How to install XenServer on VMware Workstation in Windows

How to install XenServer 6.2 on VMware Workstation 8

Note: 17 May 2014:
The installation was fine. The XenServer boots fine in the VM. Unfortunately it hangs once in a while constantly. Couldn't find out what causes it. I've installed XenServer on hw instead here.

It is possible to install Type 1 hypervisor like XenServer within a virtualized environment like VMware Workstation by using nested virtualization technology. It may be shocking at first look because this is the software stack we are going to create:

• Regular operating system, I'm using Windows 7
• Install in Windows (Type 2) hypervisor VMware Workstation
• Create a VM within VMware 
• Install XenServer with in VM
• Boot VM and run (Type 1) hypervisor XenServer

Installation steps

• Create a new VM and chose guest: OS VMware ESX and version: VMware ESXi 5 (my config for the VM can be found here: vmware-workstation-xenserver.conf)
• Download the XenServer-6.2.0-install-cd.iso 
• For the VM chose to boot from the iso above
• Boot the VM and follow the installation instruction
• Installer at the end will reboot the VM
• Before new boots power off VM and deselect the ISO file
• Boot the VM and enjoy your XenServer 
• You may want to install XenServer-6.2.0-XenCenter.msi to graphically manged your XenServer or use CLI over SSH

 XenServer 6.2 doesn't boot after installation on VMware Workstation 8

You may run into the following issues when attempting the installation procedure above

• Wrong VM guest type. I've seen this initially when I try to use the type: Other, version: Other 64-bit.

BUG: recent printk recursion!

clocksource/1: Time went backwards

PCI: Bar 13: no parent found for of bridge

• You can boot the VM and from the Xen boot loader select 'safe'. Unfortunately the XenServer will report this time I/O error.

ata2.01: qc timeout (cmd 0xa0)

ata2.01: TEST_UNIT_READY failed (err_mask=0x4)

Unhanded error code

Result: hostbyte=DID_OK driverbyte=DRIVER_TIMEOUT

end_request: I/O error, dev sda, sector 0

buffer I/O error on device sda, logical block 0

References

http://bjtechnews.org/2013/07/01/how-to-install-citrix-xenserver-6-2-0-on-vmware-workstation-9-0/
http://discussions.citrix.com/topic/329733-xenserver-freeze-on-reboot/
http://discussions.citrix.com/topic/324048-virtual-machines-in-xenserver-6-on-wmware-workstation/
http://www.vi-tips.com/2011/10/how-to-run-xenserver-60-on-vsphere-5.html
http://vstorage.wordpress.com/2010/06/06/running-xenserver-5-6-on-vmware-workstation/