System requirements to install a 64-bit guest operating system on a 32-bit host
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System requirements to install a 64-bit guest operating system on a 32-bit host

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Article ID: 324958

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Updated On:

Products

VMware vCenter Server VMware vSphere ESXi

Issue/Introduction

This article provides information about system requirements to install a 64-bit guest operating system on a 32-bit host, when the VMware desktop virtualization product is installed on 32-bit Host Operating System.

Resolution

To install a 64-bit guest operating system on any VMware desktop virtualization product, while running a 32-bit host operating system, your CPU must support hardware-assisted virtualization.

If the system requirements are not met, you may see one of these errors:
  • The virtual machine is configured for the 64-bit guest operating system. However, 64-bit operation is not possible.
  • Binary Translation is incompatible with long mode on this platform. Disabling long mode. Without long mode support, the virtual machine will not be able to run 64-bit code.

Intel

If you are running an Intel processor-based host, to confirm the Intel Virtualization Technology support, download and run the Intel Processor Identification Utility.
 
Disclaimer: VMware tries to ensure that all external links provided are correct at the time of inclusion on the website but does not guarantee the accuracy of such information. VMware provides these links merely as a convenience. Inclusion of such links does not imply that VMware endorses, recommends, or accepts any responsibility for the content of such sites.
 
Note: This utility is provided without support from VMware and does not require ESX/ESXi or VMware Workstation to perform the check.
 
 
If Intel (R) Virtualization Technology is enabled, you can install a 64-bit guest operating on a 32-bit host operating system.
 
Note: VMware's virtual machine monitor has traditionally used segmentation to provide isolation between the guest operating system and the virtual machine monitor. This is necessary because the guest operating system and the virtual machine monitor share the linear address space.
 
AMD
 
VMware products with 64-bit guest operating systems are supported only on host machines with one of these 64-bit processors:
  • AMD Athlon 64, revision D or later
  • AMD Opteron, revision E or later
  • AMD Turion 64, revision E or later
  • AMD Sempron, 64-bit-capable, revision D or later (experimental support)
  • AMD FX
  • AMD Phenom II

Note: Initial AMD64 processors (revision C and earlier) do not support segmentation while running in long mode. Therefore, AMD64 processors prior to revision D, do not have an efficient mechanism for isolating the virtual machine monitor from 64-bit guest operating systems.

Troubleshooting issues when creating a virtual machine with 64-bit guest operating system

If you see an error while creating a virtual machine with 64-bit guest operating system, it may be due to one of these reasons:
  • Hardware Virtualization Technology (Intel VT-x or AMD-V) is not enabled in BIOS. BIOS settings that must be enabled for VT-x support vary depending on the system vendor.
  • CPU is not capable of VT-x or AMD-V.
  • Some Enterprise-class antivirus software create a small hypervisor between the hardware and your host operating system. As a result, the host operating system runs in a virtual machine. Without hardware-assisted virtualization, you cannot run a 64-bit guest operating system on the Intel hardware with a VMware product.

Additional Information

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