Installing and Using VMware Workstation on Ubuntu Linux (Hardy), Mark II

Where were we? Oh yah, we were just getting to the installation. Jesus fucking Christ. OK.

Installing VMware Workstation

We were just about to run vmware-config.pl. We do so by typing

#./vmware-config.pl

in our terminal. Note that is a period followed by a forward slash followed by the name of the executable. If it doesn't run, make sure to make sure that it IS executable by typing

#chmod +x vmware-config.pl

To save time, I will paste the output that I got when running the install. It is best to choose the defaults for everything. During the configuration you will need to customize things a little, but for the install, the defaults are fine. You should see the following prompts. The default option is in brackets. To change a default option, simply type whatever at the prompt after the brackets.

In which directory do you want to install the binary files?
[/usr/bin]

What is the directory that contains the init directories (rc0.d/ to rc6.d/)?
[/etc]

What is the directory that contains the init scripts?
[/etc/init.d]

In which directory do you want to install the daemon files?
[/usr/sbin]

In which directory do you want to install the library files?
[/usr/lib/vmware]

In which directory do you want to install the manual files?
[/usr/share/man]

In which directory do you want to install the documentation files?
[/usr/share/doc/vmware]

The path "/usr/share/doc/vmware" does not exist currently. This program is
going to create it, including needed parent directories. Is this what you want?
[yes]

The installation of VMware Workstation 6.0.4 build-93057 for Linux completed
successfully. You can decide to remove this software from your system at any
time by invoking the following command: "/usr/bin/vmware-uninstall.pl".

Before running VMware Workstation for the first time, you need to configure it
by invoking the following command: "/usr/bin/vmware-config.pl". Do you want
this program to invoke the command for you now? [yes]

Configuring VMware Workstation

As you can see, the script asks whether to run vmware-config.pl. The default response is yes, so just hit enter. You will then see something similar to the following...

In which directory do you want to install the theme icons?
[/usr/share/icons]

What directory contains your desktop menu entry files? These files have a
.desktop file extension. [/usr/share/applications]

In which directory do you want to install the application's icon?
[/usr/share/pixmaps]

Trying to find a suitable vmmon module for your running kernel.

Remember when I said you would need a C compiler?

None of the pre-built vmmon modules for VMware Workstation is suitable for your
running kernel. Do you want this program to try to build the vmmon module for
your system (you need to have a C compiler installed on your system)? [yes]

Using compiler "/usr/bin/gcc". Use environment variable CC to override.

What is the location of the directory of C header files that match your running
kernel? [/lib/modules/2.6.24-19-generic/build/include]

Extracting the sources of the vmmon module.

The script then builds the vmmon module

Building the vmmon module.

Using 2.6.x kernel build system.

/dev is dynamic:
Trying to find a suitable vmblock module for your running kernel.

And the vmblock module...

None of the pre-built vmblock modules for VMware Workstation is suitable for
your running kernel. Do you want this program to try to build the vmblock
module for your system (you need to have a C compiler installed on your
system)? [yes]

Extracting the sources of the vmblock module.

Building the vmblock module.

Using 2.6.x kernel build system.

Networking

Now the script will ask you about how the guest machine will connect to the internet, if at all. You must choose the proper response based on your network configuration. I just have one computer, so I chose NAT, which allows the guest OS to share the connection with the host OS. Check it out....

/dev is dynamic:
Do you want networking for your virtual machines? (yes/no/help) [no] yes

Configuring a bridged network for vmnet0.

The following bridged networks have been defined:

. vmnet0 is bridged to eth0

All your ethernet interfaces are already bridged.

Do you want to be able to use NAT networking in your virtual machines? (yes/no)
[yes]

Configuring a NAT network for vmnet8.

Do you want this program to probe for an unused private subnet? (yes/no/help)
[yes]

Probing for an unused private subnet (this can take some time)...

The subnet 192.168.225.0/255.255.255.0 appears to be unused.

The following NAT networks have been defined:

. vmnet8 is a NAT network on private subnet 192.168.225.0.

Do you wish to configure another NAT network? (yes/no) [no]

Do you want to be able to use host-only networking in your virtual machines?
[yes]

Configuring a host-only network for vmnet1.

Do you want this program to probe for an unused private subnet? (yes/no/help)
[yes]

Probing for an unused private subnet (this can take some time)...

The subnet 172.16.133.0/255.255.255.0 appears to be unused.

The following host-only networks have been defined:

. vmnet1 is a host-only network on private subnet 172.16.133.0.

Do you wish to configure another host-only network? (yes/no) [no]

Trying to find a suitable vmnet module for your running kernel.

After all this you will need to read and accept the EULA. Once that is done VMware Workstation will be installed and ready to start with the command

#vmware

Creating a Virtual Machine

When VMware starts, you will see three buttons in the main window. Click the first one labeled Create a new virtual machine. Tis will start the New Virtual Machine Wizard. I chose the following options...

Virtual Machine Configuration-
-Typical

Guest Operating System-
-Microsoft Windows

Version-
-Windows XP Home Edition

Name-
-Windows XP Home Edition (you can call it whatever you want, though)

Location-
-/root/vmware/Windows XP Home Edition (note: I was unable to get the wizard to create this for some reason and when trying to power on the VM got the error, "location not found." To fix this I had to close vmWare, create the directory myself, then re-run the wizard.)

Network Connection-
-I chose NAT, but after getting everything set up I found that 'Bridged' works better for me. You will obviously need to choose whatever is right for your system. Remember that you may always run vmware-config.pl again and choose different networking options.)

Disk Size-
-I chose 15 GB of space and checked the option to 'Allocate all disk space now' and 'split disk into 2GB files'.

Now just click finish and you should be ready to install the guest OS! You will get a message in the status bar informing you to install VMware Tools. Ignore it for now- you can't install it until the guest OS is up and running. But you DO need to install it, so we will cover that later.

Installing the guest OS

You will now have a tab in the VMware Workstation console main window called 'Windows XP Home Edition' or whatever you named it. Click the tab and you will see your virtual machine. Insert your OS installation disk and click the first button, labeled Power on this virtual machine. VMware will automatically detect the disk and start the installation. Needless to say, if you need help installing the OS, contact your OS manufacturer. Or save time and money and just use Google. Once the OS is installed the virtual machine will reboot and will be ready to install VMware Tools.

Installing VMware Tools

Your virtual machine will not have audio or video drivers installed, and for some reason can't seem to use the host machines drivers. I'm honestly still trying to figure out how to use the ATI drivers in my Windows VM, and might update if I ever figure it out. But for now, the VMware drivers work fine. VMware Tools will install its own drivers. Without VMware tools, you just will not get good audio or video, so Install it by clicking VM > Install VMware Tools on the menu bar. Now you can use your virtual machine anytime you want and it wil work almost as well as it would if it were the only OS installed. Just remember to shut down the OS before you Power off the vitual machine!

And that's it. You now can use Linux and Windows at the same time and switch between them as easily as switching tabs! The guest OS will run slower than it normally would on its own machine, you need to be aware of that. But I for one am glad to take a small reduction in speed if it means I don't have to reboot my computer every time I want to play a game!