Can I use Windows browser testing VMs in ESXi

Solution 1:

SOLVED - The answer was actually blindingly simple, and merely something I missed while deploying the OVF template. When choosing the disk provisioning strategy, you must select "thin provisioning" and then the .vmdk file supplied by Microsoft will be uploaded from the desktop (and presumably converted on-the-fly).

I missed this, as I chose the default option - thick provisioning, which resulted in an incompatible disk file.

Solution 2:

If that .vmdk file you downloaded contains the bootable OS for the XP machine, then you should be able to do the following:

1. Create a new VM in ESXi, but skip creating a hard disk.
2. Once the VM is created browse the database and copy the .vmdk file into the folder for the new VM
3. Edit the VM's settings and add that .vmdk file to the VM.
4. Try to boot the VM.