How to Enable Nested Virtualization in VMware ESXi 8
If you’re a virtualization enthusiast or running a lab environment, you may want to enable nested virtualization in VMware ESXi 8. Nested virtualization allows you to run virtual machines within virtual machines, opening up a whole new world of possibilities for testing, development, and learning.
Although VMware ESXi doesn’t support nested virtualization out of the box, you can enable it with a few simple steps. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the process of setting up nested virtualization in VMware ESXi 8.
Step 1: Enable Virtualization Extensions
The first step in enabling nested virtualization in VMware ESXi 8 is to ensure that your CPU supports virtualization extensions, such as Intel VT-x or AMD-V. Most modern CPUs have these extensions enabled by default, but you may need to enable them in your BIOS settings.
To check if virtualization extensions are enabled on your CPU, you can run the following command in the ESXi shell:
esxcli hardware cpu list | grep -E "VMX|SVM"
If the command returns a result, it means your CPU supports virtualization extensions and they are enabled. If not, you’ll need to consult your motherboard’s manual to enable them in the BIOS settings.
Step 2: Enable Nested Virtualization in ESXi
Once you’ve confirmed that your CPU supports virtualization extensions, you can enable nested virtualization in VMware ESXi 8 by running the following command in the ESXi shell:
esxcli system settings advanced set -o /NestedHV/Enabled -i 1
This command enables nested virtualization in ESXi, allowing you to run virtual machines within virtual machines. You may need to reboot your ESXi host for the changes to take effect.
Step 3: Verify Nested Virtualization
Once you’ve enabled nested virtualization in VMware ESXi 8, you can verify that it’s working correctly by creating a virtual machine with virtualization extensions enabled. Install a hypervisor, such as VMware Workstation or VirtualBox, within this virtual machine and create another virtual machine inside it.
If you’re able to run virtual machines within virtual machines without any issues, nested virtualization has been successfully enabled in VMware ESXi 8.
Conclusion
Enabling nested virtualization in VMware ESXi 8 opens up a world of possibilities for testing, development, and learning. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can easily enable nested virtualization and start exploring the capabilities of running virtual machines within virtual machines.
Take your virtualization environment to the next level with nested virtualization in VMware ESXi 8!