Running CAT ET 2019C on VMware
Caterpillar ET 2019C is Windows-only. Running it inside a VMware virtual machine on a Mac or Linux host is a common solution for field technicians who use a non-Windows primary machine. This guide covers the complete setup, including USB passthrough for the CAT Communication Adapter 3 (CA3).
ECM programming note: CAT ET connects to Caterpillar’s factory server during flash programming sessions. USB passthrough in a VM adds a small overhead. For ECM programming, ensure your VM network adapter is set to NAT (not Host-only) and that your internet connection is stable throughout the session.
What You Need
- VMware Workstation Pro 17 or VMware Fusion 13 (Intel Mac)
- Windows 10 or 11 ISO (64-bit)
- CAT ET 2019C installer from firstdiag.com
- CAT Communication Adapter 3 (CA3) for full functionality, or NexIQ USB-Link 2/3 for diagnostics only
- 60+ GB free disk space
- Stable internet connection
Step 1 — Create the VM
- VMware Workstation Pro 17 → New Virtual Machine → Typical
- Select Windows 10/11 ISO → set name:
CATET-2019C - Disk: 80 GB minimum, single file
- Customize Hardware: RAM 8 GB, 2 CPU cores, USB Controller → USB 3.1, Network → NAT
- Power on → complete Windows installation → install VMware Tools → restart
Step 2 — CA3 Adapter USB Passthrough
- Plug the CAT CA3 adapter into the host machine’s USB port
- VMware → VM menu → Removable Devices → find “CAT Communication Adapter” → Connect (Disconnect from Host)
- The CA3 should appear in Windows Device Manager inside the VM
- Enable auto-connect: VM Settings → USB Controller → “Automatically connect new USB devices”
Step 3 — Install CAT CA3 Drivers
- Inside the VM, run the CAT Communication Adapter 3 driver package (included with the CA3 hardware kit or downloadable from CAT)
- Run as Administrator → complete installation → restart VM
- Verify in Device Manager: CA3 appears under “Caterpillar” with no error flags
Step 4 — Install and Activate CAT ET 2019C
- Copy the CAT ET 2019C installer into the VM (drag-and-drop with VMware Tools)
- Right-click → Run as Administrator → complete installation
- Temporarily disable Windows Defender during installation
- Launch CAT ET 2019C → enter license key → activate (NAT network provides internet)
- Re-enable Windows Defender; add CAT ET folder to exclusions
Step 5 — Connect to a CAT Engine or Machine
- Connect CA3 to the equipment’s 9-pin Deutsch service connector
- Confirm CA3 is connected to the VM (VM → Removable Devices)
- Turn key to ON (or machine to key-on)
- Open CAT ET → New Session → CAT ET auto-reads ECM part number, serial, and flash file
Troubleshooting
| Problem | Cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| CA3 not found in VM | USB passthrough not set up | VM → Removable Devices → manually connect CA3 |
| ECM flash fails partway through | Internet dropped or USB passthrough interrupted | Use wired ethernet; ensure USB 3.1 controller in VM settings |
| License activation fails | Host-only network (no internet) | Change VM network to NAT in VM Settings → Network Adapter |
| CAT ET cannot see ECM | CA3 connected to host, not VM | VM → Removable Devices → disconnect from host, connect to VM |
| Slow parameter updates on large equipment | VM CPU/RAM too low | Allocate 8 GB RAM and 4 CPU cores to VM |
