Hi all,

I want to use VMware to run Windows. Obviously a Linux distro would be the host OS. Since I don't know much about virtualization, I went to: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compari...rtual_machines

If you scroll down, then you will see several "VMware" entries:

1) VMware ESX Server 3.0
2) VMware ESX Server 2.5.3
3) VMware Server
4) VMware Workstation 5.5
5) VMware Player

Needless to say, finding five (5) different options confused me. So, my questions are:

1) Does anyone know if that list on the wiki page is correct and current?

2) Is it possible for someone to, just briefly, explain the difference among those five (5) options? More specifically, what would be the difference among a virtual "server," "workstation," and "player?"

3) If you have experience using VMware with Linux as host and Windows as guest, I would like to hear your thoughts, opinions, etc.

Any thoughts? Thanks!

VMware Server is free. That's what you want to install.

chort:

Not to nit-pick, but I just want to be certain I understand you.

There are three (3) different "server" listed above but I am assuming you are referring to #3. It is the "server" option that does not have "ESX" next to it.

Correct?

I am looking at the VMware download webpage:

http://register.vmware.com/content/download.html

Does anyone know which I should download? Which would I download if I want to virtualize Windows on my Linux PC? Which would I download if I want to virtualize another Linux distro on my Linux PC?

The wording which describes the downloads is confusing. My distro (MEPIS) is debian based, so I assume I would not need to download anything that is RPM based. Is this correct?

Anyone reading, feel free to reply. Thanks.

You don't download VMware packages based on what virtual (guest) OS you're going to run, you select based on your host OS. If you have no way to install RPMs on your distro, then get the tarball. Even non-RPM distros can often install RPMs with add-on software. If you're not sure how to do that, just get the tarball. No matter what host OS you use, the possible guest OSs are the same.

chort:

Thank you for the clarification. On another related issue, I just finished reading the VMware White Paper (Virtualization Overview) and noticed the following:

"VMware supports: Windows 95/98 . . . Linux (Red Hat, SuSe Mandrake, Caldera). . ."

Can you (or anyone else reading) confirm this statement? I do not use any of those four (4) Linux distros. Does that mean I am sh** out of luck?

I sent VMware an email regarding the issue, but I don't know how long it will take for them to reply. In the meantime, I decided to post my question here.

Thanks again!

"Not supported" doesn't mean it doesn't work. It just means you're on your own as far as getting it working.

VMware will run on other distributions. In fact, VMware player is in the Ubuntu multiverse repository and works just fine. Odds are that it will work on your distro - you'll just have to install it to find out for sure.

VMWare Workstation is a good one because you can install all kind of windows, even all distro of linux on linux host. Also I think you can install mac on linux too using VMWare Workstation. Unfortunately I haven't try install Mac using VMWare ever.

1) Not too sure if it's current or not buy it looks accurate if you compare what you can download from the Vmware website and that Wiki.

2)VMware workstation is for big networked virtualization I think. It should have more support than the free ones obviously. VMware Workstation is not free.

VMWare server is for setting up a server where you can control other vmware player guest. It's just as the same describe it, "server". I would recommend using this one. This way, you can create multiple guest and manage them.

VMware player is basically a unprevilledged user. I haven't used this before but I've seen it at school. I think you can't install, change or delete the OS that's on it, not too sure I'm guessing. It only allows you to use the OS on it that was set up by the Vmware server or workstation.

3) I've tried VMware server. Everything runs well. On my computer, I notice slight lags. VMware technology is very well made. I'm not too sure if it allows you to play games on it though because I couldn't play good games like warcraft 3, but I didn't bother trying to searching if its possible. Pin ball works You can run good application such as 3ds Max and Maya on VMware server. There are also virtual sound and graphics driver for you to install too. So it's an alternative if you can't access windows dependent softwares. It's not Wine (it's a lot better in terms of the things I do anyhow) so don't you go think it's just another slapped on software that forcefully make virtualization a bit better.

Have fun.

Chuong:

How hard was it for you to install VMware? For the life of me, I can not find a "how-to" guide that is written for non-technical people like myself.

Do you know of any guides, websites, etc? I keep looking, but come up empty handed.

I need someone's tech understanding for this website:

http://register.vmware.com/content/download.html

It is the VMware download page. If you look at the "for Linux Systems," you will note the following:

1) VMware Server for Linux.
The core application needed to run VMware Server and interact with it on the local machine. TAR Binary.

2) VMware Server for Linux.
As above, but a RPM Binary.

3) Management Interface.
The VMware Server Web-based management interface. Install on your VMware Server system to enable control from a Web browser. Includes downloadable VMware Server Console installation files.

4) VMware Server Windows client package. A zip package containing installer files for the following VMware Server Windows Client components:
- Windows VMware Server Console (.exe)
- COM scripting API for Windows (.exe)
- Perl scripting API for Windows (.exe)
- Programming API (.exe)

5) VMware Server Linux client package. A zip package containing installer files for the following VMware Server Linux Client components:
- Linux VMware Server Console (.tar and .rpm)
- Perl scripting API for Linux (.tar)
- Programming API (.tar)

I understand what #1 and #2 are but I do not understand #3, #4 and #5. Since I have yet to receive a reply from VMware, so I thought I would try my luck here.

Thanks!

Not to sound rude or anything, but I think you are asking way too many questions before trying anything yourself.

Download the damn thing and start using it. Its way to simple than you think.

You need to do three main things:

1) Get yourself a serial number from the vmware website. It's free.
2) Download the vmware server. It should be under the "Download VMware Server (for Linux Systems)" section and download "VMware Server for Linux" (first link).
3) Untar and install.

I just installed vmware a couple of days ago. But read the docs that come with vmware server.

Good Luck

You need the xinetd and some C header files (compat maybe? I can't remember which) which you can install with yum I think.

Try using the search tool for the Linux software forum. I remember I asked people how to install VMWare myself.

It's not some technical script modifying task you need to do.

What you need are the required packages to install VMware server and the serial key.

With those, you can just press the enter key everytime you are prompt for file locations and such during the installation process.

If all you want to do is run windows, then download the vmware player. Its free and the smallest package. Its just not easy to set things up.
Then download the syllable guest. Extract it and edit the .vmx file and change the line pointing to the syllable iso to your cd drive with the XP cd or an iso of it, then bring up the syllable virtual machine, reboot it and hit f2 to enter the virtual bios and set the boot order so it boots from cd. This has been asked on vmware's forums if its ok and they are fine with it.