A: Technically yes, but you must convert QCOW2 to VMDK. Note that VMware paravirtual SCSI controllers have known issues with the 9.3.9 image. IDE works, but performance suffers.
The "cow2" format has specific tuning parameters. Newer images are optimized for: nexus9300v939qcow2 new
Example checksums (verify against your download): A: Technically yes, but you must convert QCOW2 to VMDK
Then attach it as an ISO or via CDROM. The virtual switch will configure itself on first boot—perfect for Ansible or Terraform pipelines. A: Technically yes