uploading both files to your ESXi datastore using the “Upload” feature in the “Datastore Browser” page of the ESXi datastore where you want the new VM’s data to be saved.

Creating a New macOS VM on an ESXi Host

Now that you have copied the ISO file and patch file to the datastore, it’s time to launch your new macOS VM. The procedure is similar to how you have been creating your other virtual machines.

• Step One: Right-click on Virtual Machines (on your VMware ESXi host client) and select Create/Register VM.
• Step Two: In the New Virtual Machine Wizard interface, set your configurations: firstly, choose “Create a Virtual Machine.” In the next step, you will have to set a name for the Guest OS (you can use macOS VM), then proceed to select the Guest OS family (Mac OS), and Guest OS version (Apple macOS 13.2 (64-bit)).
• Step Three: Select the datastore to bind with the new VM, you can use a different datastore, other than the one you copied the Unlocker patch and ISO image file.
• Step Four: Set your VM configurations, such as the CPU cores, RAM, storage allocation, and other settings you may want to adjust. But very importantly, on the CD/DVD Drive tab, make sure you click on Datastore ISO File and import the Ventura.iso file you converted from the onset, then check the “Connect at power on” box.

Step Five: With all the settings and configurations done, you just have to review the parameters you chose, and then click “Finish” to save the VM.

Installing macOS as Guest OS on a VMware VM

Boot the new VM and install the macOS version that is running on the ESXi host. Once you load the macOS installer file, the installation wizard will launch and you can install macOS according to your preferences. However, you must set out a partition on your virtual hard disk for this VM, here’s how”

• As the macOS Recovery Menu launches, click Utilities 🡺 Disk Utility
• In the Disk Utility page, select your VMware virtual disk in the left pane, set a name for the drive, for example, vmdskA, pick a macOS file system (eg: APFS), set the partition scheme (GUID Partition Map), and then click Erase on the top menu; this is to erase the media on the partition (not the partition itself)
• Once the media is erased, close Disk Utility and go back to the Recovery Menu.
• Back on the Recovery Menu, select Install macOS Ventura.
• Consent to the user license agreement and select the virtual disk you prepped for this installation: vmdskA.
• Wait for the OS to install completely; the VM should reboot automatically after the installation.
• Once the VM boots up from the virtual hard drive you selected earlier, you can then proceed to complete the installation configurations and sign in with your Apple ID.

How To Fix MacOS Screen Resolution on VMware VMs

You need VMware Tools installed on the macOS VM to be able to fix screen resolution problems. improves performance and graphics. By default, your macOS VM will run with 1024×768 resolution, to change this, you can use VMware Remote Console.

Click the Full-Screen button on the interface of VMware Workstation or Fusion, it will change the resolution of your macOS VM to the full resolution supported by your monitor, which could be 1920×1080.

How to install macOS on Windows in VMware Workstation

The procedure is quite similar to installing macOS on ESXi, here, you need Unlocker v3.0 for VMware Workstation.

• Step One: Get the macOS Unlocker V3.0. Extract the content and run the win-install.cmd file as an Administrator.
• Step Two: Download the macOS VMware VMDK disk image file from Google Drive by becoming a TechLabs member.
• Step Three: Launch VMware Workstation and create a New Virtual Machine. Follow the installation wizard prompts, when it gets to guest OS installation, select “I will install the OS later.”  However, indicate Apple Mac OS X as the Guest OS and choose a version, for example, High Sierra macOS 10.13.
• Step Four: Set a name for your VM and set its storage drive. Complete the storage setup configurations, review your settings, and click Finish.
• Step Five: On the VMware Workstation home screen, select the VM you just created and click on Edit Virtual Machine Settings. Now, set the RAM and processor settings; on the CD/DVD tab, uncheck the “Connect at power on” box.
• Step Six: You will now have to upload the downloaded macOS recovery disk image to boot the VM from it and run the macOS installer. The VM will then have two virtual hard drives: the recovery disk macOS-recovery.vmdk and the one you selected for the OS installation.
  So, on the hardware tab, click on “Add” 🡺 Hard Disk 🡺 SATA 🡺 Existing Virtual Disk 🡺 import the VMDK file here and click Finish. When the confirmation dialogue box pops up, click “Keep Existing Format.”
• Step Seven: You will now boot the VM from the recovery disk. The macOS installer will launch at this time, choose your installation preferences.
• Step Eight: On the macOS Utilities menu, run the Disk Utility tool to erase the OS disk: Set the name to macOS VM or any name of your choice, the “Format” should be set to Mac OS Extended (Journaled), and the Scheme set to GUID Partition Map. Exit the Disk Utility menu – go back to the macOS Utilities menu and select Reinstall macOS – consent to the license agreement, select the disk you just formatted as the storage drive to install your macOS, and then complete the setup. Shut down the VM afterward.
• Step Nine: Go back to Workstation home screen and select the Edit VM link again. This time, go to the hardware settings and remove the VMDK file you used to boot the VM previously.
• Step Ten: Power the VM again to install VMware Tools from the VMware Workstation main menu – go to VM 🡺 Install VMware Tools, that’s all.

Note: If VMware Tools won’t install directly on Workstation, you can download the Darwin.iso file from a trusted third-party website. VMware Tools for macOS are referred to as Darwin because “Darwin” is the open-source core operating system of macOS.

How to Install VMware Tools ISO Image (Darwin ISO Image)

Download the archive file from a trusted source and launch it; follow the on-screen instructions and “continue installation.” You will be prompted to “Allow” or “Deny” VMware app installation, select “Allow,” and Finish the installation.

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