This is a virtual router. For data plane performance, use CSR1000v or IOS XRv.
Likely: Someone an IOS SPA image to boot directly in VMware for emulation/lab use — but that’s not officially supported by Cisco (legally gray area).
: Originally a .vmdk (Virtual Machine Disk), though often converted to .qcow2 for use in QEMU-based simulators like EVE-NG. Release Version : 15.7(3)M3.
Assume you have downloaded vios-adventerprisek9-m.vmdk.spa.157-3.m3 . Here is how to deploy it manually: