Running a MacOS 11 Big Sur on VMware ESXi

#ESXi #MacOS #BigSur #VM

Downloads and Configuring ESXi
   04. Extract the downloaded Unlocker for VMware ESXi
   05. Rename the extracted folder unlocker
   06. Log into the ESXi web UI
   07. Enable the SSH service by selecting Actions ≫ Services ≫ Enable Secure Shell (SSH)
   08. Extract WinSCP and run the executable
   09. Connect to the ESXi host IP address via WinSCP
   10. Copy the extracted Unlocker folder to the ESXi host /root directory
   11. Connect to the ESXi host via SSH
   12. Run the following commands to install ESXi Unlocker
         # change directory to unlocker
         cd /unlocker
         # make the install script executable
         # run the install script
         # reboot esxi host
         reboot
 
Creating the Big Sur VM
   01. Log into the ESXi web UI
   02. In the left navigation pane, right click on Virtual Machines ≫ Create/Register VM
   03. Select Create a new virtual machine ≫ Click Next
   04. Name the VM MacOS 11 ≫ Set the Guest OS family to Mac OS and Guest OS Version to Apple MacOS 10.14 (64-bit) ≫ Click Next
   05. Select the storage datastore to use ≫ Click Next
   06. Set the Memory to at least 4096
   07. Set Hard disk 1 to 50 GB or more ≫ Expand Hard disk 1 and make sure the
   08. Expand CD/DVD Drive 1 ≫ Make sure Datastore ISO file is selected ≫ Click Browse next to the CD/DVD Media field
   09. Click Upload ≫ Browse to and select the Mac OS installation ISO
   10. Once the upload completes, click the Mac OS ISO to highlight it ≫ Click Select
   11. Back on the Hardware customization screen click Next
   12. Review the summary provided and click Finish Click the new MacOS 11 VM Click Power on at the top of the page
 
Installing MacOS Big Sur
   01. After an initialization sequence the MAC OS Setup should start
   02. Select a Language ≫ Click the next arrow
   03. Select Disk Utility
   04. Select the VMware Virtual SATA Hard Drive Media ≫ Click Erase
   05. Name the drive OS11 ≫ Set the Format to APFS ≫ Click Erase
   06. Click Done ≫ Close Disk Utility
   07. Click Install macOS Big Sur
   08. Click Continue ≫ Click Agree ≫ Click Agree again
   09. Select the OS11 disk ≫ Click Install
   10. Wait while Mac OS installs files, the VM will reboot several times
   11. Select your Country ≫ Click Continue
   12. Confirm your languages and keyboard layout ≫ Click Continue
   13. Click Not Now on the Accessibility screen
   14. Click Continue on the Data & Privacy screen
   15. Select Not Now on the Migration Assistant screen
   16. Select Set Up Later and then Skip on the Apple ID screen
   17. Click Agree ≫ Agree again
   18. Enter a name, user name, password ≫ Click Continue
   19. Click Customize Settings
   20. Click Continue ≫ Select Use or Don't Use for Location Services
   21. Pick a timezone ≫ Click Continue
   22. Choose whether to share analytics with Apple ≫ Click Continue
   23. Click Set Up Later on the Screen Time screen
   24. Uncheck the Enable Ask Siri box ≫ Click Continue
   25. Pick a theme ≫ Click Continue
   26. Welcome to MacOS 11 Big sur
 
Install VMware Tools (optional, but recommended)
   02. Extract the downloaded .zip file
   03. Navigate into the extracted folder
   04. Hold SHIFT and right click in the white space ≫ Open PowerShell window here...
   05. Run the following command to download VMware Tools for MacOS
   06. Back in the ESXi web UI select Storage from the left navigation menu
   07. Click the Datastore browser icon at the top of the main content pane
   09. Once the upload completes click Close to close out of the Datastore browser
   10. Select the MacOS 11 VM ≫ Actions ≫ Edit settings
   12. Inside the VM, double click the mounted VMware tools and run the installer
 

### Connect with me and others ###

[antoniotrove]

You did a great work and a clear video with each step in detail!!

[alyagoot]

thanks, its work with my HPE Server DL20 G10

[didierdel]

Bonjour, j'ai l'impression que l'installation est plus compliquée avec ce logiciel.

[IkiKalpFilmAtolyesiSoma-rzux]

Hello, I have done all the applications completely, I even installed unlocker, but this does not work on my ryzen 9 3900x server. Vm starts but the loading bar does not come, it just waits, I have installed it on my intel machine before, can you give me an urgent idea what I need to do.

[okanerdem]

Please test, icloud, imessage etc. All is working?

[zippi]

All OK but is there a way for GPU ( compatible ) passthrough in ESXi?

[digosouza]

Hi @i12bretro, my ESXI is version 7.0 Update 2 and I saw that yours is 6.5.
Does it work on my version?