Vmware Workstation - (A Cool Tool)

[DasFox]

Vmware Workstation is Virtualization Software.

Vmware Player is free, but you can't install your own systems with it directly from CD/DVD like you can with the Workstation that is why I'm making this little TUT over the Workstation, it allows more, and greater freedom...

Vmware workstation is great for many things, running multiple systems, Linux, Unix, Windows, etc... This is a great way to run different systems needed in an environment without the need for building more computers.

Vmware is also a great way to test software, installing it first into the OS under Vmware and doing your tests this way before bringing the software out onto a production computer.

Simply put Vmware Workstation is a cool tool, to do a lot of cool things with, that no pc geek should be without this handy little tool...

Read the FAQ to learn more about the Workstation:

http://www.vmware.com/products/ws/faqs.html

Below is a simple little guide with pics to show you how to get it started.

1. Create A New Virtual Machine:

http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/ii137/TorrentMonkey/vmware1.jpg

http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/ii137/TorrentMonkey/vmware2.jpg


2. Use the 'Typical' setting.

http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/ii137/TorrentMonkey/vmware3.jpg


3. Select a Guest Operating System.

http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/ii137/TorrentMonkey/vmware4.jpg


5. Name the Virtual Machine (Give it a name.)

http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/ii137/TorrentMonkey/vmware5.jpg


6. Network type -(bridged or nat are fine if you have a network card/broadband connection).

http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/ii137/TorrentMonkey/vmware6.jpg


7. Specify Disk Capacity - (Just use the up and down arrows where 8GB is and pick the size you'd like to make your virtual hard drive space). This will use actual space, so make sure your hard drive where the VMware directory is located, which by default is My Documents\My Virtual Machines\ has the space you want to use.

http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/ii137/TorrentMonkey/vmware7.jpg


8. Virtual Machine Created. - Congratulations you've just created your first virtual machine, not so hard right? :)

http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/ii137/TorrentMonkey/vmware8.jpg


9. VMware main window - Now it's time to install the OS. Click and highlight the OS on the left hand side, pop your cd/dvd in your cd/dvd rom drive, then under the 'Commands' on the right click, 'Start this virtual machine.' Now Vmware will power up and begin the installation of the OS you wish to install, so sit back and take a breather. Later if you need to change any hardware settings you can do that from, 'Edit virtual machine settings'.

http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/ii137/TorrentMonkey/vmware9.jpg


10. VMware Tools - In this screenshot you'll notice the words, 'Install VMware Tools...' which is greyed out. Once your OS is installed, you might see a popup telling you about installing VMware tools, which helps with mouse and graphics support, if not, then click the drop down section, 'VM' and click the link to begin the installation, and that's all there is to installing an OS in VMware Workstation. :)

http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/ii137/TorrentMonkey/vmware10.jpg


11. Snapshot Manager - Really cool way to take snap shot images and revert the system back to previous states with real snap shot imagining. Personally I like to take a snap shot when the OS has just been installed and clean, but whatever way you choose the idea is if you mess something up, or get sick of all the junk software you've been testing you can just put back a previous snap shot and start all over again nice and clean.

http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/ii137/TorrentMonkey/vmware11.jpg

http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/ii137/TorrentMonkey/vmware12.jpg


Now go and play, you're now a WMware Pro, WoOt! :)

[Cal]

i used to mess with this...glad its still around

[DasFox]

i used to mess with this...glad its still around

Finally a reply, LOL, VMware is GREAT! :p

[MattSpec]

yea i used to use it for quite a few things, sadly all of those projects are long toast now

[NonPermissiveEnvironment]

VirtualBox is better, open-source FTW.

[Romeyo]

I am using it still.. VMware-workstation-6.0.3-80004 .. It is a nice software :) Never tried the open source one.. is it free to use in windows too? My Host OS is Windows XP SP3. Thats why I am wondering? Or may be you're speaking about linux?

[DasFox]

VirtualBox is better, open-source FTW.

Virtualbox has it's pros and cons, so does Vmware, but overall nothing can touch VMware, I've tried them both, and know from experience...

VMWare offers greater hardware and software support...

P.S. Btw this isn't a debating post, it's a tutorial... ;)

[808ninja]

Can anyone tell me why my virtual xp pro wont boot? it was working fine on my vista for a few months, but now when i press start machine all i get is a black screen. I kinda want to get some stuff off of it.