VMware Player - 3.1 Getting Started Guide
Getting Started Guide
VMware Player 3.1
This document supports the version of each product listed and
supports all subsequent versions until the document is replaced
by a new edition. To check for more recent editions of this
document, see http://www.vmware.com/support/pubs.
EN-000360-00
Getting Started Guide
You can find the most up-to-date technical documentation on the VMware Web site at:
http://www.vmware.com/support/
The VMware Web site also provides the latest product updates.
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VMware is a registered trademark or trademark of VMware, Inc. in the United States and/or other jurisdictions. All other marks
and names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective companies.
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Contents
About This Book 5
What Is VMware Player? 7
1
What You Can Do with VMware Player 8
Features in VMware Player 8
Host System Requirements for VMware Player 11
2
Compatible Virtual Machines and System Images 12
Using Virtual Symmetric Multiprocessing 12
Supported Host and Guest Operating Systems for VMware Player 13
3
Processor Support for 64-Bit Guest Operating Systems 13
Installing and Running VMware Player 15
4
Install VMware Player on a Windows Host 15
Install VMware Player on a Linux Host 16
Start VMware Player 18
Close VMware Player 18
Uninstalling VMware Player 19
5
Uninstall VMware Player on a Windows Host 19
Uninstall VMware Player on a Windows Vista or Windows 7 Host 19
Uninstall VMware Player on a Linux Host 20
Index 21
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Getting Started Guide
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About This Book
This preface provides information about the VMware Player Getting Started Guide and links to VMware
educational resources.
Intended Audience
This book is intended for anyone who wants to install and use VMware Player 3.1. VMware Player 3.1 users
include anyone who wants to create and run virtual machines or virtual appliances. You can download and
safely run prebuilt application environments provided by software vendors or colleagues.
Document Feedback
VMware welcomes your suggestions for improving our documentation. If you have comments, send your
feedback to docfeedback@vmware.com.
Education Resources
The following Education resources are available to you. To access the current version of this book and other
books, go to http://www.vmware.com/support/pubs.
VMware Professional Services
VMware Education Services courses offer extensive hands-on labs, case study examples, and course materials
designed to be used as on-the-job reference tools. Courses are available onsite, in the classroom, and live online.
For onsite pilot programs and implementation best practices, VMware Consulting Services provides offerings
to help you assess, plan, build, and manage your virtual environment. To access information about education
classes, certification programs, and consulting services, go to: http://www.vmware.com/services/.
®
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Getting Started Guide
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What Is VMware Player? 1
VMware Player is a desktop application that lets you create, configure, and run virtual machines.
With VMware Player you can use the following features:
n
Create virtual machines that can run on a Windows or Linux PC.
n
Run virtual machines, making it easy to take advantage of the security, flexibility, and portability of virtual
machines.
n
Access all of the host machine hardware devices, such as USB drives, from the virtual machine.
The terms host and guest describe physical and virtual machines:
Host
Guest
VMware Player provides an intuitive user interface for creating virtual machines or running preconfigured
virtual machines created with VMware Workstation, ESX Server, VMware Server, VMware Fusion, and GSX
Server. On Windows host machines, you can use VMware Player to open and run Microsoft Virtual PC and
Microsoft Virtual Server virtual machines, and Symantec Backup Exec System Recovery, formerly LiveState
Recovery, system images. VMware Player also lets you download virtual appliances and access Open
Virtualization Format (OVF) and Open Virtual Appliance (OVA) files. For information about VMware Player
see the compatible virtual machines and system images topic.
VMware Player makes VMware virtual machines accessible to colleagues, partners, customers, and clients,
regardless of whether they have purchased VMware products. Anyone who downloads VMware Player can
open and run compatible virtual machines.
NOTE Use of VMware Player is subject to the VMware Player end-user license terms. VMware provides no
support for VMware Player. You can download VMware Player from the VMware Web site.
You can also download virtual appliances to use with VMware Player from the Virtual Appliance Marketplace
from the VMware Web site.
For self-help resources, see the VMware Player FAQ under the VMware Player section of the VMware Web
site. You can also participate in the VMware Player Communities forum under the Support & Downloads
section of the VMware Web site. The forum enables members to exchange information, questions, and
comments regarding VMware products, services, and product support issues.
The physical computer on which you install the VMware Player software is
called the host machine, and its operating system is called the host operating
system.
The operating system running inside a virtual machine is called a guest
operating system. The virtual machine is called the guest.
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