vSphere ESX 4.0: 450 Guest OSes Supported

VMware's support for a wide array of x86-based operating systems is one of its strengths. As cloud computing promises the "universal" import and export of application environments, we decided to compile a list of vSphere's guest operating system compatibility in a bit more "friendly" fashion than the on-line guide.

Here's the list as of today:

16-bit Operating Systems (1)
Microsoft	MS-DOS 6.22

32-bit Operating Systems (252)
Asianux	Asianux 3.0 SP1 Server, Asianux 3.0 Server
Canonical	Ubuntu 7.04 Desktop, Ubuntu 7.04 Server, Ubuntu 7.10 Desktop, Ubuntu 7.10 Server, Ubuntu 8.04 Desktop, Ubuntu 8.04 JeOS, Ubuntu 8.04 Server, Ubuntu 8.04.1 Desktop, Ubuntu 8.04.1 JeOS, Ubuntu 8.04.1 Server, Ubuntu 8.04.2 Desktop, Ubuntu 8.04.2 JeOS, Ubuntu 8.04.2 Server, Ubuntu 8.10 Desktop, Ubuntu 8.10 Server
CentOS	CentOS 4.5, CentOS 4.6, CentOS 4.7, CentOS 4.8, CentOS 5.0, CentOS 5.1, CentOS 5.2, CentOS 5.3, CentOS 5.4
Debian	Debian GNU/Linux 4.0 r3, Debian GNU/Linux 4.0 r4, Debian GNU/Linux 4.0 r5, Debian GNU/Linux 4.0 r6, Debian GNU/Linux 4.0 r7, Debian GNU/Linux 5.0
FreeBSD	FreeBSD 6.3, FreeBSD 6.4, FreeBSD 7.0, FreeBSD 7.1
IBM	OS/2 Warp 4.0, OS/2 Warp Server for e-Business 4.5.2
Microsoft	Server 2003 Datacenter Ed, Server 2003 Enterprise Ed, Server 2003 SBS Premium, Server 2003 SBS Std, Server 2003 SP1 Datacenter Ed, Server 2003 SP1 Enterprise Ed, Server 2003 SP1 SBS Premium, Server 2003 SP1 SBS Std, Server 2003 SP1 Std Ed, Server 2003 SP1 Web Ed, Server 2003 SP2 Datacenter Ed, Server 2003 SP2 Enterprise Ed, Server 2003 SP2 SBS Premium, Server 2003 SP2 SBS Std, Server 2003 SP2 Std Ed, Server 2003 Std Ed, Server 2003 Web Ed, Server 2003 r2 Datacenter Ed, Server 2003 r2 Enterprise Ed, Server 2003 r2 Std Ed, Server 2008 SP1 Datacenter Ed, Server 2008 SP1 Enterprise Ed, Server 2008 SP1 Std Ed, Server 2008 SP1 Web Server, Server 2008 SP2 Datacenter Ed, Server 2008 SP2 Enterprise Ed, Server 2008 SP2 Std Ed, Server 2008 SP2 Web Server, Vista Business, Vista Enterprise, Vista Home Basic, Vista Home Premium, Vista SP1 Business, Vista SP1 Enterprise, Vista SP1 Home Basic, Vista SP1 Home Premium, Vista SP1 Ultimate, Vista SP2 Business, Vista SP2 Enterprise, Vista SP2 Home Basic, Vista SP2 Home Premium, Vista SP2 Ultimate, Vista Ultimate, Windows 2000 Professional, Windows 2000 SP3 Advanced Server, Windows 2000 SP3 Professional, Windows 2000 SP3 Server, Windows 2000 SP4 Advanced Server, Windows 2000 SP4 Professional, Windows 2000 SP4 Server, Windows 2000 SP4 with Update Rollup #1 Advanced Server, Windows 2000 SP4 with Update Rollup #1 Server, Windows 3.1, Windows 7 Enterprise, Windows 7 Home Premium, Windows 7 Professional, Windows 7 Ultimate, Windows 95 , Windows 95 OEM Service Release 1, Windows 95 OEM Service Release 2, Windows 95 OEM Service Release 2.1, Windows 95 OEM Service Release 2.5, Windows 95 SP1, Windows 98 , Windows 98 Second Ed, Windows NT 4.0 SP6a Server, Windows NT 4.0 SP6a Workstation, Windows PE 2.0, Windows PE 2.1, Windows XP Embedded SP2, Windows XP Professional, Windows XP SP1 Professional, Windows XP SP2 Professional, Windows XP SP3 Professional
Novell	Netware 5.1 SP7, Netware 5.1 SP8, Netware 6.0 SP5, Netware 6.5 SP4a, Netware 6.5 SP5, Netware 6.5 SP6, Netware 6.5 SP7, Netware 6.5 SP8, Open Enterprise Server 2.0, Open Enterprise Server 2.0 SP1, SLED 10, SLED 10 SP1, SLED 10 SP2, SLED 11, SLES 10, SLES 10 SP1, SLES 10 SP2, SLES 10 SP2 JeOS, SLES 11, SLES 8 SP3, SLES 8 SP4, SLES 9, SLES 9 SP1, SLES 9 SP2, SLES 9 SP3, SLES 9 SP4
Oracle	Oracle Enterprise Linux 4.5, Oracle Enterprise Linux 4.6, Oracle Enterprise Linux 4.7, Oracle Enterprise Linux 4.8, Oracle Enterprise Linux 5.0, Oracle Enterprise Linux 5.1, Oracle Enterprise Linux 5.2, Oracle Enterprise Linux 5.3, Oracle Enterprise Linux 5.4
Red Hat	RHEL 2.1 Update 7 AS, RHEL 2.1 Update 7 ES, RHEL 2.1 Update 7 WS, RHEL 3.0 AS, RHEL 3.0 ES, RHEL 3.0 Update 1 AS, RHEL 3.0 Update 1 ES, RHEL 3.0 Update 1 WS, RHEL 3.0 Update 2 AS, RHEL 3.0 Update 2 ES, RHEL 3.0 Update 2 WS, RHEL 3.0 Update 3 AS, RHEL 3.0 Update 3 ES, RHEL 3.0 Update 3 WS, RHEL 3.0 Update 4 AS, RHEL 3.0 Update 4 ES, RHEL 3.0 Update 4 WS, RHEL 3.0 Update 5 AS, RHEL 3.0 Update 5 ES, RHEL 3.0 Update 5 WS, RHEL 3.0 Update 6 AS, RHEL 3.0 Update 6 ES, RHEL 3.0 Update 6 WS, RHEL 3.0 Update 7 AS, RHEL 3.0 Update 7 ES, RHEL 3.0 Update 7 WS, RHEL 3.0 Update 8 AS, RHEL 3.0 Update 8 ES, RHEL 3.0 Update 8 WS, RHEL 3.0 Update 9 AS, RHEL 3.0 Update 9 ES, RHEL 3.0 Update 9 WS, RHEL 3.0 WS, RHEL 4.0 AS, RHEL 4.0 ES, RHEL 4.0 Update 1 AS, RHEL 4.0 Update 1 ES, RHEL 4.0 Update 1 WS, RHEL 4.0 Update 2 AS, RHEL 4.0 Update 2 ES, RHEL 4.0 Update 2 WS, RHEL 4.0 Update 3 AS, RHEL 4.0 Update 3 ES, RHEL 4.0 Update 3 WS, RHEL 4.0 Update 4 AS, RHEL 4.0 Update 4 ES, RHEL 4.0 Update 4 WS, RHEL 4.0 WS, RHEL 4.5 AS, RHEL 4.5 ES, RHEL 4.5 WS, RHEL 4.6 AS, RHEL 4.6 ES, RHEL 4.6 WS, RHEL 4.7 AS, RHEL 4.7 ES, RHEL 4.7 WS, RHEL 4.8 AS, RHEL 4.8 ES, RHEL 4.8 WS, RHEL 5.0 Advanced Platform, RHEL 5.0 Desktop, RHEL 5.0 Desktop with Workstation Option, RHEL 5.0 Server, RHEL 5.1 Advanced Platform, RHEL 5.1 Desktop, RHEL 5.1 Desktop with Workstation Option, RHEL 5.1 Server, RHEL 5.2 Advanced Platform, RHEL 5.2 Desktop, RHEL 5.2 Desktop with Workstation Option, RHEL 5.2 Server, RHEL 5.3 Advanced Platform, RHEL 5.3 Desktop, RHEL 5.3 Desktop with Workstation Option, RHEL 5.3 Server, Red Hat Desktop 4.6
SCO	OpenServer 5.0.6, OpenServer 5.0.7 Maintenance Pack 5, UnixWare 7.1.1 Maintenance Pack 5, UnixWare 7.1.4 Maintenance Pack 4
Sun Microsystems Inc	Solaris 10, Solaris 10 01/06 (Update 1), Solaris 10 01/06 (Update 2), Solaris 10 05/08 (Update 5), Solaris 10 05/09 (Update 7), Solaris 10 08/07 (Update 4), Solaris 10 11/06 (Update 3), Solaris 10 11/08 (Update 6), Solaris 8 01/01, Solaris 8 02/02, Solaris 8 04/01, Solaris 8 06/00, Solaris 8 07/01, Solaris 8 10/00, Solaris 8 10/01, Solaris 9, Solaris 9 04/03 (Update 3), Solaris 9 04/04 (Update 6), Solaris 9 08/03 (Update 4), Solaris 9 09/02 (Update 1), Solaris 9 09/04 (Update 7), Solaris 9 09/05 (Update 8), Solaris 9 12/02 (Update 2), Solaris 9 12/03 (Update 5)

64-bit Operating Systems (197)
Asianux	Asianux 3.0 SP1 Server, Asianux 3.0 Server
Canonical	Ubuntu 7.04 Desktop, Ubuntu 7.04 Server, Ubuntu 7.10 Desktop, Ubuntu 7.10 Server, Ubuntu 8.04 Desktop, Ubuntu 8.04 Server, Ubuntu 8.04.1 Desktop, Ubuntu 8.04.1 Server, Ubuntu 8.04.2 Desktop, Ubuntu 8.04.2 Server, Ubuntu 8.10 Desktop, Ubuntu 8.10 Server
CentOS	CentOS 4.5, CentOS 4.6, CentOS 4.7, CentOS 4.8, CentOS 5.0, CentOS 5.1, CentOS 5.2, CentOS 5.3, CentOS 5.4
Debian	Debian GNU/Linux 4.0 r3, Debian GNU/Linux 4.0 r4, Debian GNU/Linux 4.0 r5, Debian GNU/Linux 4.0 r6, Debian GNU/Linux 4.0 r7, Debian GNU/Linux 5.0
FreeBSD	FreeBSD 6.3, FreeBSD 6.4, FreeBSD 7.0, FreeBSD 7.1
Microsoft	Server 2003 Datacenter x64 Ed, Server 2003 Enterprise x64 Ed, Server 2003 SP1 Datacenter x64 Ed, Server 2003 SP1 Enterprise x64 Ed, Server 2003 SP1 Std x64 Ed, Server 2003 SP2 Datacenter x64 Ed, Server 2003 SP2 Enterprise x64 Ed, Server 2003 SP2 Std x64 Ed, Server 2003 Std x64 Ed, Server 2003 r2 Datacenter x64 Ed, Server 2003 r2 Enterprise x64 Ed, Server 2003 r2 Std x64 Ed, Server 2008 SP1 Datacenter Ed, Server 2008 SP1 EBS Premium, Server 2008 SP1 EBS Std, Server 2008 SP1 Enterprise Ed, Server 2008 SP1 SBS Premium, Server 2008 SP1 SBS Std, Server 2008 SP1 Std Ed, Server 2008 SP1 Web Server, Server 2008 SP2 Datacenter Ed, Server 2008 SP2 EBS Premium, Server 2008 SP2 EBS Std, Server 2008 SP2 Enterprise Ed, Server 2008 SP2 SBS Premium, Server 2008 SP2 SBS Std, Server 2008 SP2 Std Ed, Server 2008 SP2 Web Server, Server 2008 r2 Datacenter Ed, Server 2008 r2 EBS Premium, Server 2008 r2 EBS Std, Server 2008 r2 Enterprise Ed, Server 2008 r2 SBS Premium, Server 2008 r2 SBS Std, Server 2008 r2 Std Ed, Vista Business, Vista Enterprise, Vista Home Basic, Vista Home Premium, Vista SP1 Business, Vista SP1 Enterprise, Vista SP1 Home Basic, Vista SP1 Home Premium, Vista SP1 Ultimate, Vista SP2 Business, Vista SP2 Enterprise, Vista SP2 Home Basic, Vista SP2 Home Premium, Vista SP2 Ultimate, Vista Ultimate, Windows 7 Enterprise, Windows 7 Home Premium, Windows 7 Professional, Windows 7 Ultimate, Windows PE 2.0, Windows PE 2.1, Windows XP SP2 Professional x64 Ed
Novell	Open Enterprise Server 2.0, Open Enterprise Server 2.0 SP1, SLED 10, SLED 10 SP1, SLED 10 SP2, SLED 11, SLES 10, SLES 10 SP1, SLES 10 SP2, SLES 10 SP2 JeOS, SLES 11, SLES 9, SLES 9 SP1, SLES 9 SP2, SLES 9 SP3, SLES 9 SP4
Oracle	Oracle Enterprise Linux 4.5, Oracle Enterprise Linux 4.6, Oracle Enterprise Linux 4.7, Oracle Enterprise Linux 4.8, Oracle Enterprise Linux 5.0, Oracle Enterprise Linux 5.1, Oracle Enterprise Linux 5.2, Oracle Enterprise Linux 5.3, Oracle Enterprise Linux 5.4
Red Hat	RHEL 3.0 AS, RHEL 3.0 ES, RHEL 3.0 Update 1 AS, RHEL 3.0 Update 1 ES, RHEL 3.0 Update 1 WS, RHEL 3.0 Update 2 AS, RHEL 3.0 Update 2 ES, RHEL 3.0 Update 2 WS, RHEL 3.0 Update 3 AS, RHEL 3.0 Update 3 ES, RHEL 3.0 Update 3 WS, RHEL 3.0 Update 4 AS, RHEL 3.0 Update 4 ES, RHEL 3.0 Update 4 WS, RHEL 3.0 Update 5 AS, RHEL 3.0 Update 5 ES, RHEL 3.0 Update 5 WS, RHEL 3.0 Update 6 AS, RHEL 3.0 Update 6 ES, RHEL 3.0 Update 6 WS, RHEL 3.0 Update 7 AS, RHEL 3.0 Update 7 ES, RHEL 3.0 Update 7 WS, RHEL 3.0 Update 8 AS, RHEL 3.0 Update 8 ES, RHEL 3.0 Update 8 WS, RHEL 3.0 Update 9 AS, RHEL 3.0 Update 9 ES, RHEL 3.0 Update 9 WS, RHEL 3.0 WS, RHEL 4.0 AS, RHEL 4.0 ES, RHEL 4.0 Update 1 AS, RHEL 4.0 Update 1 ES, RHEL 4.0 Update 1 WS, RHEL 4.0 Update 2 AS, RHEL 4.0 Update 2 ES, RHEL 4.0 Update 2 WS, RHEL 4.0 Update 3 AS, RHEL 4.0 Update 3 ES, RHEL 4.0 Update 3 WS, RHEL 4.0 Update 4 AS, RHEL 4.0 Update 4 ES, RHEL 4.0 Update 4 WS, RHEL 4.0 WS, RHEL 4.5 AS, RHEL 4.5 ES, RHEL 4.5 WS, RHEL 4.6 AS, RHEL 4.6 ES, RHEL 4.6 WS, RHEL 4.7 AS, RHEL 4.7 ES, RHEL 4.7 WS, RHEL 4.8 AS, RHEL 4.8 ES, RHEL 4.8 WS, RHEL 5.0 Advanced Platform, RHEL 5.0 Desktop, RHEL 5.0 Desktop with Workstation Option, RHEL 5.0 Server, RHEL 5.1 Advanced Platform, RHEL 5.1 Desktop, RHEL 5.1 Desktop with Workstation Option, RHEL 5.1 Server, RHEL 5.2 Advanced Platform, RHEL 5.2 Desktop, RHEL 5.2 Desktop with Workstation Option, RHEL 5.2 Server, RHEL 5.3 Advanced Platform, RHEL 5.3 Desktop, RHEL 5.3 Desktop with Workstation Option, RHEL 5.3 Server, Red Hat Desktop 4.6
Sun Microsystems Inc	Solaris 10, Solaris 10 01/06 (Update 1), Solaris 10 01/06 (Update 2), Solaris 10 05/08 (Update 5), Solaris 10 05/09 (Update 7), Solaris 10 08/07 (Update 4), Solaris 10 11/06 (Update 3), Solaris 10 11/08 (Update 6)

That's 450 unique operating systems and variants eligible as supported guest operating systems under vSphere.