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VMware Workstation Gen 9: FAQs

Posted on January 29, 2026 Updated on January 29, 2026

I complied a list of frequently asked questions (FAQs) around my Gen 9 Workstation build. I’ll be updating it from time to time but do feel free to reach out if you have additional questions.

Last Update: 01/29/2026

General FAQs

Why Generation 9? To track my home labs I call them Generations plus a number. The Gen Numbers aligns to the version of vSphere it was designed for.

Why are you running Workstation vs. dedicated ESX servers? I’m pivoting my home lab strategy: I’ve moved from a complex multi-server setup to a streamlined, single-host configuration using VMware Workstation. Managing multiple hosts, though it gives real world experience, was meeting my needs when it came to roll back from a crash or testing different software versions. With Workstation, I can run multiple labs at once and use Workstation’s snapshot manager as an ‘undo’ button. It’s much more adaptable, making my lab time about learning rather than maintenance.

Where can I find your Gen 9 Workstation Build series? All of my most popular content, including the Gen 9 Workstation can be found under Best of VMX.

What VCF 9 products are running in BOM1? Initial components include: VCSA, VCF Operations, VCF Collector, NSX Manager, Fleet Manager, and SDDC Manager all running on the 3 x Nested ESX Hosts.

What are your plans for BOM2? Currently, under development but I would like to see if I could push the full VCF stack to it.

What version of Workstation are you using? Currently, VMware Workstation 25H2

What core services are needed to support this VCF Deployment? Core Services are supplied via Windows Server. They include AD, DNS, NTP, RAS, and DHCP. DNS, NTP, and RAS being the most important.

How performant is running VCF 9 on Workstation? In my testing I’ve had adequate success with a simple VCF install on BOM1. Clicks through out the various applications didn’t seem to lag. I plan to expand to a full VCF install under BOM2 and will do some performance testing soon.

BOM FAQs

Where can I find your Bill of Materials (BOM)? See my Home Lab BOM page.

Why 2 BOMs for Gen 9? Initially, I started with the hardware I had, this became BOM1. It worked perfectly for a simple VCF install. Eventually, I needed to expand my RAM to support the entire VCF stack. I had 32GB DDR4 modules on hand but the BOM1 motherboard was fully populated. It was less expensive to buy a motherboard that had enough RAM slots plus I could add in a 2nd CPU. This upgrade became BOM2.

What can I run on BOM1? I have successfully deployed a simple VCF deployment, but I don’t recommend running VCF Automation on this BOM. See the Best of VMX section for a 9 part series.

What can I run on BOM2? Under development, updates soon.

Are you running both BOMs configurations? No I’m only running one at a time. Currently, running BOM2.

Why list 2 BOMs? It gives my readers some ideas of different configurations that might work for them.

Do I really need this much hardware? No you don’t. The parts on my BOM is just how I did it, using some parts I had on hand and some I bought used. My recommendation is use what you got and upgrade it if you need to.

What should I do to help with performance? Invest in highspeed disk, CPU cores, and RAM. I highly recommend lots of NVMe disks for your nested ESX hosts.