Install a VMWare ESXi 6.0 Hypervisor in a Hyper-V VM

Commenting on my journey on:

Recently I’ve been playing around with the new Hyper-V Nested Virtualization feature within Windows 10 (build 10565 and greater) and Windows Server 2016. It is pretty cool to be able to creat…

Sources:

• Install a VMWare ESXi 6.0 Hypervisor in a Hyper-V VM
• Hyper-V Nested Virtualization

Part 1 - Prepare the ESXi ISO

1. Install VMWare PowerCLI: https://my.vmware.com/group/vmware/get-download?downloadGroup=PCLI630R1
2. Open PowerCLI
3. Download ESXi-Customizer PowerShell Skript: http://www.v-front.de/p/esxi-customizer-ps.html#download and place it in D:\ESXi-Hyper-V
4. Enter the following commands:

cd D:\ESXi-Hyper-V
.\ESXi-Customizer-PS-v2.5.ps1 -v60 -vft -load net-tulip

Part 2 - Create the Hyper-V VM

• Generation 1
• Startup Memory: ≥4096 MB
• Use Dynamic Memory for this Virtual Machine: $false
• Virtual Hard Disk: ≥10 GB
• Install an operating system from a bootable CD/DVD-ROM
• Image ile (.iso): Select the generated iso from part 1
• Now edit and save the settings of the ESXi VM:
  • Processor: 2
  • Remove the "Network Adapter"
  • Add a "Legagy Network Adapter"
  • Select a Virtual Switch

Part 3 - Enable Nested Virtualization

Execute within an elevated Powershell:

Import-Module Hyper-V;
[String]$VMName = Read-Host -Prompt "Enter VM Name: "
Set-VMProcessor -VMName $VMName -ExposeVirtualizationExtensions $true;
Get-VMNetworkAdapter -VMName $VMName | Set-VMNetworkAdapter -MacAddressSpoofing On;

Part 4 - Boot ESXi Virtual Machine

1. At the Bootscreen of the installation Media quickly press "Tab" and append "ignoreHeadless=TRUE" at the end of the Boot Options.
2. Complete the setup process.
3. Remove the installation disk and press "Enter" to reboot.

Part 5 - Configure the ESXi Boot Options:

1. At the boot menue quickly press SHIFT+O and add the "ignoreHeadless=TRUE" Boot Option.
2. After ESXi has started, press F2 and navigate to "Troubleshooting Options" => "Enable ESXi Shell"
3. Press ALT+F1 to switch to the ESXi Shell
4. Login to the shell
5. Execute esxcfg-advcfg --set-kernel "TRUE" ignoreHeadless
6. After that press STRG+D to logoff.
7. Now press ALT+F2 to switch back to the GUI.
8. Optionally turn off ESXi Shell.
9. Esc out off the Options menu.

Now you have a fully funktional ESXi Host within a Hyper-V Virtual Machine. It should be noted, that this setup is not supported neither by VMWare nor by Microsoft.