INSTALLING "VMWARE PLAYER" INTO A HOST "UBUNTU LINUX" COMPUTER

Objective: Install the free "VMware Player" software application program that into a "Ubuntu Linux" host computer. Then you can create an unlimited number of "virtual machines" that run various versions of "Windows", "MS-DOS", "Unix", and "Linux" computers.

BASIC INFORMATION ABOUT "VMWARE PLAYER" Basic information about "VMware Player" can be found at http://www.vmware.com/products/player/faqs.html and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VMware and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VMware_Player

OPERATING SYSTEMS REQUIREMENTS FOR THE HOST COMPUTER

"Windows XP", "Windows Vista", "Windows 7", many "distros" of "Linux" can be a host operating system for "VMware Player". According to page 13 of the users guide at http://www.vmware.com/pdf/vmware_player310.pdf <Start of quote:> You can check the supported host and guest operating systems list for virtual machines running in VMware

Player to verify whether your computer operating system allows you to install VMware Player. For installation, VMware Player requires approximately 250MB (Windows) or 200MB (Linux) free disk space. You can delete the installer after installation is complete to reclaim disk space. For host and guest operating system support and known issues, go to the VMware Web site, and click the Support & Downloads tab. Under Support Resources, click the Compatibility Guides link. VMware Player is not listed, but the information for VMware Workstation 7.x is applicable to VMware Player 3.x. Operating systems that are not listed are not supported for use in a virtual machine. <End of quote> http://www.vmware.com/resources/compatibility/search.php?action=search&deviceCategory=software&advancedORbasic=advanced&maxDisplayRows=1000000&key=&productId=3&datePosted=-1&partnerId%5B%5D=-1&os_bits=-1&os_use%5B%5D=-1&os_family%5B%5D=-1&os_type%5B%5D=-1&rorre=0

HARDWARE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE HOST COMPUTER

The hardware requirements for a host computer than runs "VMware Player" can be found at http://www.vmware.com/pdf/vmware_player310.pdf According to page 11 of this document: <Start of quote> Your computer must have the compatible hardware to install VMware Player. The minimum host system requirements for installing and using VMware Player are: Standard x86-compatible

or x86-64 with Intel VT Intel™ Virtualization Technology feature turned on or most AMD64 processors (except the earliest revision C Opteron processors). Processor speed – 1.3GHz or faster Memory – Minimum 1GB is required, however VMware recommends to have 2GB and above available memory. You must have enough memory to run the host operating system, the guest operating system for every virtual machine, and for applications on the host and guest. For more information about memory requirements, see your guest operating system documentation. The total amount of memory you can assign to all virtual machines running on a single host is limited only by the amount of RAM on the host. The maximum amount of memory for each virtual machine on 32-bit hosts is 8GB and on 64-bit hosts is 32GB. VMware Player does not allow powering on virtual machines that are configured to use more than 8GB of memory on 32-bit hosts. Memory management limitations on 32-bit operating systems cause virtual machine memory to overcommit, which severely affects system performance. Hard disk – At least 1GB free disk space is recommended for each guest operating system. <End of quote>

INSTALLING "VMWARE PLAYER" INTO "UBUNTU LINUX" VERSIONS PRIOR TO "10"

To install "VMware Player" into versions of "Ubuntu Linux" prior to version 10, see https://help.ubuntu.com/community/VMware/Player

ONE WAY TO INSTALL "VMWARE PLAYER" INTO "UBUNTU LINUX" 10.xx or 11.xx One way to install "VMware Player" into "Ubuntu Linux" is described http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/18768/run-windows-in-ubuntu-with-vmware-player/

A SECOND WAY TO FOR INSTALL "VMWARE PLAYER" INTO "UBUNTU LINUX" 10.xx or 11.xx Here is a second way to install "VMware Player" into "Ubuntu Linux": Step 1: Start a Web browser such as "Firefox". Step 2: Go to https://www.vmware.com/tryvmware/?p=player&lp=1 It looks like this:

Ignore where it says "Your Trial Includes" in the lower left-hand corner. The free "VMware Player" software application program is not a time-limited trial. Step 3: Either log in with your existing free "VMware" account or register for one. Step 4: The download page for "VMware Player" looks like this:

Step 5: Click on the "Manually Download" hyperlink for the 32-bit "Linux" version of "VMware Player" if you host computer is running a 32-bit version of "Linux". Click on the "Manually Download" hyperlink for the 64-bit "Linux" version of "VMware Player" if you host computer is running a 64-bit version of "Linux". Step 6: Click on the "Save File" button of the "Opening.." box:

Step 7: The download will proceed:

Step 8: After the download completes, close the "Downloads" box by clicking on the "X" in the upper left-hand corner:

Step 9: Close the Web browser window. Step 10: Open a "Terminal" window by clicking on "Applications", "Accessories", and "Terminal":

Step 11: Use the cd command to go to your "Downloads" folder:

Step 12: Use the ls command to make sure that the downloaded installation package file is in the "Downloads" folder:

Step 13: Type in sudo sh VM*

Step 14: Press the Enter key:

Step 15: Type in the password for your "Ubuntu" user login account and then press the Enter key: Step 16: A "VMware Player Installer" box will be displayed:

Step 17: Click on the "Next" button of the "VMware Player Installer" box.

Step 18: Select the "No" option and click on the "Next" button. Step 19: Click on the "Install" button of the "Ready to Install" box:

Step 20: Watch the horizontal progress bar:

Step 21: Click on the "Close" button of the "Finish" box:

Step 22: Back in the Terminal window, type exit and then press the Enter key:

Step 23: Click on the "Applications", "System Tools", and then "VMware Player":

Step 24: Click on the "Accept" button of the "End User License Agreement" box:

Step 25: Your "VMware Player" window does not show any virtual machines in the left pane yet: