Create a Virtual Machine on a Remote Host

When you are connected to a remote server, you can create a remote virtual machine. Creating a remote virtual machine is similar to creating a virtual machine on the local host, but Easy install is not supported and you must install the guest operating system manually.

When you select a typical configuration, the New Virtual Machine wizard uses the default hardware version configured in the Workstation Pro preferences, unless the remote host does not support that version. If the remote host does not support the default hardware version, the wizard uses the latest hardware version that is supported on the remote host.

Prerequisites

• Connect to the remote server. See Connect to a Remote Server.

• Verify that you have permission to create a virtual machine on the remote host.

• Verify that you have the information the New Virtual Machine wizard requires to create a virtual machine. See Preparing to Create a New Virtual Machine.

Procedure

1. Start the New Virtual Machine wizard.

   Option	Description
   Windows host	Select File > New Virtual Machine and select the remote host from the menu, or click New Virtual Machine on the tab for the remote host.
   Linux host	Click Create a New Virtual Machine on the tab for the remote host.

2. On the Welcome screen, select the configuration type.

   Option	Description
   Typical	The wizard prompts you to specify or accept defaults for basic virtual machine settings. The typical configuration type is appropriate in most instances. After specifying an operating system version and virtual machine name and location, the wizard prompts you to configure only the virtual disk size and whether the disk should be split into multiple files. If you choose a custom setup, the wizard includes additional prompts for such things as processors, memory, and networking.
   Custom	You must select the custom configuration type to make a different virtual machine version than the default hardware compatibility setting, specify the I/O adapter type for SCSI adapters, specify whether to create an IDE, SCSI, or SATA virtual disk, use an existing virtual disk, or allocate all virtual disk space rather than let disk space gradually grow to the maximum disk size.

3. If the remote server running is ESX or ESXi and it has multiple datastores, select a datastore to store the virtual machine.
4. If the remote server is running vCenter Server, select an inventory location, a remote host, and a datastore to store the virtual machine.

   The inventory location can be a datacenter or a folder within a datacenter. You must select a datastore only if the remote host has multiple datastores.

5. If you selected a custom configuration, select the hardware compatibility setting for the virtual machine.

   The hardware compatibility setting determines the hardware features of the virtual machine.

6. Select the guest operating system type and version, or select Other if the guest operating system is not listed.
7. Type a name for the virtual machine.
8. Follow the prompts to select a guest operating system and name and configure the virtual machine.

   Use the following guidelines:

   • The Easy Install feature is not available for installing operating systems in shared or remote virtual machines.

   • If you choose to install the operating system later, the virtual machine is created with a blank disk.

9. Click Finish to create the virtual machine.

Results

The virtual machine appears in the library under the remote host.

What to do next

Install the guest operating system manually. See Install a Guest Operating System Manually.