When you create a VM, the ESXi host presents the hardware as a specific set of resources to the VM. The hardware type provided by the configuration wizard is selected by VMware to ensure the highest level of compatibility with the supported OS.

Every VM has a CPU, memory, and disk resources. Virtual devices in the VM perform the same functions as the hardware on a physical computer. You can configure most of the virtual devices present in the VM, but certain virtual hardware cannot be modified or removed, such as the VMCI device.

When you create a VM, specific virtual hardware is presented to the VM. Sometimes you need to adjust the default hardware to meet the requirements of the guestOS or the applications that will be installed inside the VM. To access the virtual hardware configuration, right-click on the VM and select the Settings option.

Let's walk through the main components you need to configure in a VM.