Sierra as a VM in Fusion

I have installed macOS Sierra as a VM in VM Fusion8.5. This part was very easy as you can just open the Applications folder in Finder and drag the Install macOS Sierra App onto the VM Fusion one and it automatically creates a new default VM and installs Sierra into it, with very little input required.

I then installed the VMware Tools and set the graphics to 3D, including the reboots.

This all works fine and I can now test Sierra.

The only problem is I cannot get the Unity option to work. Only the Window or Full Screen options are available. Does anybody know how to make the Unity option work please?


I am running El Capitan on a Mid-2012 MBP, with Fusion 8.5

An easier and more efficient way would be to partition the storage device. Run El Capitan on one partition and run Sierra on another partition.

- Nick

pigoo3 said:

An easier and more efficient way would be to partition the storage device. Run El Capitan on one partition and run Sierra on another partition.

- Nick

Click to expand...

I might do that eventually. I just want to give it a test without the partitioning

Will that give me two Restore partitions?

Nighthawk4 said:

I might do that eventually. I just want to give it a test without the partitioning

Click to expand...

This can be done...but there is some "overhead" when running an OS in a VM such as VmWare Fusion. Sierra (and any other OS) will run faster "natively".

Nighthawk4 said:

Will that give me two Restore partitions?

Click to expand...

I don't think so.

- Nick

Yes, in the past it has created a restore partition for each macOS installed.

If I installed Sierra on an External Disk rather than in VM Fusion, where would the Recovery partition go please - on the External Disk or the Internal one?

You can not put the Recovery on a different disk. Recovery is only a partition on the disk the OS is installed on. Even if you create one disk with 5 partitions that have macOS installed, you will have the 5 partitions and the 5 Recovery partitions.

Sorry Bob, what I meant was if instead of partitioning my existing internal disk I installed Sierra on an External Disk - leaving El Capitan on the Internal Disk.

Would I have:
El Cap and its Recovery partition on the Internal Disk
Sierra and its Recovery partition on the External Disk

or would both Recovery partitions be placed on the Internal Disk?

I would prefer to try Sierra without making any permanent changes to the Internal Disk or the copy of El Cap currently on it.

Nighthawk4 said:

Sorry Bob, what I meant was if instead of partitioning my existing internal disk I installed Sierra on an External Disk - leaving El Capitan on the Internal Disk.

Would I have:
El Cap and its Recovery partition on the Internal Disk
Sierra and its Recovery partition on the External Disk

or would both Recovery partitions be placed on the Internal Disk?

I would prefer to try Sierra without making any permanent changes to the Internal Disk or the copy of El Cap currently on it.

Click to expand...

Sorry, yes, both disks would have their respective Recovery partition.

Thanks Bob. That might be worth a try then

Nighthawk4 said:

Thanks Bob. That might be worth a try then

Click to expand...

That's how I beta test a new version of OS X by placing it on an external disk and then booting from that disk. Placing both El Capitan and Sierra on the same hard drive, you will wind up with 6 partitions: 2 EFI, 2 OS X, and 2 Recovery. Not recommended.

Definitely a separate disk. That was why I wanted to be sure it will not try to put the Recovery partition on the Internal Disk.

As long as it all goes on the External Disk I can play around and then wipe the disk once finished without affecting the Internal Disk

Installed successfully on an External Disk on my MBP.

Looks OK so far. Have confirmed the original OS is still working but not yet checked on Restore partitions. I assume if I boot up and press the appropriate key (which I can't remember at present) then it will show all bootable drives - including the Restore partitions. Repeat both with and without the External Drive and we have the answer

Of course, strictly speaking this thread is now OS rather than Apps


Edit - it seems the Option Key is the one I need

I think the "option" key only show OS drives partitions, doesn't it? To see Recovery drives you may need to use "command + R", to see them.

ferrarr said:

I think the "option" key only show OS drives partitions, doesn't it? To see Recovery drives you may need to use "command + R", to see them.

Click to expand...

Good point - I think you are correct