Skip to content

Before You Begin

Review the requirements and prerequisites below to prepare to configure your VMware ESXi virtual machine (VM).

VSI OpenVMS Version Requirements

VSI OpenVMS Version 9.2-2 + Update 2 or higher

VMware ESXi Version Requirements

VMware ESXi Version 8.0.x

Hardware Requirements

See the Supported Platforms page for the currently supported hardware.

VSI recommends that your OpenVMS x86-64 virtual machine be configured with the following settings depending on your version of VSI OpenVMS:

Component Requirements
Minimum number of CPUs 2
Memory 8 GB. If the installation fails due to lack of memory, you can temporarily increase it for the installation and reduce it afterwards if your host system has enough RAM to allocate.
Operating system Other 64-bit
Virtual disk size At least 15 GB for the system files. Optionally, if disk space is limited, use a dump off system disk (DOSD); the recommended minimum DOSD size is 8 GB.
Boot option
  • Disable Secure Boot (if present)
  • Enable UEFI or EFI (BIOS is not supported)
Console communication Serial port using a raw TCP connection. Note that only COM1 serial port is supported.
Serial line An additional serial line for non-console login.
Network Up to 10 E1000 adapters.
CD/DVD device Physical or virtual, with the OpenVMS installation kit (.ISO file).

Component Requirements
CPU cores A minimum of 2 and a maximum of 32.
Memory 6 GB. If the installation fails due to lack of memory, you can temporarily increase it for the installation and reduce it afterwards if your host system has enough RAM to allocate.
Operating system Other 64-bit
Virtual disk size A minimum of 30 GB and a maximum of 1.98 TB. Optionally, if disk space is limited, use a dump off system disk (DOSD); the recommended minimum DOSD size is 8 GB.
Boot option
  • Disable Secure Boot (if present)
  • Enable UEFI or EFI (BIOS is not supported)
Console communication Serial port using a raw TCP connection. Note that only COM1 serial port is currently supported.

Guest Console can be used as an alternative to serial ports.
Serial line Optionally, an additional serial line for non-console login.
Network
  • An E1000 or an E1000e adapter.
  • A para-virtualized Network Interface Card (NIC): VMXNET 3.

Up to 10 network adapters in total.
CD/DVD device Physical or virtual, with the OpenVMS installation kit (.ISO file).

Component Requirements
CPU cores A minimum of 2 and a maximum of 32.
Memory 6 GB. If the installation fails due to lack of memory, you can temporarily increase it for the installation and reduce it afterwards if your host system has enough RAM to allocate.
Operating system Other 64-bit
Virtual disk size A minimum of 30 GB and a maximum of 1.98 TB. Optionally, if disk space is limited, use a dump off system disk (DOSD); the recommended minimum DOSD size is 8 GB.
Boot option Enable UEFI or EFI (BIOS is not supported)
Console communication Serial port using a raw TCP connection. Note that only COM1 serial port is currently supported.

Guest Console can be used as an alternative to serial ports.
Serial line Optionally, an additional serial line for non-console login.
Network
  • An E1000 or an E1000e adapter.
  • A para-virtualized Network Interface Card (NIC): VMXNET 3.

Up to 10 network adapters in total.
CD/DVD device Physical or virtual, with the OpenVMS installation kit (.ISO file).

Setting up the ESXi Environment

Before you can begin to configure your ESXi virtual machine, you need to set up your ESXi environment.

  1. Familiarize yourself with the requirements and supported platforms listed in the following resources:

    • Find the list of supported platforms in the Broadcom Hardware Compatibility Guide.

    • Learn about hardware requirements for the ESXi environment on the Broadcom website.

    • Use the information published on your hardware vendor's website to make sure your hardware is compatible with VMware ESXi.

  2. Download and install the ESXi operating system. For instructions on how to do so, refer to the Broadcom support portal.