Windows Server 2025 Guest OS option is not available during VMware vSphere ESXi Virtual Machine creation or Windows Server 2025 missing from Guest OS option list

Products

• VMware vSphere ESXi 7.0
• VMware vSphere ESXi 8.0
• VMware Cloud Director

Issue/Introduction

• When you are creating or editing a VMware vSphere virtual machine, there is no option to select Microsoft Windows Server 2025 guest operating system.
  • This issue is observed on virtual machines with virtual hardware versions 19 or ealier.
• The issue is also observed in VMware Cloud Director when creating a new VM and Windows Server 2025 does not list in the Guest OS list.

Environment

VMware Cloud Director 10.5
VMware vSphere ESXi 7.0
VMware vSphere ESXi 8.0

Cause

VMware vSphere ESXi virtual hardware version 20 on vSphere ESXi 8.0.3 introduces a new selection for Microsoft Windows Server 2025 (64-bit). This option is not present in VM hardware versions before 20.

Resolution

• For VMware Cloud Director, this issue is resolved in version 10.6.1 available at Broadcom Downloads.
• For ESXi 8.0 U3, update the VM's hardware version as described in Virtual machine hardware versions to 20 or higher. 
  • Once the virtual hardware versions is 20 or higher, select Microsoft Windows Server 2025 (64-bit) as the guest operating system. 

Workaround

• In the other VMware vSphere ESXi virtual machine hardware versions where Microsoft Windows Server 2025 (64-bit) is unavailable, select Microsoft Windows Server 2022 (64-bit) as the guest operating system for the virtual machine.

Additional Information

See virtual machine hardware versions at Virtual machine hardware versions to determine the VMware product releases and supported virtual hardware versions.

VMware vSphere ESXi 仮想マシンの作成時に Windows Server 2025 ゲスト OS オプションが利用できない