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Installing the VMware Workstation Software
Note: The steps below describe an installation from a CD-ROM disc. If you downloaded the software, the steps are the same except that you start from the directory where you saved the installer file you downloaded, not from the Linux directory on the CD.
1. Log on to your Linux host with the user name you plan to use when running VMware Workstation.
2. In a terminal window, become root so you can perform the initial installation steps.
su -
3. Mount the VMware Workstation CD-ROM.
4. Change to the Linux directory on the CD.
5. Continue installation with the appropriate section for your desired installer:
  • Using the tar Installer
  • Using the rpm Installer
  • Using the tar Installer
    Note: You may skip the steps for copying and unpacking the archive and install directly from the vmware-distrib directory on the CD.
    a. Copy the tar archive to a temporary directory on your hard drive—for example,  /tmp.
    cp VMware-<xxx>.tar.gz /tmp
    b. Change to the directory to which you copied the file.
    cd /tmp
    c. Unpack the archive.
    tar zxf VMware-<xxxx>.tar.gz
    d. Change to the installation directory.
    cd vmware-distrib
    e. Run the installation program.
    ./vmware-install.pl
    f. Accept the default directories for the binary files, library files, manual files, documentation files and init script.
    g. Answer Yes when prompted to run vmware-config.pl.
    This completes the tar archive installation instructions. Skip the RPM installer instructions and continue with the next numbered step.
    Using the rpm Installer
    a. Run rpm specifying the installation file.
    rpm -Uhv VMware-<xxx>.rpm
    VMware-<xxx>.rpm is the installation file on the CDROM. In place of <xxx> the filename contains numbers that correspond to the version and build.
    b. Run the configuration program from the command line.
    vmware-config.pl
    6. Press Enter to read the end user license agreement (EULA). You may page through it faster by pressing the space bar. If the Do you accept prompt doesn't appear, press Q to get to the next prompt.
    7. The remaining prompts are worded in such a way that, in most cases, the default response is appropriate. Some exceptions are noted here:
  • To enable host-only networking, respond Yes to the following prompts if they appear:
    Do you want your virtual machines to be able to use the host's network resources?
    Do you want to be able to use host-only networking in your virtual machines?
    Do you want this script to probe for an unused private subnet?
  • This allows for the sharing of files between the virtual machine and the host operating system. For more information, see Host Only Networking.
    Note: If you do not enable host-only networking now, you cannot allow a virtual machine to use both bridged and host-only networking.
    8. The configuration program displays a message saying the configuration completed successfully. If it does not display this message, run the configuration program again.
    9. When done, exit from the root account.
    exit
    Configuring with vmware-config.pl
    Use vmware-config.pl to configure your installation of VMware Workstation.
    Note: If you run the RPM installer, you need to run this program separately from the command line. If you install from the tar archive, the installer offers to launch the configuration program for you. Answer Yes when you see the prompt.
    Required Configuration Changes
    Configuration with vmware-config.pl is required in these circumstances:
  • When you install VMware Workstation the first time.
  • When you upgrade your version of Workstation.
  • When you upgrade your kernel. (It is not necessary to reinstall VMware Workstation after you upgrade your kernel.)
  • To reconfigure the networking options for VMware Workstation—for example, to add or remove host-only networks.
  • Location of vmware-config.pl
    The installer places vmware-config.pl in /usr/bin. If /usr/bin is not in your default path, run the program with the following command:
    /usr/bin/vmware-config.pl
    Install VMware Tools
    Note: Don't forget to install VMware tools after you get a guest operating system installed. See Installing VMware Tools.


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