Vmware Workstation Guide : How to Work with Virtual Machines

Quad Master

Hi Guys

Vmware Workstation is one of the best softwares for virtualization.

Well to put it in simple word this is what you can do with it.

Downloaded a new linux distro and wanted to try how the installation
works without messing with you orignal harddisk drive well look no
further as vmware will help you do that.

Everything is stored in a vmware image file which can be there on
any place on you harddrive.

Well still confused how this thing works , this tutorial will
simplify everything.

Hardware Required [According to my opinion]
- Minimum 1Ghz
- Ram 512Min 1GB Recommended.
- Rest all is fine.

Software

- Vmware Workstation 5.5 Min , now 6 is out [PAID Software]
Link: VMware Workstation, virtual machine, multiple operating systems, Windows and Linux - VMware

OR

- Virtual Box [Freeware but equivalent to Vmware Workstation]
Link: VirtualBox

Note: Vmware Workstation 5.5 used for the tutorial.

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Guide
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Step 1:

Install and Open "Vmware Workstation"

This is the basic interface that will be presented when you start it.

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Step 2:

To make a new virtual machine or install any new linux distro click on new virtual machine. Click Next.

Select Typical and Click Next

Select appropriate option for that OS if u want to install.

Single OS Installation
This is only if u want to install only that particular OS so that
Vmware Tools for that particular virtual machine can be installed.
We will discuss Vmware Tools Later.

Multi OS Installation
But if u want to try out Multiboot like
WinXP + Vista / WinXP + Ubuntu / WinXP + PCLOS 2007 / WinXP + Vista + Any Linux Distro
Select "Windows XP Professional" only here.

Click Next.

Write any Virtual Machine Name here to describe the virtual machine.
Location where the vmware image file for the virtual machine will be stored
see that u have appropriate free space on that partition.

Select NAT here if u want to share you internet connection diretly with
your virtual machine , no settings are needed to be made in the virtual
machine OS to run internet in it , just select NAT here and done.
[Thanks to KingKrool for this Tip]

Windows XP --> 3GB
Vista Ultimate ---> 10GB [Vista took 6.31GB ]
Ubuntu / PCLOS 2007 ---> 4GB
Fedora/openSuse/sabayon ---> 6GB

These are my approximations use according to ur opinion.

If u want to use multiboot just add these values for total virtual image size.

- Check Allocate Disk space
- Check split into 2GB [upto you but wud advice you to split into 2GB]

Image file size creation will now start.

This how it looks after the hdd image has been created and the files on ur hdd.

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Step3:

Now we will be using the Virtual Machine

Suppose if u want to install windows xp or vista or any linux distro on this
virtual machine you can do this via the DVD Rom drive or via the iso of the
OS to be installed.

Before you start installation start the virtual machine , click F2 to enter the
virtual machine bios and let cd from be the first boot device and exit the bios.

Memory 256MB should be sufficient for any OS.

If u have 2GB of actual Ram then you can set this vaule to 512Mb or even 1GB.

Note: You actual Ram is shared here so choose wisely , 256Mb shuold be
sufficient if u have 512MB or 1GB of actual Ram.

Load ur OS CD in ur actual CD/DVD Drive or load the iso of the OS to install.

Now you are all set to install you fav OS and to try out any new Linux distro in the virtual machine.

Single OS or Multi boot try out everything and formatting the HDD etc....

Everything without interfering with ur actual HDD paritions.

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Step4:

Some More Info.

4.1> Vmware Tools this can be installed after you actually install the OS.
This is only used if u install a single OS not the MultiBoot thing.
Vmware Tools will only work for that OS which was selected at the start while creating the image.

4.2> Enabling Accelerated 3-D for a Virtual Machine , by default in the virtual machine there is only 16MB of video memory.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Taken from somewhere else donno the source

Enabling Accelerated 3-D for a Virtual Machine

To enable a virtual machine for accelerated 3-D

1. Choose a virtual machine with Windows 2000 or XP guest operating system.

Note: Do not enable Direct3D on a virtual machine that is powered on or suspended.

2. Add the following to the configuration (.vmx) file for the virtual machine:

mks.enable3d = TRUE

This line enables accelerated 3-D on the host. It is required to support accelerated 3-D in the guest and also enables the

host to accelerate 2-D portions of the guest display.

3. You may also add one or both of the following optional lines:

svga.vramSize = 67108864

NOTE:- 128 megabytes = 134 217 728 bytes

This line increases the amount of VRAM on the virtual display card to 64 MB. Adding more VRAM helps to reduce thrashing in

the guest. The maximum value is 128 MB.

vmmouse.present = FALSE

This line disables the absolute pointing device in the guest. Applications which require DirectInput relative mode need to

turn off the absolute pointing device in the guest. In practice, this is only required for a certain class of full screen 3-D

applications (for example, real-time games like first-person shooters).

Note: If you set the vmmouse.present option, you should also turn off the preference for motion ungrabbing in the Input tab

of the Preferences settings dialog.

To turn off ungrabbing for vmouse.present:

a. Choose Edit > Preferences.

b. Click Input.

c. Deselect Ungrab when cursor leaves window.

4.3> Sharing existing HDD partition in the virtual machine
[Data Risk - Dont use it unless really required]

- Click on Edit virtual machine settings.
- New windows open , click ADD
- Add Hardware Wizard Opens Click Next
- Select Harddisk here.
- Use physical disk [Warning is displayed]
- Select ur HDD Physical Drive0,Physical Drive1,....... [If u have more than one HDDs]
- Select Entire or partition
- Select the Partition
- Select app Disk file name.vmdk
- Click Next and finish
- Now boot your virtual machine and you will have your Windows Partition in your Virtual Machine.
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Hope this Guide helps you getting started with using Virtual Machines and trying out all the Linux Distros and multiboot.

I have tried to simplify to my level best by adding screenshots wherever required.

Do lemme know if this guide helped you.

montylee · #1 (**permalink**) By montylee on 19 Aug 07, 01:59 PM

Cool Guide dude! Keep up the good work!

Quad Master · #2 (**permalink**) By Quad Master on 19 Aug 07, 05:15 PM

Thanks a lot for the appreciation.

cricfan · #3 (**permalink**) By cricfan on 20 Aug 07, 12:49 PM

thanx for the guide...can vmware be used to create virtual networks with server-client model...i can use it to pratice for mcse exams..r there virtual devices like routers.switches in vmware...

Dark Star · #4 (**permalink**) By Dark Star on 20 Aug 07, 02:13 PM

Nice Guide

But is it now helpful when nearly all big distros comes with Live Cd option

Repped

montylee · #5 (**permalink**) By montylee on 20 Aug 07, 02:27 PM

It is helpful dude. The basic point of virtualization is that u don't need to reboot to use a different OS. You can use an OS from within a different OS.

Quad Master · #6 (**permalink**) By Quad Master on 20 Aug 07, 02:38 PM

And your hdd partitions also remain safe if u donno how to install linux properly.

Yes you can have virtual network in vmware but for each virtual pc u need to start different virtual machine.

If u want to simulate networks u can try network simulator - NS2.

Dark Star · #7 (**permalink**) By Dark Star on 20 Aug 07, 04:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by montylee

It is helpful dude. The basic point of virtualization is that u don't need to reboot to use a different OS. You can use an OS from within a different OS.

Thx Mony and Quadyy

btw using Live Cd isn't meant for Installation only

btw nice.. Windows to Linux but Linux/Mac cannot Virtualize Windows as say M$ .. I guess who is gonna do that if they have real gem of OS already install

Jambumali · #8 (**permalink**) By Jambumali on 12 Sep 07, 12:53 PM

Can we run Win98 using this?

Quad Master · #9 (**permalink**) By Quad Master on 12 Sep 07, 02:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jambumali

Can we run Win98 using this?

yes you can install win 98 on it.

Sei · #10 (**permalink**) By Sei on 13 Sep 07, 08:55 PM

Superb guide there mate.... installed ubuntu (and mandriva and linspire

) in a breeze... the screenshots, especially, were really helpful. Reps coming your way.

After running successfully for 2 days, me getting this message when trying to run ubuntu. What can be the problem??

Also, when I power on Mandriva, I get the following error message. Though in this case, I'm able to boot Mandriva if I select continue.

Quad Master · #11 (**permalink**) By Quad Master on 14 Sep 07, 08:18 AM

1st pic --> did you take snapshot of the os i.e. resuming directly from the state where you left without going thru the boot process everytime. this is not recommended by me at all.

there must have been some problem while writing the .vmdk file and might have been corrupted.

2nd pic --> never seen such errors on my pc so cant comment.

Infact i have never faced ne such issues on my pc at all.
I wud suggest you to recreate ur virtual machine and later dont take snapshots and resume it.

Sei · #12 (**permalink**) By Sei on 14 Sep 07, 10:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Quad Master

1st pic --> did you take snapshot of the os i.e. resuming directly from the state where you left without going thru the boot process everytime. this is not recommended by me at all.

there must have been some problem while writing the .vmdk file and might have been corrupted.

2nd pic --> never seen such errors on my pc so cant comment.

Infact i have never faced ne such issues on my pc at all.
I wud suggest you to recreate ur virtual machine and later dont take snapshots and resume it.

I had taken snapshots the previous night, but when the virtual os was running in a window.. Can that disrupt the vm image?? The thing started giving me errors the next morning.

DanDroiD · #13 (**permalink**) By DanDroiD on 16 Sep 07, 12:51 PM

Excellent guide. Thanks

maxme · #14 (**permalink**) By maxme on 23 Sep 07, 10:27 PM

I am facing one problem with my Win server 2000 image.
It's network is configured in Birdged mode and its connecting at 10 mbps speed.

I have gigabit network in the office. My question is how can I configure it to use 1 gbps.

This is urgent.

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