VMware Player - 6.0 Getting Started Guide
Getting Started with VMware Player
VMware Player 6
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-001201-00
Getting Started with VMware Player
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.
If you have comments about this documentation, submit your feedback to:
docfeedback@vmware.com
Copyright © 2013 VMware, Inc. All rights reserved. This product is protected by U.S. and international copyright and
intellectual property laws. VMware products are covered by one or more patents listed at
http://www.vmware.com/go/patents.
VMware is a registered trademark or trademark of VMware, Inc. in the United States and other jurisdictions. All other marks
and names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective companies.
VMware, Inc.
3401 Hillview Ave.
Palo Alto, CA 94304
www.vmware.com
2 VMware, Inc.
Contents
Getting Started with VMware Player 5
Introduction and System Requirements 7
1
Host System Requirements 7
Virtual Machine Features and Specifications 10
Installing and Using Player 13
2
Install Player on a Windows Host 13
Install Player on a Linux Host 14
Uninstall Player 15
Start Player 15
Use the Player Window 16
Creating Virtual Machines 17
3
Understanding Virtual Machines 17
Preparing to Create a Virtual Machine 17
Create a Virtual Machine 21
Use Easy Install to Install a Guest Operating System 22
Install a Guest Operating System Manually 22
Importing Virtual Machines 24
Installing and Upgrading VMware Tools 25
Virtual Machine Files 35
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Using Virtual Machines 37
4
Starting Virtual Machines in Player 37
Stopping Virtual Machines in Player 40
Transferring Files and Text 42
Add a Host Printer to a Virtual Machine 50
Using Removable Devices in Virtual Machines 50
Install New Software in a Virtual Machine 58
Changing the Virtual Machine Display 58
Download a Virtual Appliance in Player 63
Remove a Virtual Machine from the Library in Player 64
Configuring and Managing Virtual Machines 65
5
Change the Name of a Virtual Machine 65
Change the Guest Operating System for a Virtual Machine 66
Change the Working Directory for a Virtual Machine 66
Change the Virtual Machine Directory for a Virtual Machine 66
Change the Memory Allocation for a Virtual Machine 67
Configuring Video and Sound 67
3
Getting Started with VMware Player
Moving Virtual Machines 71
Delete a Virtual Machine 73
View the Message Log for a Virtual Machine 74
Using the VIX API 74
Configuring and Managing Devices 75
6
Configuring DVD, CD-ROM, and Floppy Drives 75
Configuring a USB Controller 77
Configuring and Maintaining Virtual Hard Disks 79
Configuring Virtual Ports 85
Configuring Generic SCSI Devices 89
Configuring Eight-Way Virtual Symmetric Multiprocessing 93
Configuring Keyboard Features 94
Modify Hardware Settings for a Virtual Machine 101
Configuring Network Connections 103
7
Understanding Virtual Networking Components 103
Understanding Common Networking Configurations 104
Configuring Bridged Networking 105
Configuring Network Address Translation 106
Configuring Host-Only Networking 107
Changing a Networking Configuration 108
Index 111
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Getting Started with VMware Player
Getting Started with VMware Player describes how to install and use VMware® Player.
Intended Audience
This guide is intended for anyone who wants to install and use Player.
Where to Find Additional Information
For additional information about using Player, see the following documents. All of the documents are
available from the VMware Web site.
Installing and Configuring VMware Tools contains complete information about using VMware Tools.
n
The VMware Guest Operating System Installation Guide contains information about installing specific
n
guest operating systems.
The online VMware Compatibility Guide lists the supported host and guest operating systems for
n
Player.
The Player online help provides quick reference information about Player settings and common tasks. It is
available from the Player Help menu and when you click Help on a Player dialog box.
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5
Getting Started with VMware Player
6 VMware, Inc.
Introduction and System
Requirements 1
Player is a desktop application that lets you create, configure, and run virtual machines. You can also use
Player to download and run virtual appliances.
Host computers that run Player must meet specific hardware and software requirements. Virtual machines
that run in Player support specific devices and provide certain features.
This chapter includes the following topics:
“Host System Requirements,” on page 7
n
“Virtual Machine Features and Specifications,” on page 10
n
Host System Requirements
The physical computer on which you install Player is called the host system and its operating system is
called the host operating system. To run Player, the host system and the host operating system must meet
specific hardware and software requirements.
Processor Requirements for Host Systems
You must install Player on a host system that meets certain processor requirements.
Supported Processors
The host system must have a 64-bit x86 CPU that meets the following requirements.
LAHF/SAHF support in long mode
n
1.3GHz or faster core speed
n
Multiprocessor systems are supported.
When you install Player, the installer performs checks to make sure the host system has a supported
processor. You cannot install Player if the host system does not meet the processor requirements.
Processor Requirements for 64-Bit Guest Operating Systems
The operating system that runs inside a virtual machine is called the guest operating system. To run 64-bit
guest operating systems, the host system must have one of the following processors.
An AMD CPU that has segment-limit support in long mode
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An Intel CPU that has VT-x support
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7
Getting Started with VMware Player
If you have an Intel CPU that has VT-x support, you must verify that VT-x support is enabled in the host
system BIOS. The BIOS settings that must be enabled for VT-x support vary depending on the system
vendor. See the VMware knowledge base article at http://kb.vmware.com/kb/1003944 for information about
how to determine if VT-x support is enabled.
When you install a 64-bit operating system, Player performs checks to make sure the host system has a
supported processor. You cannot install a 64-bit operating system if the host system does not meet the
processor requirements.
Processor Requirements for Windows 7 Aero Graphics
To support Windows 7 Aero graphics, the host system should have either an Intel Dual Core 2.2GHz or later
CPU or an AMD Athlon 4200+ or later CPU.
Supported Host Operating Systems
You can install Player on Windows and Linux host operating systems.
To see a list of the supported host operating systems, search the online VMware Compatibility Guide on the
VMware Web site.
Player is not listed, but the information for Workstation is applicable to Player. Operating systems that are
not listed are not supported for use in a virtual machine.
Memory Requirements for Host Systems
The host system must have enough memory to run the host operating system, the guest operating systems
that run inside the virtual machines on the host system, and the applications that run in the host and guest
operating systems.
The minimum memory required on the host system is 1GB. 2GB and above is recommended.
To support Windows 7 Aero graphics in a virtual machine, at least 3GB of host system memory is required.
1GB of memory is allocated to the guest operating system and 256MB is allocated to graphics memory.
See your guest operating system and application documentation for more information on memory
requirements.
Display Requirements for Host Systems
The host system must have a 16-bit or 32-bit display adapter. Use the latest graphics driver recommended
for the host system.
To support Windows 7 Aero graphics, the host system should have either an NVIDIA GeForce 8800GT or
later or an ATI Radeon HD 2600 or later graphics processor.
IMPORTANT 3D benchmarks, such as 3DMark '06, might not render correctly or at all when running
Windows Vista or Windows 7 virtual machines on some graphics hardware.
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Chapter 1 Introduction and System Requirements
Disk Drive Requirements for Host Systems
Host systems must meet certain disk drive requirements. Guest operating systems can reside on physical
disk partitions or in virtual disk files.
Table 1‑1. Disk Drive Requirements for Host Systems
Drive Type Requirements
Hard disk
Optical CD-ROM and DVD
Floppy Virtual machines can connect to disk drives on the host computer. Floppy disk
IDE and SCSI hard drives are supported.
n
At least 1GB free disk space is recommended for each guest operating system
n
and the application software used with it. If you use a default setup, the
actual disk space needs are approximately the same as those for installing
and running the guest operating system and applications on a physical
computer.
For installation, approximately 200MB free disk space is required on Linux
n
and 250MB free disk space is required on Windows. You can delete the
installer after installation is complete to reclaim disk space.
IDE and SCSI optical drives are supported.
n
CD-ROM and DVD drives are supported.
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ISO disk image files are supported.
n
image files are also supported.
Solid-State Drives
If your host machine has a physical solid-state drive (SSD), the host informs guest operating systems they
are running on an SSD.
This allows the guest operating systems to optimize behavior. How the virtual machines recognize SSD and
use this information depends on the guest operating system and the disk type of the virtual disk (SCSI,
SATA, or IDE).
On Windows 8, Ubuntu, and Red Hat Enterprise Linux virtual machines, all drive types can report their
n
virtual disks as SSD drives.
On Windows 7 virtual machines, only IDE and SATA virtual disks can report their virtual disks as SSD.
n
SCSI virtual disks only report as SSD when used as a system drive in a virtual machine, or as a
mechanical drive when used as a data drive inside a virtual machine.
On Mac virtual machines, only SATA virtual disks are reported as SSD. IDE and SCSI virtual disks are
n
reported as mechanical drives.
Use the virtual machine operating system to verify your virtual machine is using SSD as its virtual disk.
Local Area Networking Requirements for Host Systems
You can use any Ethernet controller that the host operating system supports.
Non-Ethernet networks are supported by using built-in network address translation (NAT) or by using a
combination of host-only networking and routing software on the host operating system.
Help System Requirements
You must have a supported Web browser installed on the host system to use the Player Help system
The following Web browser versions are supported.
Internet Explorer 6 or later
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Mozilla Firefox 1.x or later
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Getting Started with VMware Player
Netscape 7.x or later
n
Safari 1.x or later
n
Opera 7.54u2 or later
n
Because Chrome does not support JavaScript on local systems, you cannot display the Player Help system in
Chrome.
Virtual Machine Features and Specifications
Player virtual machines support specific devices and provide certain features.
Supported Guest Operating Systems
A guest operating system can be Windows, Linux, and other commonly used operating systems.
To see a list of the supported guest operating systems, search the online VMware Compatibility Guide on
the VMware Web site.
Player is not listed, but the information for Workstation is applicable to Player. Operating systems that are
not listed are not supported for use in a virtual machine.
See the VMware Guest Operating System Installation Guide for information on installing the most common
guest operating systems.
Virtual Machine Processor Support
Virtual machines support certain processor features.
The same as the processor on the host computer.
n
One virtual processor on a host system that has one or more logical processors.
n
Up to eight virtual processors (eight-way virtual symmetric multiprocessing, or Virtual SMP) on a host
n
system that has at least two logical processors.
NOTE Player considers multiprocessor hosts that have two or more physical CPUs, single-processor
hosts that have a multicore CPU, and single-processor hosts that have hyperthreading enabled, to have
two logical processors.
Virtual Machine Memory Allocation
The total amount of memory that you can assign to all virtual machines running on a single host system is
limited only by the amount of RAM on the host.
On 64-bit hosts, the maximum amount of memory for each virtual machine is 64GB. On 32-bit hosts, the
maximum amount of memory for each virtual machine is 8GB. Player prevents powering on virtual
machines that are configured to use more than 8GB of memory on 32-bit hosts. Memory management
limitations on 32-bit operating systems cause virtual machine memory to overcommit, which severely
affects system performance.
10 VMware, Inc.
Chapter 1 Introduction and System Requirements
Compatible Virtual Machines and System Images
Player can run virtual machines and system images that other VMware products create and some nonVMware products.
VMware virtual
machines
Microsoft Virtual PC and
Virtual Server virtual
machines
Symantec Backup Exec
System Recovery
system images
Player runs virtual machines that were created by using Workstation 4 and
later, GSX Server 3.x, VMware Server, and ESX Server 2.5 and later.
Workstation 4 virtual machines run in legacy mode. You must use another
VMware product to upgrade virtual machines created in versions earlier
than Workstation 4 before you can run them in Player.
On Windows hosts, Player can run Microsoft Virtual PC and Virtual Server
virtual machines. When you open a Virtual PC virtual machine in Player,
Player creates a configuration file that is VMware product compatible and
that has a .vmx file extension. Player preserves the original Virtual PC
configuration file and gives the file a .vmc file extension. You can save the
VMware product-compatible virtual machine without changing the original
Virtual PC configuration file.
On Windows hosts, Player can run system images that were created by using
Symantec Backup Exec System Recovery, formerly Symantec LiveState
Recovery. When you open a Backup Exec System Recovery system image in
Player, Player creates a configuration file that is VMware product compatible
and that has a .vmx extension. Player preserves the original Backup Exec
System Recovery system image file and gives the file a .sv2i file extension.
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Getting Started with VMware Player
12 VMware, Inc.
Installing and Using Player 2
You can install Player on a Linux or Windows host system. Installing Player typically involves running a
standard GUI wizard.
This chapter includes the following topics:
“Install Player on a Windows Host,” on page 13
n
“Install Player on a Linux Host,” on page 14
n
“Uninstall Player,” on page 15
n
“Start Player,” on page 15
n
“Use the Player Window,” on page 16
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Install Player on a Windows Host
You install Player on a Windows host system by running the installation wizard.
Prerequisites
Verify that the host system meets the host system requirements. See “Host System Requirements,” on
n
page 7.
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Obtain the Player software. You can install Player from a product CD, or you can download Player
n
from the VMware Web site.
Procedure
1 Log in to the host system.
2 If you are installing Player from a CD, insert the CD in the CD-ROM drive on the host system.
If autorun is enabled, the installation program begins.
3 If autorun is not enabled, or if you downloaded the installation software, double-click the installer file.
The installer filename is similar to VMware-Player-xxxx-xxxx.exe, where xxxx-xxxx is the version and
build numbers.
4 Follow the prompts to finish the installation.
13
Getting Started with VMware Player
Install Player on a Linux Host
You run the Linux bundle installer to install Player on a Linux host system. On most Linux distributions, the
Linux bundle installer starts a GUI wizard. On some Linux distributions, including Red Hat Enterprise
Linux 5.1, the bundle installer starts a command-line wizard instead of a GUI wizard. You can also run the
installer with the --console option to install Player in a terminal window.
Prerequisites
Verify that the host system meets the host system requirements. See “Host System Requirements,” on
n
page 7.
Obtain the Player software. You can install Player from a product CD, or you can download Player
n
from the VMware Web site.
Familiarize yourself with the Linux command-line installation options. See “Linux Command Line
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Installation Options,” on page 15.
Verify that you have root access on the host system.
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Procedure
1 Log in to the Linux host system with the user name that you plan to use when you run Player.
2 Become root.
For example: su root
The command that you use depends on your Linux distribution and configuration.
3 If you are installing Player from the installation media, mount the Player installation media.
4 Change directories to the directory that contains the Player installer file.
Option Description
If you are installing the software
from a CD
If you downloaded the software
The installer file is in the Linux directory.
The installer file is in the download directory.
5 Run the appropriate Player installer file for the host system.
For example: sh VMware-Player-e.x.p-xxxx-xxxx.architecture.bundle --[option]
xxxx-xxxx is the version and build numbers, architecture is i386 or x86_64, and option is a command line
option.
6 Accept the license agreement.
If you are using the --console option or installing Player on a host system that does not support the
GUI wizard, press Enter to scroll through and read the license agreement or type q to skip to the
[yes/no] prompt.
7 Follow the prompts to finish the installation.
What to do next
After Player is installed, you can exit from the root account. You do not need to be root to run Player.
14 VMware, Inc.
Chapter 2 Installing and Using Player
Linux Command Line Installation Options
You can use command line installation options to install Player on a Linux host system.
To use the installation options, you must be logged in as root. Exit from the root account after the
installation is finished.
Table 2‑1. Linux Command Line Installation Options
Option Description
--gtk
--console
--custom
--regular
--required
--ignore-errors or -I
Opens the GUI-based VMware installer, which is the default option.
Enables you to use the terminal for installation.
Use this option to customize the locations of the installation directories
and set the hard limit for the number of open file descriptors.
Shows installation questions that have not been answered before or are
required. This is the default option.
Shows the license agreement only and then proceeds to install Player.
Allows the installation to continue even if there is an error in one of the
installer scripts. Because the section that has an error does not complete,
the component might not be properly configured
Uninstall Player
You must uninstall the previous version of Player before you can install the latest version.
How you uninstall Player depends on the host system platform.
Procedure
To uninstall Player on a Windows host system, use the Windows uninstall feature.
n
For example, on Windows 7, select Start > Control Panel > Programs > Programs and Features >
Uninstall a program.
To uninstall Player on a Linux host system, type the command vmware-installer -u vmware-player.
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The uninstall program lets you specify whether to preserve your configuration files.
Start Player
How you start Player depends on the host system platform and the options that you select when you install
Player.
On Windows host systems, you might have a desktop shortcut, a quick launch shortcut, or a combination of
these options in addition to a Start menu item.
On Linux host systems, you start Player from the command line. On some Linux distributions, including
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5.1, you can also start Player from the System Tools menu under Applications.
Procedure
To start Player on a Windows host system, select Start > Programs > VMware Player.
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To start Player on a Linux host system, type the vmplayer command.
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Option Description
/usr/bin is in your default path
/usr/bin is not in your default path
vmplayer &
/usr/bin/vmplayer &
VMware, Inc. 15
Getting Started with VMware Player
When you start Player, the Player window opens.
Use the Player Window
You interact with Player and virtual machines through the Player window. The best way to learn how to use
Player is to use it. The Player window is designed to be intuitive and easy to use.
Procedure
Use the icons on the Home tab to create a new virtual machine, open an existing virtual machine,
n
download a virtual appliance, or view the Player help system.
Select a powered-off virtual machine in the library see the summary view.
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The summary view shows a summary of configuration information and the virtual machine state. You
can start the virtual machine and edit virtual machine settings from the summary view.
Select a powered-off virtual machine in the library and click Play virtual machine to start the virtual
n
machine and see the console view.
The console view is like the monitor display of a physical computer.
Select a virtual machine in the library and use the Virtual Machine menu on the menu bar to perform
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all virtual machine operations for the selected virtual machine.
When a virtual machine is powered on, use the icons on the status bar at the bottom of the Player
n
window to perform actions on virtual devices such as hard disks, CD/DVD drives, floppy drives, and
network adapters.
You can click or right-click on a removable device icon to connect or disconnect the device or edit its
settings.
Use the About VMware Player window to access information about your installation of Player,
n
including license key information. Click Player > Help > About VMware Player.
16 VMware, Inc.
Creating Virtual Machines 3
You create a new virtual machine in Player by using the New Virtual Machine wizard and import thirdparty and Open Virtualization Format (OVF) virtual machines.
This chapter includes the following topics:
“Understanding Virtual Machines,” on page 17
n
“Preparing to Create a Virtual Machine,” on page 17
n
“Create a Virtual Machine,” on page 21
n
“Use Easy Install to Install a Guest Operating System,” on page 22
n
“Install a Guest Operating System Manually,” on page 22
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“Importing Virtual Machines,” on page 24
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“Installing and Upgrading VMware Tools,” on page 25
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“Virtual Machine Files,” on page 35
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Understanding Virtual Machines
A virtual machine is a software computer that, like a physical machine, runs an operating system and
applications. A virtual machine uses the physical resources of the physical machine on which it runs, which
is called the host system. Virtual machines have virtual devices that provide the same functionality as
physical hardware, but with the additional benefits of portability, manageability, and security.
A virtual machine has an operating system and virtual resources that you manage in much the same way
that you manage a physical computer. For example, you install an operating system in a virtual machine in
the same way that you install an operating system on a physical computer. You must have a CD-ROM,
DVD, or ISO image that contains the installation files from an operating system vendor.
Preparing to Create a Virtual Machine
When you create a virtual machine, you specify or accept defaults for a few basic virtual machine settings.
How you want to install the guest operating system.
n
A name for the virtual machine and a location for the virtual machine files.
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The size of the virtual disk and whether to split the disk into multiple virtual disk files.
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Whether to customize hardware settings, including memory allocation, number of virtual processors,
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and network connection type.
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17
Getting Started with VMware Player
Selecting a Guest Operating System
The New Virtual Machine prompts you to select the source media for the operating system that will run
inside the virtual machine. You can specify an installer disc inserted in a physical drive, an ISO image file, or
you can instruct the New Virtual Machine wizard to create a virtual machine that has a blank hard disk.
If you select an installer disc or an ISO image file and the operating system supports Easy Install, the guest
operating system installation is automated and VMware Tools is installed. If the installer disc or ISO image
file contains a product key number and is already set up to perform an unattended installation, the only
benefit of using Easy Install is the automatic installation of VMware Tools.
If you instruct the New Virtual Machine wizard to create a virtual machine that has a blank hard disk, the
wizard prompts you to specify an operating system and version and you must install the guest operating
system manually after the virtual machine is created. Player uses this information to set the appropriate
default values, name files associated with the virtual machine, adjust performance settings, and work
around special behaviors and bugs in the guest operating system. If the operating system you plan to install
is not listed in the wizard, select Other for both the operating system and version.
If you are installing an operating system that supports Easy Install but you do not want to use Easy Install,
you can instruct the wizard to create a virtual machine that has a blank disk and install the guest operating
system manually.
Supported Guest Operating Systems
A guest operating system can be Windows, Linux, and other commonly used operating systems.
To see a list of the supported guest operating systems, search the online VMware Compatibility Guide on
the VMware Web site.
Player is not listed, but the information for Workstation is applicable to Player. Operating systems that are
not listed are not supported for use in a virtual machine.
See the VMware Guest Operating System Installation Guide for information on installing the most common
guest operating systems.
Providing Easy Install Information
When the New Virtual Wizard detects an operating system that supports Easy Install, the wizard prompts
you for information about the guest operating system. After the virtual machine is created, the guest
operating system installation is automated and VMware Tools is installed.
For Windows guest operating systems, you must provide the following Easy Install information.
Table 3‑1. Easy Install Information for Windows Guests
Easy Install Prompt Description
Windows product key (Optional) Type a product key unless the installation media contains a volume
license product key. If you provide a product key here, you are not prompted to
provide a product key when you install the guest operating system.
Version of Windows to install For Windows Vista, Windows 7, and Windows Server 2008 guest operating
systems, select the operating system edition.
Full name The name to use to register the guest operating system. Do not use the name
Administrator or Guest. If you use one of these names, you must enter a
different name when you install the guest operating system.
18 VMware, Inc.
Chapter 3 Creating Virtual Machines
Table 3‑1. Easy Install Information for Windows Guests (Continued)
Easy Install Prompt Description
Password (Optional) The password to use for an account with Administrator permissions
on Windows operating systems other than Windows 2000. On Windows 2000,
this is the password for the Administrator account. On Windows XP Home, an
Administrator account without a password is created and you are automatically
logged in to the guest operating system.
Log on automatically (requires a
password)
(Optional) Save your login credentials and bypass the login dialog box when you
power on the virtual machine. You must enter a name and password to use this
feature.
For Linux guest operating systems, you must provide the following Easy Install information.
Table 3‑2. Easy Install Information for Linux Guests
Prompt Description
Full name The name to use to register the guest operating system, if registration is
required. Player uses the first name to create the host name for the virtual
machine.
User name Your user name. You can use lowercase letters, numbers, and dashes, but avoid
using user names that begin with a dash. Do not use the name root. Some
operating systems set up sudo access for this user and other operating systems
require this user to use su to obtain root privileges.
Password The password for the User name and the root user.
Specifying the Virtual Machine Name and File Location
The New Virtual Machine wizard prompts you for a virtual machine name and a directory for the virtual
machine files.
The name of the default directory for virtual machine files is derived from the name of the guest operating
system, for example, Microsoft Windows 7 (32-bit).
For standard virtual machines, the default directory for virtual machine files is located in the virtual
machine directory. For best performance, do not place the virtual machines directory on a network drive. If
other users need to access the virtual machine, consider placing the virtual machine files in a location that is
accessible to those users.
Virtual Machines Directory
Player stores standard virtual machines in the virtual machines directory.
The default location of the virtual machines directory depends on the host operating system.
Table 3‑3. Default Virtual Machines Directory
Host Operating System Default Location
Windows XP
Windows Server 2003
Windows Vista
Windows 7
Linux
C:\Documents and Settings\username\My Documents\My Virtual
Machines
username is the name of the currently logged in user.
C:\Users\ username \Documents\Virtual Machines
username is the name of the currently logged in user.
homedir/vmware
homedir is the home directory of the currently logged in user.
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Getting Started with VMware Player
Specifying Disk Capacity for a Virtual Machine
If you instruct the New Virtual Machine wizard to create a new virtual disk during a custom configuration,
the wizard prompts you to set the size of the virtual disk and specify whether to split the disk into multiple
virtual disk (.vmdk) files.
A virtual disk is made up of one or more virtual disk files. Virtual disk files store the contents of the virtual
machine hard disk drive. Almost all of the file content is virtual machine data. A small portion of the file is
allotted to virtual machine overhead. If the virtual machine is connected directly to a physical disk, the
virtual disk file stores information about the partitions that the virtual machine is allowed to access.
You can set a size between 0.001GB and 8TB for a virtual disk file. You can also select whether to store a
virtual disk as a single file or split it into multiple files.
Select Split virtual disk into multiple files if the virtual disk is stored on a file system that has a file size
limitation. When you split a virtual disk less than 950GB, a series of 2GB virtual disk files are created. When
you split a virtual disk greater than 950GB, two virtual disk files are created. The maximum size of the first
virtual disk file is 1.9TB and the second virtual disk file stores the rest of the data.
Disk space is not preallocated for the disk. The actual files that the virtual disk uses start small and expand
to their maximum size as needed. The main advantage of this approach is the smaller file size. Smaller files
require less disk space and are easier to move to a new location.
After you create a virtual machine, you can edit virtual disk settings and add additional virtual disks.
Customizing Virtual Machine Hardware
You can click Customize Hardware on the last page of the New Virtual Machine wizard to customize the
virtual machine hardware.
You can change the default hardware settings, including memory allocation, number of virtual CPUs,
CD/DVD and floppy drive settings, and the network connection type.
Worksheet for Creating a Typical Virtual Machine
You can print this worksheet and write the values to specify when you create a typical virtual machine.
Table 3‑4. Worksheet: Typical Virtual Machine
Option Write Your Value Here
Guest operating system source
Guest operating system type for manual installation
Easy Install information for Windows guests
Product key
n
Operating system version
n
Full name
n
Password
n
Credentials for automatic login
n
Easy Install information for Linux guests
Full name
n
User name
n
Password
n
Virtual machine name
Virtual machine location
Disk capacity
20 VMware, Inc.
Create a Virtual Machine
You create a virtual machine in Player by running the New Virtual Machine wizard.
Prerequisites
Verify that you have the information the New Virtual Machine wizard requires to create a virtual
n
machine. See “Preparing to Create a Virtual Machine,” on page 17.
Verify that the guest operating system you plan to install is supported. See the online VMware
n
Compatibility Guide, which is available on the VMware Web site.
See the VMware Guest Operating System Installation Guide for information about the guest operating
n
system you plan to install.
If you are installing the guest operating system from an installer disc, insert the installer disc in the CD-
n
ROM drive in the host system.
If you are installing the guest operating system from an ISO image file, verify that the ISO image file is
n
in a directory that is accessible to the host system.
Procedure
1 Select Player > File > New Virtual Machine.
Chapter 3 Creating Virtual Machines
2 Select the source of the guest operating system.
Option Description
Use a physical disc
Use an ISO image
Install the guest operating system
later
Select the physical drive where you inserted the installation disc.
Type or browse to the location of the ISO image file.
Create a virtual machine that has a blank disk. You must install the guest
operating system manually after the virtual machine is created.
3 Specify information about the guest operating system.
Option Description
You are using Easy Install
You are not using Easy Install
Type the Easy Install information for the guest operating system.
Select the guest operating system type and version. If the guest operating
system is not listed, select Other.
4 Type a virtual machine name and type or browse to the directory for the virtual machine files.
5 Select the virtual disk size and specify whether the disk should be split into multiple files.
6 (Optional) Click Customize Hardware to change the default hardware settings.
You can also modify virtual hardware settings after you create the virtual machine.
7 (Optional) Select Power on this virtual machine after creation to power on the virtual machine after it
is created.
This option is not available if you are installing the guest operating system manually.
8 Click Finish to create the virtual machine.
If you are using Easy Install, guest operating system installation begins when the virtual machine powers
on. The guest operating system installation is automated and typically runs without requiring any input
from you. After the guest operating system is installed, Easy Install installs VMware Tools.
If you are not using Easy Install, the virtual machine appears in the library.
VMware, Inc. 21
Getting Started with VMware Player
What to do next
If you used Easy Install and the virtual machine did not power on when the installation finished, power on
the virtual machine to start the guest operating system installation. See “Use Easy Install to Install a Guest
Operating System,” on page 22.
If you did not use Easy Install, install the guest operating system manually. See “Install a Guest Operating
System Manually,” on page 22.
Use Easy Install to Install a Guest Operating System
When you use Easy Install, you usually do not need to provide information during guest operating system
installation.
If you did not provide all of the Easy Install information in the New Virtual Machine wizard, you might be
prompted for a product key, username, or password.
Also, if the guest operating system installation consists of multiple discs or ISO image files, the installer
might prompt you for the next disk.
Procedure
If the installer prompts you for a product key, username, or password, click in the virtual machine
n
window and type the required information.
Mouse and keyboard input are captured by the virtual machine.
If you are using physical discs and the installer prompts you for the next disk, use the CD-ROM or DVD
n
drive on the host system.
If you are using multiple ISO image files and the installer prompts you for the next disk, select the next
n
ISO image file.
Option Description
Windows host
Linux host
Click Change Disk and browse to the next ISO image file.
a Select Virtual Machine > Removable Devices > CD/DVD > Settings
and browse to the next ISO image file.
b Select Connected.
c Click Save.
Install a Guest Operating System Manually
Installing a guest operating system in a virtual machine is similar to installing an operating system on a
physical computer. If you do not use Easy Install when you create a virtual machine in the New Virtual
Machine wizard, you must install the guest operating system manually.
You can install a guest operating system from an installer disc or ISO image file. You can also use a PXE
server to install the guest operating system over a network connection. If the host configuration does not
permit the virtual machine to boot from an installer disc, you can create an ISO image file from the installer
disc.
Prerequisites
Verify that the operating system is supported. See the online VMware Compatibility Guide on the
n
VMware Web site.
See the VMware Guest Operating System Installation Guide for information on the guest operating system
n
that you are installing.
22 VMware, Inc.
Chapter 3 Creating Virtual Machines
Procedure
1 If you are installing the guest operating system from an installer disc, configure the virtual machine to
use a physical CD-ROM or DVD drive and configure the drive to connect at power on.
a Select the virtual machine and select Player > Manage > Virtual Machine Settings.
b On the Hardware tab, select CD/DVD drive.
c Select Connect at power on.
d Select Use physical drive and select a the drive.
e Click OK to save your changes.
2 If you are installing the guest operating system from an ISO image file, configure the CD/DVD drive in
the virtual machine to point to the ISO image file and configure the drive to connect at power on.
a Select the virtual machine and select Player > Manage > Virtual Machine Settings.
b On the Hardware tab, select CD/DVD drive.
c Select Connect at power on.
d Select Use ISO image file and browse to the location of the ISO image file.
e Click OK to save your changes.
3 If you are installing the guest operating system from an installer disc, insert the disc in the CD-ROM or
DVD drive.
4 Power on the virtual machine.
5 Follow the installation instructions provided by the operating system vendor.
6 If the operating system consists of multiple installer discs and you are prompted to insert the next disc,
insert the next disc in the physical drive.
7 If the operating system consists of multiple ISO image files, select the image file for the next CD.
a Select Player > Removable Devices > CD/DVD > Disconnect and disconnect from the current ISO
image file..
b Select Player > Removable Devices > CD/DVD > Settings and select the next ISO image file.
c Select Connected and click OK.
8 Use the standard tools in the operating system to configure its settings.
What to do next
Install VMware Tools. You should install VMware Tools before you activate the license for the operating
system. See “Installing VMware Tools,” on page 26.
VMware, Inc. 23
Getting Started with VMware Player
Importing Virtual Machines
You can import Windows XP Mode, Open Virtualization Format (OVF), and Windows Virtual PC virtual
machines in Player.
Import a Windows XP Mode Virtual Machine
You can import a Windows XP Mode virtual machine and run it in Player. When you import a Windows XP
Mode virtual machine, Player creates a new virtual machine in VMware runtime (.vmx) format.
You can power on only one Windows XP Mode virtual machine at a time in Player. If you move a Windows
XP Mode virtual machine to another host system, it becomes a new virtual machine and you must activate
it.
NOTE Changes made to the original Windows XP Mode virtual machine through Virtual PC do not affect
the virtual machine imported in Player.
Prerequisites
Verify that the Windows 7 Professional, Enterprise, or Ultimate edition operating system is running on
n
the host system. Importing Windows XP Mode virtual machines is not supported on Linux host
systems or on host systems that are running other versions of Windows.
Download and install the Windows XP Mode virtual machine on the host system.
n
Procedure
1 Select Player > File > Import Windows XP Mode VM, or select File > Open and browse to the virtual
machine configuration (.vmc) file.
If you have never imported a third-party virtual machine in Player, Player installs VMware vCenter
Converter Standalone. After the installation is finished, you must restart the import.
2 Type a name for the new virtual machine, type or browse to the directory for the virtual machine files,
and click Import.
Player begins importing the Windows XP Mode virtual machine.
After Player successfully imports the Windows XP Mode virtual machine, a new virtual machine appears in
the virtual machine library.
Import an Open Virtualization Format Virtual Machine
You can import an Open Virtualization Format (OVF) virtual machine and run it in Player. Player converts
the virtual machine from OVF format to VMware runtime (.vmx) format. You can import both .ovf and .ova
files.
OVF is a platform-independent, efficient, extensible, and open packaging and distribution format for virtual
machines. For example, you can import OVF virtual machines exported from VMware Fusion™ or Oracle
VM VirtualBox into Player. You can import OVF 1.0 and later files only.
You can also use the standalone OVF Tool to convert an OVF virtual machine to VMware runtime format.
The standalone version of the OVF Tool is installed in the Player installation directory under OVFTool. See
the OVF Tool User Guide on the VMware Web site for information on using the OVF Tool.
Procedure
1 In Player, select Player > File > Open.
2 Browse to the .ovf or .ova file and click Open.
24 VMware, Inc.
Chapter 3 Creating Virtual Machines
3 Type a name for the virtual machine, type or browse to the directory for the virtual machine files, and
click Import.
Player performs OVF specification conformance and virtual hardware compliance checks. A status bar
indicates the progress of the import process.
4 If the import fails, click Retry to try again, or click Cancel to cancel the import.
If you retry the import, Player relaxes the OVF specification conformance and virtual hardware
compliance checks and you might not be able to use the virtual machine in Player.
After Player successfully imports the OVF virtual machine, the virtual machine appears in the virtual
machine library.
Import a Windows Virtual PC Virtual Machine
You can import a Windows Virtual PC virtual machine and run it in Player. Player converts the virtual
machine from Virtual PC (.vmc) format to VMware runtime (.vmx) format. This feature is supported only on
Windows host systems.
Prerequisites
Download and install the Virtual PC virtual machine on the Windows host system.
Procedure
1 Select Player > File > Open.
If you have never imported a third-party virtual machine in Player, Player installs VMware vCenter
Converter Standalone. After the installation is finished, you must restart the import.
2 Browse to the .vmc file and click Open.
3 Type a name for the virtual machine, type or browse to the directory for the virtual machine files, and
click Import.
After Player successfully imports the Virtual PC virtual machine, the virtual machine appears in the virtual
machine library.
Installing and Upgrading VMware Tools
Installing VMware Tools is part of the process of creating a new virtual machine. Upgrading VMware Tools
is part of the process of keeping virtual machines up to current standards.
For the best performance and latest updates, install or upgrade VMware Tools to match the version of
Player that you are using. Other compatibility options are also available.
Installing VMware Tools on page 26
n
VMware Tools is a suite of utilities that enhances the performance of the virtual machine’s guest
operating system and improves management of the virtual machine.
Upgrading VMware Tools on page 26
n
You can upgrade VMware Tools manually, or you can configure virtual machines to check for and
install newer versions of VMware Tools.
Configure Software Update Preferences on page 27
n
You can configure Player to automatically download software updates, including new versions of
VMware Tools. When you select automatic software updates, Player always includes the latest
support for guest operating systems and virtual machines always have the latest version of VMware
Tools.
VMware, Inc. 25
Getting Started with VMware Player
Configure VMware Tools Updates for a Specific Virtual Machine on page 28
n
You can configure virtual machines that have Windows or Linux guest operating systems to update
VMware Tools automatically. For other guest operating systems, you must manually update VMware
Tools.
Manually Installing and Upgrading VMware Tools on page 28
n
You can manually install or upgrade VMware Tools on Windows, Linux, NetWare, Solaris, and
FreeBSD virtual machines.
Start the VMware User Process Manually If You Do Not Use a Session Manager on page 34
n
VMware Tools in Linux, Solaris, and FreeBSD guest operating systems uses the VMware User process
executable file. This program implements the fit-guest-to-window feature and Unity mode, among
other features.
Uninstall VMware Tools on page 34
n
Occasionally, an upgrade of VMware Tools is incomplete. You can usually solve the problem by
uninstalling VMware Tools and then reinstalling.
Installing VMware Tools
VMware Tools is a suite of utilities that enhances the performance of the virtual machine’s guest operating
system and improves management of the virtual machine.
Although the guest operating system can run without VMware Tools, many VMware features are not
available until you install VMware Tools. For example, if you do not have VMware Tools installed in your
virtual machine, you cannot use the shutdown or restart options from the toolbar. You can use only the
power options.
You can use the Windows Easy Install or Linux Easy Install feature to install VMware Tools as soon as the
operating system is finished installing.
The installers for VMware Tools are ISO image files. An ISO image file looks like a CD-ROM to your guest
operating system. Each type of guest operating system, including Windows, Linux, Solaris, FreeBSD, and
NetWare, has an ISO image file. When you select the command to install or upgrade VMware Tools, the
virtual machine’s first virtual CD-ROM disk drive temporarily connects to the VMware Tools ISO file for
your guest operating system.
The most recent versions of the ISO files are stored on a VMware Web site. When you select the command to
install or upgrade VMware Tools, the VMware product determines whether it has downloaded the most
recent version of the ISO file for the specific operating system. If the latest version has not been downloaded
or if no VMware Tools ISO file for that operating system has ever been downloaded, you are prompted to
download the file.
The installation procedure varies, depending on the operating system.
Upgrading VMware Tools
You can upgrade VMware Tools manually, or you can configure virtual machines to check for and install
newer versions of VMware Tools.
The guest operating system checks the version of VMware Tools when you power on a virtual machine. The
status bar of the virtual machine displays a message when a new version is available.
In Windows virtual machines, you can set VMware Tools to notify you when an upgrade is available. If this
notification option is enabled, the VMware Tools icon in the Windows taskbar includes a yellow caution
icon when a VMware Tools upgrade is available.
To install a VMware Tools upgrade, you can use the same procedure that you used for installing VMware
Tools the first time. Upgrading VMware Tools means installing a new version.
26 VMware, Inc.
Chapter 3 Creating Virtual Machines
For Windows and Linux guest operating systems, you can configure the virtual machine to automatically
upgrade VMware Tools. Although the version check is performed when you power on the virtual machine,
on Windows guest operating systems, the automatic upgrade occurs when you power off or restart the
virtual machine. The status bar displays the message Installing VMware Tools ... when an upgrade is in
progress.
IMPORTANT When you upgrade VMware Tools on Linux guest operating systems, new network modules
are available but are not used until you either restart the guest operating system or stop networking, unload
and reload the VMware networking kernel modules, and restart networking. This behavior means that even
if VMware Tools is set to automatically upgrade, you must restart or reload network modules to make new
features available.
This strategy avoids network interruptions and allows you to install VMware Tools over SSH.
Configure Software Update Preferences
You can configure Player to automatically download software updates, including new versions of VMware
Tools. When you select automatic software updates, Player always includes the latest support for guest
operating systems and virtual machines always have the latest version of VMware Tools.
Procedure
1 Select Player > File > Player Preferences.
2 Select when Player checks for software updates.
You can select one, both, or neither option. If you deselect all of the software update options, automatic
software updates are disabled.
Option Description
Check for product updates on
startup
Check for software components as
needed
Download All Components Now
Checks for new versions of Player available to download and install when
you start Player. This option is enabled by default. If you do not select this
option, your system does not get the latest product updates.
When a software component is required, for example, when you install
VMware Tools, Player checks for a new version of the component.
Immediately download all of the available software components to the
host system. This option is useful if you are planning to use the virtual
machine at a later time when you do not have access to the Internet.
3 If you use a proxy server to connect to the VMware Update Server, click Connection Settings to
configure the proxy settings.
Option Description
No proxy
Windows proxy settings
Select this option if you do not use a proxy server. This is the default
setting.
(Windows hosts only) Player uses the host proxy settings from the
Connections tab in the Internet Options control panel to access the
VMware Update Server.
a Click Internet Options to set the guest connection options.
b Type a user name and password to use for proxy server
authentication.
If you leave either the Username or the Password text box blank, Player
does not use either value.
VMware, Inc. 27
Getting Started with VMware Player
Option Description
System proxy settings
Manual proxy settings
(Linux hosts only) Player uses the host proxy settings to access the
VMware Update Server.
a Select HTTP or SOCKS, specify the proxy server address and designate
a port number to access the VMware Update Sever.
b Type a username and password to use for proxy authentication.
If you leave either the Username or the Password text box blank, Player
does not use either value (Windows hosts) or it uses the username and
password set in the gnome settings (Linux hosts).
4 Click OK to save your changes.
Configure VMware Tools Updates for a Specific Virtual Machine
You can configure virtual machines that have Windows or Linux guest operating systems to update
VMware Tools automatically. For other guest operating systems, you must manually update VMware Tools.
Automatic VMware Tools updates are supported for versions of VMware Tools included in Workstation 5.5
and later virtual machines only. Automatic updates are not supported for versions of VMware Tools
included in virtual machines created with VMware Server 1.x.
IMPORTANT If you update VMware Tools in a Windows virtual machine that was created with Workstation
4 or 5.x, some new components are not installed. To install the new components, you must uninstall the old
version of VMware Tools and install the new version of VMware Tools.
Procedure
1 Select the virtual machine and select Player > Manage > Virtual Machine Settings.
2 On the Options tab, select VMware Tools.
3 Select a VMware Tools update setting.
Option Description
Update manually (do nothing)
Update automatically
Use application default (currently
update manually)
You must update VMware Tools manually. The virtual machine status bar
indicates when a new version of VMware Tools is available.
VMware Tools is updated automatically. The virtual machine status bar
indicates when an update is in progress. If you are logged in to a Windows
guest, a restart prompt appears after the update is complete. If you are not
logged in, the operating system restarts without prompting. An autoupdate check is performed as part of the boot sequence when you power
on the virtual machine. If the virtual machine was suspended and you
resume it or restore it to a snapshot during the boot sequence before this
check, the automatic update occurs as planned. If you resume the virtual
machine or restore it to a snapshot after the check, the automatic update
does not occur.
Use the default VMware Tools update behavior. The default behavior is set
in Player preferences.
4 Click OK to save your changes.
Manually Installing and Upgrading VMware Tools
You can manually install or upgrade VMware Tools on Windows, Linux, NetWare, Solaris, and FreeBSD
virtual machines.
If you are installing VMware Tools in a number of Windows virtual machines, you can automate its
installation by using the VMware Tools setup.exe at a command prompt in the guest operating system. See
Installing and Configuring VMware Tools for more information.
28 VMware, Inc.
Chapter 3 Creating Virtual Machines
Manually Install or Upgrade VMware Tools in a Windows Virtual Machine on page 29
n
All supported Windows guest operating systems support VMware Tools.
Manually Install or Upgrade VMware Tools in a Linux Virtual Machine on page 30
n
For Linux virtual machines, you manually install or upgrade VMware Tools by using the command
line.
Manually Install or Upgrade VMware Tools in a NetWare Virtual Machine on page 31
n
For NetWare virtual machines, you manually install or upgrade VMware Tools by using the command
line.
Manually Install or Upgrade VMware Tools in a Solaris Virtual Machine on page 32
n
For Solaris virtual machines, you manually install or upgrade VMware Tools by using the command
line.
Manually Install or Upgrade VMware Tools in a FreeBSD Virtual Machine on page 33
n
For FreeBSD virtual machines, you manually install or upgrade VMware Tools by using the command
line.
Manually Install or Upgrade VMware Tools in a Windows Virtual Machine
All supported Windows guest operating systems support VMware Tools.
Before you upgrade VMware Tools, consider the environment that the virtual machine runs in and weigh
the benefits of different upgrade strategies. For example, you can install the latest version of VMware Tools
to enhance the performance of the virtual machine's guest operating system and improve virtual machine
management, or you can continue using the existing version to provide more flexibility in your
environment.
Prerequisites
Power on the virtual machine.
n
Verify that the guest operating system is running.
n
If you connected the virtual machine’s virtual CD/DVD drive to an ISO image file when you installed
n
the operating system, change the setting so that the virtual CD/DVD drive is configured to autodetect a
physical drive.
The autodetect setting enables the virtual machine's first virtual CD/DVD drive to detect and connect to
the VMware Tools ISO file for a VMware Tools installation. This ISO file looks like a physical CD to
your guest operating system. Use the virtual machine settings editor to set the CD/DVD drive to
autodetect a physical drive.
Log in as an administrator unless you are using an older Windows operating system. Any user can
n
install VMware Tools in a Windows 95, Windows 98, or Windows ME guest operating system. For
operating systems newer than these, you must log in as an administrator.
Procedure
1 On the host, from the Player menu bar, select Player > Manage > Install VMware Tools.
If an earlier version of VMware Tools is installed, the menu item is Update VMware Tools.
2 If you are installing VMware Tools for the first time, click OK on the Install VMware Tools information
page.
If autorun is enabled for the CD-ROM drive in the guest operating system, the VMware Tools
installation wizard starts.
3 If autorun is not enabled, to manually launch the wizard, click Start > Run and enter D:\setup.exe,
where D: is your first virtual CD-ROM drive.
VMware, Inc. 29
Getting Started with VMware Player
4 Follow the on-screen instructions.
5 If the New Hardware wizard appears, follow the prompts and accept the defaults.
6 If you are installing a beta or RC version of VMware Tools and you see a warning that a package or
driver is not signed, click Install Anyway to complete the installation.
7 When prompted, reboot the virtual machine.
What to do next
If a new virtual hardware version is available for the virtual machine, upgrade the virtual hardware.
Manually Install or Upgrade VMware Tools in a Linux Virtual Machine
For Linux virtual machines, you manually install or upgrade VMware Tools by using the command line.
Before you upgrade VMware Tools, consider the environment that the virtual machine runs in and weigh
the benefits of different upgrade strategies. For example, you can install the latest version of VMware Tools
to enhance the performance of the virtual machine's guest operating system and improve virtual machine
management, or you can continue using the existing version to provide more flexibility in your
environment.
Prerequisites
Power on the virtual machine.
n
Verify that the guest operating system is running.
n
Because the VMware Tools installer is written in Perl, verify that Perl is installed in the guest operating
n
system.
Procedure
1 On the host, from the Player menu bar, select Player > Manage > Install VMware Tools.
If an earlier version of VMware Tools is installed, the menu item is Update VMware Tools.
2 In the virtual machine, log in to the guest operating system as root and open a terminal window.
3 Run the mount command with no arguments to determine whether your Linux distribution
automatically mounted the VMware Tools virtual CD-ROM image.
If the CD-ROM device is mounted, the CD-ROM device and its mount point are listed as something like
this:
/dev/cdrom on /mnt/cdrom type iso9660 (ro,nosuid,nodev)
4 If the VMware Tools virtual CD-ROM image is not mounted, mount the CD-ROM drive.
a If a mount point directory does not already exist, create it.
mkdir /mnt/cdrom
Some Linux distributions use different mount point names. For example, on some distributions the
mount point is /media/VMware Tools rather than /mnt/cdrom. Modify the command to reflect the
conventions that your distribution uses.
b Mount the CD-ROM drive.
mount /dev/cdrom /mnt/cdrom
Some Linux distributions use different device names or organize the /dev directory differently. If
your CD-ROM drive is not /dev/cdrom or if the mount point for a CD-ROM is not /mnt/cdrom,
modify the command to reflect the conventions that your distribution uses.
30 VMware, Inc.
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