Is it possible to install Mac OSX in VMWare vSphere 5?

A couple of days ago, the PepperCrew had his monthly meeting. There was a little discussion about the new vSphere 5 release from VMWare. In the release notes there is mentioned that it will support OSX installations. I’m not convinced that that would work. There is a big community in the world who wants to install OSX in a sandboxed environment or even native on not Apple hardware. (Hackintosh or OSx86 etc etc). So, lets try some different scenario’s.

Apple supports only virtualized OSX Server installations on Apple hardware. Normal OSX installations aren’t supported or possible.

First Test: Install OSX Snow Leopard (10.6) in VMWare Fusion (On an iMac)

This is not allowed. The installer stops with the following error:


Second Test: Install OSX Snow Leopard Server (10.6) in VMWare Fusion (On an iMac)

Works like a charm. No problems at all.

Third Test: Install OSX Snow Leopard (10.6) in VMWare Workstation (In Windows 7)

This is a little tricky. Default there is no OSX operating system available in VMWare Workstation, and therefore it isn’t possible to read the OSX installation source. The trick is to create an OSX virtual machine in VMWare Fusion (without installing OSX, so the HDD will be empty) and copy that to your VMWare Workstation in Windows. Now you have the EFI bios etc. When booting OSX Snow Leopard 10.6 installer the virtual machine will shutdown automatically.

This is not allowed. The installer stops with the following error:

Forth Test: Install OSX Snow Leopard Server (10.6) in VMWare Workstation (In Win 7)

The same trick, which is used in the third step, is needed for booting the installer. But then the installation freezes.

This is not allowed (OSX Server can only virtualized on Apple hardware). The installer crashes with the following error:

Fifth Test: Install OSX Snow Leopard (10.6) in vSphere 5 (Non Apple Hardware)

This is not allowed the virtual machine will shutdown automatically.

Sixth Test: Install OSX Snow Leopard Server (10.6) in vSphere 5 (Non Apple Hardware)

 It isn’t working. After a couple off hours (12) the installer is still showing the beachball.

To make this long story short. No you can’t install OSX Server on non Apple hardware. Next step is to wait until someone has an old Apple xServe (intel) for me so I can continue the test.

If you read the following links. VMWare is saying that it will only support OSX Server 10.6 on Apple branded hardware. And full hardware support for the Apple xServe. To bad that the xServe is end off life.

http://blogs.vmware.com/guestosguide/2011/08/apple-mac-os-x-server.html

http://partnerweb.vmware.com/GOSIG/MacOSX_10_6.html

Update:

The seventh test will be: Install OSX Snow Leopard Server (10.6) on vSphere 5 running on an iMac of Macbook Pro (Don’t have an xServe or MacPro )

Keep refreshing this post It will be updated SOON.

Former PepperCrew

Was once an enthusiastic PepperByte employee but is now working elsewhere. His blogs are still valuable to us and we hope to you too.