You create a new virtual machine on the local host system by running the New Virtual Machine wizard.

You can also use the New Virtual Machine wizard to create shared virtual machines, which can be used by remote users, and remote virtual machines, which run on remote hosts. See Using Remote Connections and Sharing Virtual Machines.

Prerequisites

  • 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.

  • Verify that the guest operating system you plan to install is supported. See the online VMware Compatibility Guide on the VMware Web site.

  • See the VMware Guest Operating System Installation Guide for information about the guest operating system that you plan to install.

  • If you are installing the guest operating system from an installer disc, insert the installer disc in the CD-ROM drive in the host system.

  • If you are installing the guest operating system from an ISO image file, verify that the ISO image file is in a directory that is accessible to the host system.

  • If the virtual machine will use a physical disk or unused partition on the host system, perform the appropriate preparation tasks. See Prepare to Use a Physical Disk or Unused Partition.

Procedure

  1. Start the New Virtual Machine wizard.

    Option

    Description

    Windows host

    • If the host is not connected to a remote server, select File > New Virtual Machine.

    • If the host is connected to a remote server, select File > New Virtual Machine > On this Computer.

    Linux host

    Select File > New Virtual Machine.
  2. 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.

    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, SATA, or NVMe virtual disk, use a physical disk instead of a 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 you selected the Custom option, select a hardware compatibility setting.

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

  4. Select the source of the guest operating system.

    Option

    Description

    Use a physical disc

    Select the physical drive where you inserted the installation disc.

    Use an ISO image

    Type or browse to the location of the ISO image file for the guest operating system.

    Install the guest operating system later

    Create a virtual machine that has a blank disk. You must install the guest operating system manually after you create the virtual machine.
  5. Specify information about the guest operating system.

    Option

    Description

    You are using Easy Install

    Type the Easy Install information for the guest operating system.

    You are not using Easy Install

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

    If you selected a typical configuration, the wizard prompts you to configure the virtual disk size and specify whether the disk should be split into multiple files. If you selected a custom configuration, the wizard prompts you to configure the firmware type, virtual machine processors, memory allocation, networking configuration, I/O controller types, virtual disk type and mode, and virtual disk.

    Note:

    For the firmware type, if you select UEFI and if the guest operating system supports UEFI Secure Boot, you can select the option to enable UEFI Secure Boot.

  8. (Optional) Click Customize Hardware to customize the hardware configuration.

    You can also modify virtual hardware settings after you create the virtual machine.

  9. (Optional) Select Power on this virtual machine after creation to power on the virtual machine after you create it.

    This option is not available if you are installing the guest operating system manually.

  10. Click Finish to create the virtual machine.

Results

If you are using Easy Install, guest operating system installation begins when the virtual machine powers on. The guest operating system installation is automated and typically runs without requiring any input from you. After the guest operating system is installed, Easy Install installs VMware Tools.

If you are not using Easy Install, the virtual machine appears in the library.

What to do next

If you used Easy Install and the virtual machine did not power on when you finished the New Virtual Machine wizard, power on the virtual machine to start the guest operating system installation. See Use Easy Install to Install a Guest Operating System.

If you did not use Easy Install, install the guest operating system manually. See Install a Guest Operating System Manually.