How to install vmware player in Ubuntu 7.10 or 8.04 tutorial.
 

Some of my friends have asked me many times how I install Vmware player for Ubuntu 7.10 or 8.04. So here's my basic tutorial. I hope this makes sense everyone. This tutorial will explain how to install VMware Player on Ubuntu Gutsy or Hardy Heron.

Download the most current tar.gz package ( VMware-player-2.0.5-109488.i386.tar.gz) from the VMware website.
http://www.vmware.com/download/player/download.html

Before you do anything, there are some things you have to look up and download in your Ubuntu system.
First you have to see what linux kernel you are using on your Ubuntu Linux PC.
Bring up your bash shell from the "applications menu bar". Click on "terminal" which is under "accessories". Type in the following command at the bash command line:

uname -r

This command will return the following linux kernel results:

2.6.22-14-generic (Gutsy Gibbon)
or
2.6.24-21-generic (Hardy Heron)

Or the kernel maybe another version so use "uname -r" command to make sure what kernel version for the headers you need.


I have 2.6.24-21-generic, so I have to install the linux headers files for my kernel version:
(if your using Ubuntu 7.10 Gutsy install headers for 2.6.22-14-generic kernel)

Enter the following command:

sudo apt-get install linux-headers-2.6.24-21-generic

You also need to make sure you have "build-essential" package installed in your system before you install vmware-player.

Enter the following command:

sudo apt-get install build-essential

Now download VMware Player tar.gz package from the VMware website. At this time the most recent package is: VMware-player-2.0.5-109488.i386.tar.gz


Once the download is complete move the Vmware tar package to your home folder in "Gnome" or move it to your home directory in the command line. Now untar the .tar.gz file using the following command:

tar -xzvf VMware-player-2.0.5-109488.i386.tar.gz


The tar.gz package is now extracted.

Now you need to change into the vmware directory with the following command:

cd vmware-player-distrib

Now it's time for the fun stuff: Installing with the following command:

sudo ./vmware-install.pl

During the installation you must answer some basic questions. For a standard installation enter the following:

In which directory do you want to install the binary files?
[/usr/bin]
What is the directory that contains the init directories (rc0.d/ to rc6.d/)?
[/etc]
What is the directory that contains the init scripts?
[/etc/init.d]
In which directory do you want to install the daemon files?
[/usr/sbin]
In which directory do you want to install the library files?
[/usr/lib/vmware]
The path “/usr/lib/vmware” does not exist currently. This program is going to
create it, including needed parent directories. Is this what you want?
[yes]
In which directory do you want to install the documentation files?
[/usr/share/doc/vmware]
The path “/usr/share/doc/vmware” does not exist currently. This program is
going to create it, including needed parent directories. Is this what you want?
[yes]
Before running VMware Player for the first time, you need to configure it by
invoking the following command: “/usr/bin/vmware-config.pl”. Do you want this
program to invoke the command for you now?
[yes]
In which directory do you want to install the theme icons?
[/usr/share/icons]
What directory contains your desktop menu entry files? These files have a
.desktop file extension.
[/usr/share/applications]
In which directory do you want to install the application’s icon?
[/usr/share/pixmaps]
None of the pre-built vmmon modules for VMware Player is suitable for your
running kernel. Do you want this program to try to build the vmmon module for
your system (you need to have a C compiler installed on your system)?
[yes]
What is the location of the directory of C header files that match your running
kernel?
[/lib/modules/2.6.22-14-generic/build/include]
None of the pre-built vmblock modules for VMware Player is suitable for your
running kernel. Do you want this program to try to build the vmblock module
for your system (you need to have a C compiler installed on your system)?
[yes]
Do you want networking for your virtual machines? (yes/no/help)
[yes]
Do you want to be able to use NAT networking in your virtual machines? (yes/no)
[yes]
Do you want this program to probe for an unused private subnet? (yes/no/help)
[yes]
Do you wish to configure another NAT network? (yes/no)
[no]
Do you want to be able to use host-only networking in your virtual machines?
[yes]
Do you want this program to probe for an unused private subnet? (yes/no/help)
[yes]
Do you wish to configure another host-only network? (yes/no)
[no]

None of the pre-built vmnet modules for VMware Player is suitable for your
running kernel. Do you want this program to try to build the vmnet module for
your system (you need to have a C compiler installed on your system)?
[yes]


The installation process is now finished and you can start VMware Player from your Applications Menu under "system tools". (Gnome)

If for some reason you don't like VMware-player and you want to try something else use the following command in the command line to remove Vmware player:

sudo /usr/bin/vmware-uninstall.pl

Have fun!
P.S. If you are looking for vmware virtual images to play around with I suggest the following website:
http://www.vmware.com/appliances/directory/cat/45

If you are interested in making your very own virtual OS images try this website:
http://www.easyvmx.com/ (use the Easy-VMX ver 2.0)

Once again have fun!

thank you so much for your article on installing VMware.
Need your help though. I am a newbie in Linux.

I have downloaded VMware into my USB Kingston (external flashdrive)
as a tar.gz.
My OS is Ubuntu 8.04.
How do I transfer those files into the Gnome or Home folder in Linux OS?
Would you kindly give me the specific commands to be typewritten in the command line? like for example the "build commands" and the "move" commands" from USB to Ubuntu folder?

Your article didnt include the specific commands to move those tar.gz files from my USB to my Linux folders through the command line.

after that, I'll follow the "commands" in your article on installing VMware.

sincerely much thanks.....emmanuel

Installing VMplayer in gOS3
 

Hi, thank you for sharing... finally see light in getting my gOS to run VMplayer.

I follow your first two steps only manage to get the build-essential installed.
I could not get the linux-header install at all.

sudo apt-get install linux-headers2.6.24-21-generic
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
E: Couldn't find package linux-headers2.6.24-21-generic

How to resolve this?
thank you very much

re:Installing VMplayer in gOS3
 

HI! I think the problem is that you maybe trying to install the wrong linux headers. I don't use GOS3 and GOS3 might not be using the same linux headers & kernel I used as an example in the tutorial.
The Fix:
In your terminal just type the following command: uname -r
and this will give you your linux kernel version.
for example:
uname -r 2.6.22-14-generic
This is the hypothetical version that is installed. Then you would use the following commands to get your headers:

sudo apt-get install linux-headers-2.6.22-14-generic.

This is just an example. Your almost there you just need to figure out what kernel version your using. Good luck and let me know if you get vmplayer up and running.
Good luck!
RR.

enable USB 2.0 support
 

add folloing lines to your vmx file:

IMPORTANT: if your vmx file already has [scsi0.present = "TRUE"] then just comment the new one out with a leading "#" sign or delete the line.

This has been verified on Ubuntu 8.04 LTS as the host, with VMware Player v2.5.1 running the Overdrive Media Console software on a Windows XP virtual machine. The device was a SANDISK Sansa Fuze media player. And Windows Media Player v10 was used.

FYI, gawd I just can't wait til this ebook DRM stuff is fully functional in Linux.