This article guides you through the process of determining if your virtual machine's hardware version is the most up to date for the VMware product that you are using. This resource also explains why a virtual machine created with one product may not power on from another product.
If you are experiencing a problem related to a virtual machine's hardware version, the information in this article may resolve the issue.
For information specific to:
Symptoms:
VMware Fusion 1.0 | VMware Fusion 13.0 / 13.5 | VMware vSphere ESXi 8.0 | VMware Workstation 12.0 |
VMware Fusion 2.0 | VMware vSphere ESXi 3.0 | VMware Workstation 1.0 | VMware Workstation 13.0 |
VMware Fusion 3.0 | VMware vSphere ESXi 3.5 | VMware Workstation 2.0 | VMware Workstation 14.0 |
VMware Fusion 4.0 | VMware vSphere ESXi 4.0 | VMware Workstation 3.0 | VMware Workstation 15.0 |
VMware Fusion 5.0 | VMware vSphere ESXi 4.1 | VMware Workstation 4.0 | VMware Workstation 16.0 |
VMware Fusion 6.0 | VMware vSphere ESXi 5.0 | VMware Workstation 5.0 | VMware Workstation 17.0 |
VMware Fusion 7.0 | VMware vSphere ESXi 5.1 | VMware Workstation 6.0 | VMware Workstation 17.5 |
VMware Fusion 8.0 | VMware vSphere ESXi 5.5 | VMware Workstation 7.0 | |
VMware Fusion 9.0 | VMware vSphere ESXi 6.0 | VMware Workstation 8.0 | |
VMware Fusion 10.0 | VMware vSphere ESXi 6.5 | VMware Workstation 9.0 | |
VMware Fusion 11.0 | VMware vSphere ESXi 6.7 | VMware Workstation 10.0 | |
VMware Fusion 12.0 | VMware vSphere ESXi 7.0 | VMware Workstation 11.0 |
This table lists VMware products and their virtual hardware version:
Virtual Hardware Version | Products |
21 | ESXi 8.0 U2 (8.0.2) Fusion 13.6 Workstation Pro 17.6 Workstation Player 17.6 |
20 | ESXi 8.0 Fusion 13.x Workstation Pro 17.x Workstation Player 17.x |
19 | ESXi 7.0 U2 (7.0.2) Fusion 12.2.x Workstation Pro 16.2.x Workstation Player 16.2.x |
18 | ESXi 7.0 U1 (7.0.1) Fusion 12.x Workstation Pro 16.x Workstation Player 16.x |
17 | ESXi 7.0 (7.0.0) |
16 | Fusion 11.x Workstation Pro 15.x Workstation Player 15.x |
15 | ESXi 6.7 U2 |
14 | ESXi 6.7 Fusion 10.x Workstation Pro 14.x Workstation Player 14.x |
13 | ESXi 6.5 |
12 | Fusion 8.x Workstation Pro 12.x Workstation Player 12.x |
11 | ESXi 6.0 Fusion 7.x Workstation 11.x Player 7.x |
10 | ESXi 5.5 Fusion 6.x Workstation 10.x Player 6.x |
9 | ESXi 5.1 Fusion 5.x Workstation 9.x Player 5.x |
8 | ESXi 5.0 Fusion 4.x Workstation 8.x Player 4.x |
7 | ESXi/ESX 4.x Fusion 3.x Fusion 2.x Workstation 7.x Workstation 6.5.x Player 3.x Server 2.x |
6 | Workstation 6.0.x |
4 | ESX 3.x ACE 2.x Fusion 1.x Player 2.x |
3 and 4 | ACE 1.x Lab Manager 2.x Player 1.x Server 1.x Workstation 5.x Workstation 4.x |
3 | ESX 2.x GSX Server 3.x |
Consider this information about virtual hardware versions when dealing with related problems:
To upgrade the virtual hardware:
Note: For Lab Manager virtual machines, they must be undeployed, have their virtual hardware version upgraded from their configuration, then redeployed.
Reactivation of a Windows guest operating system is not needed after upgrading the virtual hardware version. Update the VMware Tools version on the virtual machine for better performance, if prompted.
For information on virtual hardware versions and limitations, see Virtual machine memory limits and hardware versions (1014006).
Virtual machine hardware version compatibility for Fusion