Windows Server 2022 guest operating system option is not available during virtual machine creation

Products

• VMware vSphere ESXi

Issue/Introduction

Symptoms:

• Windows Server 2022 guest operating system option is unavailable on vSphere during the process of creating or editing a virtual machine.
• You see this issue in virtual machines with virtual hardware version below 18.

Environment

VMware vSphere ESXi 7.0.3
VMware vSphere ESXi 7.0.2
VMware vSphere ESXi 7.0.1

Resolution

Virtual hardware version 18 introduced a new selection for Microsoft Windows Server 2022. See Virtual machine hardware versions to determine which VMware product releases support virtual hardware version 18.

On products that support virtual hardware version 18, select Microsoft Windows Server 2022 (64bit) as the guest operating system. In all other cases where Microsoft Windows Server 2022 (64bit) is unavailable, select Microsoft Windows Server 2019 (64bit) or Microsoft Windows Server 2016 or later (64bit) as the guest operating system for the virtual machine.

Refer to the Broadcom Compatibility Guide for information on supported guest operating systems for different ESXi versions.