This table lists VMware products and their virtual hardware version:
| Virtual Hardware Version | Products |
| 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 | ACE 2.x ESX 3.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:
- A VMware product cannot power on a virtual machine with a virtual hardware version that is higher than what it supports.Note: If a virtual machine is created on a VMware product that supports a given virtual hardware version and is then migrated to a VMware product that does not support this level of virtual hardware, it does not power on. Consult the chart above. Virtual machines created by VMware products and versions located higher up in the chart cannot be powered on by products lower on the chart.
- A VMware product can power on a virtual machine with a virtual hardware version that is lower than what it supports, but functionality may be lost. Lost functionality results in menu items related to virtual machine operations being grayed out and unavailable.
- A virtual machine’s hardware version can be downgraded only by Workstation 6.x or later, Converter 3.x or later, and Fusion 2.x or later.
- Any VMware product in the chart above, with the exception of VMware Player, is able to upgrade the version of a virtual machine’s hardware to the highest version that it supports.
Upgrading the virtual hardware
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.
- Power on the virtual machine.
- Install VMware Tools.
- Power off the virtual machine.
- Change the hardware setting:In Workstation 8, go to VM > Manage > Change Hardware Compatibility.In ESXi/ESX, Server, Lab Manager, or GSX, depending on the version in use, right-click the entry for the virtual machine, then select:
- Upgrade or Change Version
- Upgrade Virtual Machine
- Upgrade Virtual Hardware