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How to retrieve the default VM hardware configuration for a specific Guest OS in vSphere?

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Have you ever wondered how or where the vSphere UI generates the default Virtual Machine hardware configuration after selecting a specific Guest OS during the VM creation wizard?


The answer is simply by asking the vSphere platform 🙂 and of course this is provided as an API for any client to consume including our own vSphere UI.

This is a topic I had written about back in 2013 here and here, which demonstrates how to use the EnvironmentBrowser API to query for the list of supported Guest OS and Virtual Hardware Compatibility. In addition to this information, we can also ask the vSphere platform on what are the default hardware configuration for all supported Guest OS using the QueryConfigOption API.

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New VMware Community HCL

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If you are not using or can not use the official VMware Hardware Compatibility List (HCL) to identify hardware systems and components that are officially supported with a given version of vSphere ESXi, then the experience in finding hardware can be quite daunting for both new and even existing users. Typically, users might start off by searching online or posting in the VMTN Community Forums and although I have attempted to help in this space with my VMware Community Homelab project, which attempts to crowd source working configuration and build-of-materials (BOM) that can assist, it certainly is a big challenge.

Even if you are successful in the initial assessment, there are no guarantees that your hardware configuration will be compatible with future vSphere ESXi releases and the investigative process will likely have to start all over again or simply with trial and error, which can also be frustrating for new users. I have always wanted and I know many of you in the community have also expressed similiar options in having a VMware Community HCL that can be used and maintain by the community.

Today, I am excited to share that we now have a platform that can enable an "unofficial" VMware Community HCL!

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ESXi on Intel NUC 12 Extreme (Dragon Canyon)

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As teased back in January, Intel has been working on a new Intel NUC ...

Today, Intel has officially launched one of their new 12th generation Intel NUCs called the Intel NUC 12 Extreme formally code named Dragon Canyon. Some may also notice that the Intel NUC 12 Extreme looks very similiar to last years Intel NUC 11 Extreme (Beast Canyon), but there are definitely a number of differences both internally and externally.

Here is your first look at the new Intel NUC 12 Extreme and what it means for those interested in using it for a VMware Homelab.

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