Discontinuation of support for Apple Mac platforms on vSphere ESXi

Products

VMware vSphere ESXi

Issue/Introduction

On June 22, 2020 Apple have announced that they will transition away from x86 to Apple silicon. For more information, see Apple Press Release .

VMware currently has no plans to support Apple Mac Silicon. Moving forward, vSphere ESXi 7.0.x will be the final release supporting Apple Mac Platforms on x86.

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Resolution

VMware will discontinue supporting and stop undertaking certification of future vSphere ESXi releases on Apple MacPro and Apple MacMini platforms. This includes MacPro 7,1 (2019) or any other current x86-based MacPro and MacMini versions.

Existing vSphere ESXi 7.0 Support for Apple hardware

VMware will continue to support the following Apple Mac Pro and Mac Mini systems on vSphere ESXi 7.0 until End Of Support (EOS). Pls refer to Reference Links section below for EOS.

Apple MacPro 6,1 (Intel Ivy-Bridge EP generation **)
Apple MacMini 6,2 (Intel Ivy-Bridge-DT generation **)
Apple MacMini 7,1 (Intel Haswell-DT generation **)
Apple MacMini 8,1 (Intel Coffeelake-S generation)

** Pls refer to Reference Links section below for CPU Deprecation KB, for latest updates.

Guest Operating System Support for macOS

The macOS guest operating system may only be operated in Virtual Machines on vSphere ESXi Hosts installed on Apple Mac hardware. As a result, guest operating system support for the x86 variant of macOS on vSphere ESXi will also be discontinued and is now in the Deprecated support level, for more information, see Understanding guest operating system support levels (2015161)

Through the End Of Support (EOS) phase of vSphere ESXi 7.0. Please refer to the VCG for details regarding certified versions of macOS. VMware will attempt to test and certify new macOS releases on vSphere ESXi 7.0 and add these to the VCG.

However, due to the risk of unknown incompatibilities introduced in new macOS operating system releases, VMware cannot commit to supporting any future macOS operating system releases. VMware will not make changes in the vSphere ESXi 7.0 product to enable support of new macOS operating system releases.

VMware Tools for macOS

VMware Tools for macOS will thus move into maintenance mode, meaning we will be only providing critical bug fixing and serious security issue fixes to VMware Tools for macOS moving forward

Future vSphere ESXi Support

Moving forward, VMware will cease support of vSphere ESXi on all Apple Mac platforms. As a result, VMware recommends that customers and partners plan accordingly.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):

- Will VMRC continue to support the macOS operating system?
Yes

- Will the Horizon client continue to support the macOS operating system?
Yes

- Will VMware Fusion continue to support Apple x86-based Mac platforms?
See VMware does not plan to support latest macOS versions as a GOS on Fusion going forward. (88697)

- Will VMware Fusion support the new Apple platforms with Apple Silicon processors?
See VMware does not plan to support latest macOS versions as a GOS on Fusion going forward. (88697)

Reference Links: