Create a bootable Sierra ISO for VMware

Open the Terminal app and run the following:

hdiutil attach /Applications/Install\ macOS\ Sierra.app/Contents/SharedSupport/InstallESD.dmg -noverify -nobrowse -mountpoint /Volumes/install_app
hdiutil create -o /tmp/Sierra.cdr -size 7316m -layout SPUD -fs HFS+J
hdiutil attach /tmp/Sierra.cdr.dmg -noverify -nobrowse -mountpoint /Volumes/install_build
asr restore -source /Volumes/install_app/BaseSystem.dmg -target /Volumes/install_build -noprompt -noverify -erase
rm /Volumes/OS\ X\ Base\ System/System/Installation/Packages
cp -rp /Volumes/install_app/Packages /Volumes/OS\ X\ Base\ System/System/Installation/
cp -rp /Volumes/install_app/BaseSystem.chunklist /Volumes/OS\ X\ Base\ System/BaseSystem.chunklist
cp -rp /Volumes/install_app/BaseSystem.dmg /Volumes/OS\ X\ Base\ System/BaseSystem.dmg
hdiutil detach /Volumes/install_app
hdiutil detach /Volumes/OS\ X\ Base\ System/
hdiutil convert /tmp/Sierra.cdr.dmg -format UDTO -o /tmp/Sierra.iso
mv /tmp/Sierra.iso.cdr ~/Desktop/Sierra.iso

NOTE: To have VMWare Workstation able to run MacOS X, you need to patch your version using this . If the file is no longer available, you can get a copy here.

If you want to force specific hardware parameters (like serial number etc), you need to add the following in your vmx file:

board-id.reflectHost = "FALSE"
board-id = <board-id>
hw.model.reflectHost = "FALSE"
hw.model = <product-name>
serialNumber.reflectHost = "FALSE"
serialNumber = <serial-number>
smbios.reflectHost = "FALSE"

To make sure some software like Google Music will recognise your VM, you need to apply also this change:

A) Remove these lines in the VMX file:

ethernet0.addressType = "generated"
ethernet0.generatedAddress = "xx:xx:xx:xx:xx:xx"
ethernet0.generatedAddressOffset = "0"

B) Add the following instead:

ethernet0.Address = "xx:xx:xx:xx:xx:xx"
ethernet0.addressType = "static"
ethernet0.checkMACAddress = "false"

Replace “xx:xx:xx:xx:xx:xx” with a real Apple MAC Address choosing from one of the listed here.

Sources: