6.5.1

Table Of Contents
In the vSphere Web Client, you assign each virtual machine to a compatible ESXi host version, cluster, or
datacenter by applying a compatibility setting. The compatibility setting determines which ESXi host
versions the virtual machine can run on and the hardware features available to the virtual machine.
The hardware devices listed in the Virtual Machine Properties editor complete the virtual machine. Not all
devices are configurable. Some hardware devices are part of the virtual motherboard and appear in the
expanded device list of the Virtual Machine Properties editor, but you cannot modify or remove them. For
a list of hardware devices and their functions, see Virtual Machine Hardware Available to vSphere Virtual
Machines.
Access to a virtual machine is controlled by the vSphere administrator.
Virtual Machine Hardware Available to vSphere Virtual
Machines
VMware provides devices, resources, profiles, and vServices that you can configure or add to your virtual
machine.
Virtual Machine Hardware
Not all hardware devices are available to every virtual machine. The host that the virtual machine runs on
and the guest operating system must support devices that you add or configurations that you make. To
verify support for a device in your environment, see the VMware Compatibility Guide at
http://www.vmware.com/resources/compatibility or the Guest Operating System Installation Guide at
http://partnerweb.vmware.com/GOSIG/home.html.
In some cases, the host might not have the required vSphere license for a resource or device. Licensing
in vSphere is applicable to ESXi hosts, vCenter Server, and solutions and can be based on different
criteria, depending on the specifics of each product. For information about vSphere licensing, see the
vCenter Server and Host Management documentation.
The PCI and SIO virtual hardware devices are part of the virtual motherboard, but cannot be configured
or removed.
Table 12. Virtual Machine Hardware and Descriptions
Hardware Device Description
CPU You can configure a virtual machine that runs on an ESXi host to have one or more
virtual processors. A virtual machine cannot have more virtual CPUs than the actual
number of logical CPUs on the host. You can change the number of CPUs allocated to
a virtual machine and configure advanced CPU features, such as the CPU
Identification Mask and hyperthreaded core sharing.
Chipset The motherboard uses VMware proprietary devices based on the following chips:
n
Intel 440BX AGPset 82443BX Host Bridge/Controller
n
Intel 82371AB (PIIX4) PCI ISA IDE Xcelerator
n
National Semiconductor PC87338 ACPI 1.0 and PC98/99 Compliant SuperI/O
n
Intel 82093AA I/O Advanced Programmable Interrupt Controller
vSphere Virtual Machine Administration
VMware, Inc. 11