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.

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. :)

[Shof]

Great Guide :D

[Quad Master]

Thanks a lot for ur appreciation.

[Manic9803]

VMware is great, I took snapshots of a "perfect build" with all my software and drivers, and saved that ISO. Now I can load the "perfect" virtual machine with in 10 seconds ;). Vmware is also great for testing, alot of large corporations, including my company is using VMWARE for testing/application testing with certain OS platforms.

[Quad Master]

Its really one of the most powerful softwares i have used till date.

You can also try out virtualbox from innotek which is a freeware and is equally powerful as vmware worsktation which is a paid software

[Manic9803]

Its really one of the most powerful softwares i have used till date.

You can also try out virtualbox from innotek which is a freeware and is equally powerful as vmware worsktation which is a paid software

Its free out there, look around some ;)

[yken]

is it possible to install the OS from VMware to harddisk? or is it possible to copy a virtual image to harddisk or can we make a virtual disk from harddisk?

[Manic9803]

is it possible to install the OS from VMware to harddisk? or is it possible to copy a virtual image to harddisk or can we make a virtual disk from harddisk?

Why would you want to install the OS from VMWARE? If you have the OS on VMWARE you can install it on the hard drive as well. You need the OS and the cd key to load it into VMWARE so you can load it onto your HDD as well then.

Its possible to copy a virtual machine, however it saves it to a certain file extension only to be used in VMWARE's format. I built a ISO in one respect that can be used on a VMPLAYER. Which is a free DL and you can use my ISO to load onto your player and have that VIRTUAL OS loaded onto that machine.

As for your question

can we make a virtual disk from harddisk?

Your using your HDD to create space for the virtual machine. You may want to look into this a bit further before you proceed into installing OS's.

[yken]

lets say i have already installed XP to my hardisk. Can i convert this partiton to vmware image format

so i can use it as if its installed through Vmware.

[Quad Master]

I dont think thats possible directly , atleast in Vmware 5.5 which i use.

you will have to make a fresh install in vmware for any os u want to try.

[gunslinger]

I have only used vmware once but I use microsoft virtual machine all the time, whats the main difference between the two?

[Quad Master]

Microsoft Virtual Machine or Virtual PC is also a virtual machine software like Vmware or Virtual box

All 3 do the same task or handling virtual machines , i feel Vmware is the best [personal opinion , might vary for others]

[mneekhrey]

Sorry for being a Newbie...But where do i add the line mks.enable3d = TRUE in the .vmx file...

regards

[Quad Master]

yes in the .vmx file

[RedDevil99]

Thats a great guide, thanks for posting it. It will come in very handy.

[aeg]

Does anyone know which is faster? VMWare Workstation or Server?

[Andre S. Veteran]

Hm, that's interesting. I have very old games, such as the Settlers 2, that run pretty glitchy or not at all on Vista. If I made a VM with Windows 95 on it would such games play fine?

[qdave]

^ yes it will. btw settlers i great game :)

i tried windows server 2008 with vmware. ran smoothly.

[Berserk87]

does virtualbox have a feature like vmwares "unity"?

and with virtualbox can you assign each OS to its on desktop, so you have Linux on #1 then flip to the 2nd Desktop Running XP etc...

its its full screen of each OS but different desktops. (desktops, not monitors)

[Mantrastic]

Hey I got a question, I'm so sorry to bump this...

I'v added mks.enable3d = TRUE but everytime I run it nothing happens and it goes back to FALSE, any ideas? I did shut down it b4 editing.

ok I got it. nvm.

Edited April 17, 2008 by Mantrastic

[cesc]

How do you install WMWare Tools under Linux? I think thats a very intresting thing that should be added to this guide :)

[randomnut]

lets say i have already installed XP to my hardisk. Can i convert this partiton to vmware image format

so i can use it as if its installed through Vmware.

Yes, just download the free vmware converter from their site and you can convert any machine to a VM.

[virgo89]

Only thing I didnt like was it uses its own graphic card, not the one I actually have.

So CompizFusion does not work, as well as any other effects (on ubuntu).

[Mantrastic]

I'v enabled 3D support on the virtual, but when its enabled the screen is black on half of it, theres like smudges all over, I cant see anything clearly, if I disable 3D support its all back to normal.

[The2]

I'v enabled 3D support on the virtual, but when its enabled the screen is black on half of it, theres like smudges all over, I cant see anything clearly, if I disable 3D support its all back to normal.

That's a pretty good reason why that option is not available in the GUI, isn't it? :D