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VMware Workstation Gen 9: FAQs

Posted on January 29, 2026 Updated on July 22, 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: 07/20/2026

General FAQs

Why Generation 9? Starting with the Gen 7 build, the Gen Number aligns to the version of vSphere it was designed for. So, Gen 9 = VCF 9. It also helps my readers to track the Generations that interests them the most.

Why are you running Workstation with BOM1 vs. dedicated ESX servers? I wanted to give my readers a different take on how to setup a home lab with Workstation. With Workstation, I can run/deploy multiple types of home labs and do simple backup/recovery, plus Workstation’s snapshot manager allow me to roll back labs quite quickly. I find Workstation very adaptable, and making my lab time about learning rather than maintenance.

Why is BOM2 using nested single ESX servers? In BOM1 I pushed Workstation to its limits and when VCF 9.1 requirements came out it simply could not keep up. I moved my deployment to a single nested ESX host. See the FAQs below for more information.

BOM FAQs

Where can I find your Bill of Materials for both BOMs? See my Home Lab BOM page.

**BOM1 FAQ**

What topics does the BOM1 VCF 9.0 Series cover? The BOM1 series provides a comprehensive, step-by-step guide for deploying VMware Cloud Foundation (VCF) 9.0.1 in a nested lab environment. The series covers the full lifecycle, including initial planning and requirements (Part 1), the use of templates (Part 2), and setting up essential core network services (Part 3).  Subsequent steps detail the deployment of ESX hosts (Part 4) and configuring the VCF installer with necessary VLAN segmentation (Part 5). To optimize the setup, the guide covers creating an offline repository for VCF components (Part 6), followed by the deployment of VCF 9.0.1 (Part 7).

Finally, the series outlines critical “day-two” operations, such as licensing the environment (Part 8) and managing the proper shutdown and startup procedures for the nested infrastructure (Part 9). This approach creates a fully functional, reproducible lab for testing the latest VMware technologies. For the full series, visit VMExplorer.

Why isn’t Workstation with BOM1 running VCF 9.1? BOM1 worked well with VCF9, however, moving it to VCF 9.1 posed some limitations Workstation could not overcome. Trying to run multiple ESX hosts that are maxed out started to cause some latency and performance delays.

Where can I find your Gen 9 (BOM1 or BOM2) Build series? All of my most popular content, including the Gen 9 BOM builds can be found under Best of VMX.

What version of Workstation are you using with BOM1? Currently, VMware Workstation 26H1, this may change over time see my Home Lab BOM for more details.

How performant is running VCF 9 BOM1 on Workstation? In my testing I’ve had adequate success with a simple VCF install. Clicks through out the various applications didn’t seem to lag. However, when adding more hosts or deploy VCF Automation datastore lags and response time were noticeable.

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.

What are your goals with Gen 9 BOM1? To develop and build a platform that is able to run the stack of VCF 9 product for Home Lab use. See Gen 9 Part 1 for more information on goals.

What can I run on BOM1 VCF 9.0? I have successfully deployed a simple VCF deployment, but I don’t recommend running VCF Automation on this BOM.

What VCF 9 products are running in BOM1 VCF 9.0? Initial components include: VCSA, VCF Operations, VCF Collector, NSX Manager, Fleet Manager, and SDDC Manager all running on the 3 x Nested ESX Hosts.

Are you running both mobo configurations? No I’m only running the current mobo listed on my Home Lab BOM page.

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

What should I do to help with performance? Invest in highspeed disk, CPU cores, and fast RAM. I highly recommend lots of properly deployed NVMe disks for your nested ESX hosts. Make sure you adjust performance in Windows 11.

Note: I highly recommend getting a system with DDR5 RAM and the fastest RAM you can find. When pushing Workstation this far RAM speed is a big factor. DD4 2933Mhz, works but lags under heavy loads.

What do I need for multiple NVMe Drives? If you plan to use multiple NVMe drives into a single PCIe slot you’ll need a motherboard that supports bifurcation OR you’ll need an PCIe NVMe adapter that will support it. Not all NVMe adapters are the same, so do your research before buying.

**BOM2 FAQ**

What are your plans for BOM2? It’s going to be based on nested ESX hosts with VCF 9.1, more to come soon.