Install nested ESXi on top of KVM in a VM

Home > VMWare platform > VMWare vSphere or ESXi > Install nested ESXi on top of KVM in a VM

It is possible to Install nested ESXi on top of KVM in a VM. To do that use following steps

1. Create a VM as usually done for any other OS (Linux / Windows).
2. Select "Customize configuration before install" option and make following critical changes
3. Configure CPU for host-passthrough
   1. Go to CPUs
   2. Unselect "Copy host configuration"
   3. In model paste 'host-passthrough' and click apply.
4. From ESXi 7.0 onwards support for e1000 has been removed. Hence, if you are installing ESXi 7.0 or higher need to change NIC model as follows:
   1. Go to each NIC card
   2. In device model past 'e1000e' and click apply. Note there is additional e at end in e1000e compared to default e1000 card
5. After this go through installation of ESXi which should work properly.

Refer:

• https://itsjustbytes.com/2020/12/14/kvm-esxi-7-as-a-nested-cluster/
• https://vinfrastructure.it/2020/04/installing-esxi-7-0-on-vmware-workstation/

If there is any plan to create template and clone it to create multiple ESXi hosts then refer Create template of nested ESXi for cloning and repeat use

Home > VMWare platform > VMWare vSphere or ESXi > Install nested ESXi on top of KVM in a VM