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Workstation - 10.0
Getting Started Guide
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VMware Workstation - 10.0 Getting Started Guide

Getting Started with VMware
Workstation
VMware Workstation 10
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-001199-00
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 Workstation 5
Introduction and System Requirements 7
1
Host System Requirements 7
Virtual Machine Features and Specifications 10
Installing and Using Workstation 15
2
Obtaining the Workstation Software and License Key 15
Installing Workstation with Other VMware Products 16
Reinstalling Workstation When Upgrading a Windows Host Operating System 16
Installing the Integrated Virtual Debuggers for Eclipse and Visual Studio 16
Installing Workstation 17
Upgrading Workstation 23
Uninstalling Workstation 28
Start Workstation 29
Using the Workstation Window 30
Using the Workstation Online Help 34
Creating Virtual Machines 35
3
Understanding Virtual Machines 35
Features of a Typical Virtual Machine 36
Preparing to Create a Typical Virtual Machine 36
Create a Typical Virtual Machine 40
Use Easy Install to Install a Guest Operating System 41
Install a Guest Operating System Manually 42
Installing and Upgrading VMware Tools 43
Install New Software in a Virtual Machine 51
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Using Virtual Machines 53
4
Start a Virtual Machine 53
Shut Down a Virtual Machine 54
Pause and Unpause a Virtual Machine 55
Suspend and Resume a Virtual Machine 56
Using the Drag-and-Drop Feature 57
Using the Copy and Paste Feature 57
Add a Host Printer to a Virtual Machine 58
Use a Removable Device in a Virtual Machine 59
Changing the Virtual Machine Display 60
Using Folders to Manage Virtual Machines 65
Taking Snapshots of Virtual Machines 67
Closing Virtual Machines and Exiting Workstation 72
3
Index 75
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Getting Started with VMware Workstation

Getting Started with VMware Workstation describes how to install and upgrade VMware® Workstation, create a typical virtual machine, and perform common virtual machine operations.
Intended Audience
This information is intended for anyone who wants to install Workstation and create a typical virtual machine. See Using VMware Workstation for complete information about Workstation, including how to use advanced Workstation features.
Where to Find Additional Information
See the following documents for additional information about using Workstation. All of the documents are available from the VMware Web site.
Using VMware Workstation contains complete information about Workstation, including how to use
n
advanced Workstation features.
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
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guest operating systems.
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The online VMware Compatibility Guide lists the supported host and guest operating systems for
n
Workstation.
The Workstation online help contains quick reference information about Workstation settings and common tasks. It is available from the Workstation Help menu and when you click Help on a Workstation dialog box.
5
6 VMware, Inc.
Introduction and System
Requirements 1
Host computers that run Workstation must meet specific hardware and software requirements. Virtual machines that run in Workstation 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 Workstation is called the host system and its operating system is called the host operating system. To run Workstation, the host system and the host operating system must meet specific hardware and software requirements.

Processor Requirements for Host Systems

You must install Workstation 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 Workstation, the installer performs checks to make sure the host system has a supported processor. You cannot install Workstation 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
n
An Intel CPU that has VT-x support
n
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.
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When you install a 64-bit operating system, Workstation 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 Workstation 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.

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, SATA, 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 basic installation, 1.5GB free disk space is required on Windows and
n
Linux. Delete the installer after the installation is finished to reclaim disk space.
IDE, SATA, and SCSI optical drives are supported.
n
CD-ROM and DVD drives are supported.
n
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.

ALSA Requirements for Host Systems

To use ALSA in a virtual machine, the host system must meet certain requirements.
The ALSA library version on the host system must be version 1.0.16 or later.
n
The sound card on the host system must support ALSA. The ALSA project Web site maintains a current
n
listing of sound cards and chipsets that support ALSA.
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The sound device on the host system must not be muted.
n
The current user must have the appropriate permissions to use the sound device.
n

Help System Requirements

You must have a supported Web browser installed on the host system to use the Workstation Help system
The following Web browser versions are supported.
Internet Explorer 6 or later
n
Mozilla Firefox 1.x or later
n
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 Workstation Help system in Chrome.

Virtual Machine Features and Specifications

Workstation 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.
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 Workstation considers multiprocessor hosts that have two or more physical CPUs, single­processor hosts that have a multicore CPU, and single-processor hosts that have hyperthreading enabled, to have two logical processors.

Virtual Machine Chip Set and BIOS Support

Virtual machines support certain virtual machine chip set and BIOS features.
Intel 440BX-based motherboard
n
NS338 SIO chip set
n
82093AA I/O Advanced Programmable Controller (I/O APIC)
n
Phoenix BIOS 4.0 Release 6 with VESA BIOS
n
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Chapter 1 Introduction and System Requirements

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. Workstation 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.

Virtual Machine Graphics and Keyboard Support

Virtual machines support certain graphics features and keyboards.
VGA and SVGA are supported.
n
104-key Windows 95/98 enhanced keyboards are supported.
n
To use the GL_EXT_texture_compression_s3tc and GL_S3_s3tc Open Graphics Library (OpenGL)
n
extensions in a Windows XP or Windows 7 guest operating system, you must install Microsoft DirectX End-User Runtime in the guest operating system. OpenGL is an application program interface that is used to define 2D and 3D computer graphics. You can download Microsoft DirectX End-User Runtime from the Microsoft Download Center Web site.

Virtual Machine IDE Drive Support

Virtual machines support certain IDE drives and features.
Up to four devices, including disk, CD-ROM, and DVD drives, are supported.
n
DVD drives can be used to read data DVD discs only.
n
DVD video is not supported.
n
Hard disks can be virtual disks or physical disks.
n
IDE virtual disks can be up to 8TB.
n
CD-ROM drives can be physical devices or ISO image files.
n

Virtual Machine SCSI Device Support

Virtual machines support certain SCSI devices and features.
Up to 60 devices are supported.
n
SCSI virtual disks can be up to 8TB.
n
Hard disks can be virtual disks or physical disks.
n
With Generic SCSI support, you can use devices in a virtual machine without installing drivers in the
n
host operating system. Generic SCSI support works with scanners, CD-ROM drives, DVD drives, tape drives, and other SCSI devices.
The LSI Logic LSI53C10xx Ultra320 SCSI I/O controller is supported.
n

Virtual Machine Floppy Drive Support

Virtual machines can have floppy drives.
Up to two 2.88MB floppy devices are supported.
n
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Floppy drives can be physical drives or floppy image files.
n

Virtual Machine Serial and Parallel Port Support

Virtual machines support serial (COM) and parallel (LPT) ports.
Up to four serial (COM) ports are supported. Output can be sent to serial ports, Windows or Linux files,
n
or named pipes.
Up to three bidirectional parallel (LPT) ports. Output can be sent to parallel ports or host operating
n
system files.

Virtual Machine USB Port Support

Virtual machines can have USB ports and can support certain USB devices.
USB 1.1 UHCI (Universal Host Controller Interface) is supported for all virtual machine hardware
n
versions.
USB 2.0 EHCI (Enhanced Host Controller Interface) controllers are supported if the virtual machine
n
hardware is compatible with Workstation 6 and later virtual machines.
USB 3.0 xHCI (Extensible Host Controller Interface) support is available for Linux guests running
n
kernel version 2.6.35 or later and for Windows 8 guests. The virtual machine hardware must be compatible with Workstation 8 and later virtual machines.
Support for USB 2.0 and 3.0 requires that you configure virtual machine settings to enable USB 2.0 and
n
3.0 support and that you have compatible guest operating systems and virtual machine hardware versions.
Most USB devices are supported, including USB printers, scanners, PDAs, hard disk drives, memory
n
card readers, and digital cameras. Streaming devices, such as webcams, speakers, and microphones, are also supported.

Virtual Machine Mouse and Drawing Tablet Support

Virtual machines support certain types of mice and drawing tablets.
PS/2 and USB mouse types are supported.
n
Serial tablets are supported.
n
USB tablets are supported.
n

Virtual Machine Ethernet Card Support

Virtual machines support certain types of Ethernet cards.
Up to 10 virtual Ethernet cards are supported.
n
The AMD PCnet-PCI II Ethernet Adapter is supported. For 64-bit guests, the Intel Pro/1000 MT Server
n
Adapter is also supported.

Virtual Machine Networking Support

Virtual machines support certain Ethernet switches and networking protocols.
Up to 10 virtual Ethernet switches are supported on Windows host operating systems. Up to 255 virtual
n
Ethernet switches are supported on Linux host operating systems.
Three switches are configured by default for bridged, host-only, and NAT networking.
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Chapter 1 Introduction and System Requirements
Most Ethernet-based protocols are supported, including TCP/IP, NetBEUI, Microsoft Networking,
n
Samba, Novell NetWare, and Network File System (NFS).
Built-in NAT networking supports client software that uses TCP/IP, FTP, DNS, HTTP, and Telnet. VPN
n
is supported for PPTP over NAT.

Virtual Machine Sound Support

Workstation provides a sound device that is compatible with the Sound Blaster AudioPCI and Intel High­Definition Audio Specification. The Workstation sound device is enabled by default.
Workstation supports sound in Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows Me, Windows NT, Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2008, and Linux guest operating systems.
Sound support includes pulse code modulation (PCM) output and input. You can play .wav files, MP3 audio, and Real Media audio. MIDI output from Windows guest operating systems is supported by the Windows software synthesizer. MIDI input is not supported, and no MIDI support is available for Linux guest operating systems.
Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7 and most recent Linux distributions detect the sound device and install appropriate drivers for it.
Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows 98SE, and Windows NT 4.0 do not have drivers for the Sound Blaster AudioPCI adapter. To use sound in these guest operating systems, you must download the driver from the Creative Labs Web site and install it in the guest operating systems. Creative Labs has Web sites that serve different regions of the world. The adapter name varies, depending on the region, but usually includes PCI
128.
For Workstation 7.x and earlier virtual machines, the vmaudio driver in VMware Tools is installed in 64-bit Windows XP, Windows 2003, Windows Vista, Windows 2008, and Windows 7 guest operating systems and in 32-bit Windows 2003, Windows Vista, Windows 2008, and Windows 7 guest operating systems.
For Workstation 8.x and later virtual machines, the High-Definition Audio (HD Audio) device is presented by default for both 64-bit and 32-bit Windows Vista and Windows 7 guest operating systems and their server counterparts. Windows provides a driver for HD Audio that is not part of VMware Tools.
On Linux host systems, Workstation 7.x and later supports Advanced Linux Sound Architecture (ALSA). Earlier versions of Workstation use the Open Sound System (OSS) interface for sound playback and recording in virtual machines running on Linux host systems. Unlike OSS, ALSA does not require exclusive access to the sound device. The host system and multiple virtual machines can play sound at the same time.
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14 VMware, Inc.

Installing and Using Workstation 2

You can install Workstation on a Linux or Windows host system. Installing or upgrading Workstation typically involves running a standard GUI wizard.
This chapter includes the following topics:
“Obtaining the Workstation Software and License Key,” on page 15
n
“Installing Workstation with Other VMware Products,” on page 16
n
“Reinstalling Workstation When Upgrading a Windows Host Operating System,” on page 16
n
“Installing the Integrated Virtual Debuggers for Eclipse and Visual Studio,” on page 16
n
“Installing Workstation,” on page 17
n
“Upgrading Workstation,” on page 23
n
“Uninstalling Workstation,” on page 28
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“Start Workstation,” on page 29
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“Using the Workstation Window,” on page 30
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“Using the Workstation Online Help,” on page 34
n

Obtaining the Workstation Software and License Key

If you have the packaged distribution of Workstation, the installation software is on the installation media in the package and the license key is on the registration card. If you have the electronic distribution, the installation software is in the file that you downloaded and the license key is sent to you in email.
The installation files for both host platforms are included in the packaged distribution. You can use the license key on both the Windows and Linux versions of Workstation. You need one license for each host system.
If you do not enter the Workstation license key during installation, you can specify the license key later, in Workstation, select Help > Enter License Key and enter the license key on the Workstation Activation dialog box. You can also purchase a license key and view the status of an evaluation license from the Workstation Activation dialog box.
See the VMware Web site for information on obtaining an evaluation license.
NOTE If you have an invalid license, Workstation prompts you to enter a license key each time you attempt to power on a virtual machine.
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15
Once you have installed Workstation, you can find your license key in the About VMware Workstation window. Click Help > About VMware Workstation.
If you have an individual license for Workstation, the key is displayed in the License Information
n
section under Type. It is labeled Individual and followed by your license key.
If you have a version of Workstation licensed for multiple users, the Type field displays Volume and
n
your license key is not displayed.
If you did not enter a license for Workstation, the Type field displays Not applicable and a license key is
n
not displayed.
If you have an evaluation license key for Workstation, the Type field displays Not applicable. The date
n
the evaluation license key expires is also displayed.

Installing Workstation with Other VMware Products

The only VMware products that can share a host system with Workstation are VMware vSphere Client and VMware vCenter Converter Standalone. You cannot install Workstation on a host system that has any other VMware virtualization products installed.
If the host system has another VMware virtualization product installed, you must uninstall that product before you install Workstation.

Reinstalling Workstation When Upgrading a Windows Host Operating System

Before you upgrade the operating system on a Microsoft Windows host, VMware recommends that you uninstall VMware Workstation.
The way Workstation is installed and configured depends partly on the version of Windows used. As a best practice, to ensure that Workstation is properly configured for a new operating system, you must remove the Workstation application before you perform the operating system upgrade. Uninstalling Workstation guarantees that legacy components that apply only to older versions of Windows are not left behind .
For example, if you do not uninstall Workstation before upgrading the Windows operating system, some virtual network adapters might not function properly after the operating system upgrade. Before you uninstall Workstation, open the virtual network editor and note the settings used. You must configure these settings again after you reinstall Workstation.
When you uninstall Workstation, you need only uninstall the VMware Workstation application, not the virtual machines that you have created. When the operating system upgrade is complete, reinstall Workstation or, if you are also upgrading Workstation, install the new version of Workstation.

Installing the Integrated Virtual Debuggers for Eclipse and Visual Studio

If you plan to use the Integrated Virtual Debugger for Visual Studio or Eclipse, you should install it on the host system before you install Workstation.
If you must install the Integrated Virtual Debugger for Visual Studio or Eclipse after you install Workstation, run the Workstation installer again and select Modify/Change to install the associated Workstation plug-ins.
See the Integrated Virtual Debugger for Eclipse Developer’s Guide and the Integrated Virtual Debugger for Visual Studio Developer’s Guide for host system requirements and supported operating systems. Both guides are available on the VMware Web site.
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Installing Workstation

You can install Workstation on a Windows host system by running the installation wizard or by using the unattended installation feature of the Microsoft Windows Installer (MSI). The MSI unattended installation feature is useful if you are installing Workstation on several Windows hosts and do not want to respond to wizard prompts. You install Workstation on a Linux host system by running the Workstation bundle installer.
Install Workstation on a Windows Host on page 17
n
You run the Windows setup program and installation wizard to install Workstation on a Windows host system.
Run an Unattended Workstation Installation on a Windows Host on page 18
n
You can use the unattended installation feature of the Microsoft Windows Installer (MSI) to install Workstation on several Windows host systems without having to respond to wizard prompts. This feature is convenient in a large enterprise.
Install Workstation on a Linux Host on page 20
n
You run the Linux bundle installer to install Workstation on a Linux host system. On most Linux distributions, the Linux bundle installer launches a GUI wizard. On some Linux distributions, including Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5.1, the bundle installer launches a command-line wizard instead of a GUI wizard. You can run the installer with the --console option to install Workstation in a terminal window.
Chapter 2 Installing and Using Workstation

Install Workstation on a Windows Host

You run the Windows setup program and installation wizard to install Workstation on a Windows host system.
Remote connections and virtual machine sharing are enabled by default when you install Workstation. With remote connections, you can connect to remote hosts and run remote virtual machines. With virtual machine sharing, you can create virtual machines that other instances of Workstation can access remotely.
Shared virtual machines are stored in the shared virtual machines directory, where VMware Workstation Server (the VMware Workstation Server service) manages them. Remote users connect to VMware Workstation Server through HTTPS port 443 on the host system.
To change the shared virtual machines directory or select a different port during the installation process, you must select the Custom option. You can also change the shared virtual machines directory, select a different port, and disable remote connections and virtual machine sharing after Workstation is installed by modifying the Shared VMs Workstation preference setting. See Using VMware Workstation for more information.
Prerequisites
Verify that the host system meets the host system requirements. See “Host System Requirements,” on
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page 7.
Verify that you have administrative privileges on the host system.
n
Verify that no incompatible VMware products are installed on the host system. See “Installing
n
Workstation with Other VMware Products,” on page 16.
Obtain the Workstation software and license key. See “Obtaining the Workstation Software and License
n
Key,” on page 15.
If you plan to use the Integrated Virtual Debugger for Eclipse or Visual Studio, install it on the host
n
system. See “Installing the Integrated Virtual Debuggers for Eclipse and Visual Studio,” on page 16.
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Procedure
1 Log in to the Windows host system as the Administrator user or as a user who is a member of the local
Administrators group.
If you log in to a domain, the domain account must also be a local administrator.
2 If you are installing Workstation 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 setup file.
Option Description
If you are installing the software from a CD
If you downloaded the software
4 Select a setup option.
Option Description
Typical
Custom
5 Follow the prompts to finish the installation.
The setup file is called setup.exe.
The setup filename is similar to VMware-workstation-xxxx-xxxx.exe, where xxxx-xxxx is the version and build numbers.
Installs typical Workstation features. If the Integrated Virtual Debugger for Visual Studio or Eclipse is present on the host system, the associated Workstation plug-ins are installed.
Lets you select which Workstation features to install and specify where to install them. Select this option if you need to change the shared virtual machines directory, modify the VMware Workstation Server port, or install the enhanced virtual keyboard driver. The enhanced virtual keyboard driver provides better handling of international keyboards and keyboards that have extra keys.
Depending on your configuration, you might need to restart the host system to finish the installation.
After Workstation is installed, the VMware Workstation Server service starts on the host system. The VMware Workstation Server service starts whenever you restart the host system.

Run an Unattended Workstation Installation on a Windows Host

You can use the unattended installation feature of the Microsoft Windows Installer (MSI) to install Workstation on several Windows host systems without having to respond to wizard prompts. This feature is convenient in a large enterprise.
Prerequisites
Verify that the host system meets the host system requirements. See “Host System Requirements,” on
n
page 7.
Verify that no incompatible VMware products are installed on the host system. See “Installing
n
Workstation with Other VMware Products,” on page 16.
Obtain the Workstation software and license key. See “Obtaining the Workstation Software and License
n
Key,” on page 15.
If you plan to use the Integrated Virtual Debugger for Eclipse or Visual Studio, install it on the host
n
system. See “Installing the Integrated Virtual Debuggers for Eclipse and Visual Studio,” on page 16.
Verify that the host computer has version 2.0 or higher of the MSI runtime engine. This version of the
n
installer is available in versions of Windows beginning with Windows XP and is available from Microsoft. See the Microsoft Web site for more information.
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Chapter 2 Installing and Using Workstation
Familiarize yourself with the installation properties. See “Installation Properties,” on page 20.
n
Procedure
1 Log in to the host system as the Administrator user or as a user who is a member of the local
Administrators group.
If you log in to the domain, the domain account must also be a local administrator.
2 If you are installing Workstation from a CD, insert the CD in the CD-ROM drive on the host system.
3 Extract the administrative installation image from the setup file.
If you are installing Workstation from a CD, the setup file is called setup.exe. If you downloaded the installation software, the setup filename is similar to VMware-workstation-xxxx-xxxx.exe where xxxx- xxxx is the version and build number.
For example: setup.exe /s /e install_temp_path
4 Type the installation command on one line.
Some examples are:
VMware-workstation-full-x.x.x-xxxxxx.exe /s /nsr /v "EULAS_AGREED=1 INSTALLDIR=""path_to_program_directory"" ADDLOCAL=ALL DISABLE_AUTORUN=0 QUICKLAUNCH_SHORTCUT=0 SERIALNUMBER=""xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx"" "
VMware-workstation-full-x.x.x-xxxxxx.exe /s /v EULAS_AGREED=1 SERIALNUMBER="xxxxx-xxxxx­xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx"
VMware-workstation-full-x.x.x-xxxxxx.exe /s /nsr /v EULAS_AGREED=1 REMOVE=NAT SERIALNUMBER="xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx"
You can use the optional /nsr command to prevent the target machine from rebooting silently.
You can use the optional INSTALLDIR property to specify a file path for the installation that is different from the default location.
NOTE The double quotes around the file path are important. All the MSI arguments are passed with the /v option. The outer quotes group the MSI arguments and the double quotes put a quote in that argument.
You can use the optional REMOVE property to skip the installation of certain features.
REMOVE Property Values
When you perform an unattended installation of Workstation, you can skip the installation of certain features by specifying the REMOVE property in the installation command.
To specify a REMOVE property value in the installation command, use the format REMOVE=value. To skip multiple features, separate each value with a comma, for example, REMOVE=value,value.
Table 2‑1. REMOVE Property Values
Value Skipped Feature
Authd
Network
DHCP
NAT
The VMware authorization service, which is used to perform tasks when you are not running Workstation as an Administrator user.
Networking components, including the virtual bridge and the host adapters for host-only networking and NAT networking. Do not remove this component if you want to use NAT or DHCP.
The virtual DHCP server.
The virtual NAT device.
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Installation Properties
When you perform an unattended installation of Workstation, you can customize the installation by specifying installation properties in the installation command.
To specify an installation property in the installation command, use the format property="value". A value of 1 means true and a value of 0 means false.
Table 2‑2. Installation Properties
Property Description Default Value
AUTOSOFTWAREUPDATE
DATACOLLECTION
DESKTOP_SHORTCUT
EULAS_AGREED
HOSTD_HTTPS_PORT
INSTALLDIR
QUICKLAUNCH_SHORTCUT
REMOVE_ACCOUNT_INFO
REMOVE_LICENSE
REMOVE_SETTINGFILES
SERIALNUMBER
SIMPLIFIEDUI
SOFTWAREUPDATEURL
STARTMENU_SHORTCUT
SUPPORTURL
Enables automatic upgrades for VMware Workstation or VMware Player when a new build becomes available.
Sends user experience information to VMware. 1
Adds a shortcut on the desktop when Workstation is installed. 1
Allows you to silently accept the product EULAs. Set to 1 to complete the installation or upgrade.
Specifies the HTTPS port for VMware Workstation Server. 443
Install Workstation in directory that is different from the default Workstation location.
Adds a quick launch shortcut when Workstation is installed. 1
Removes account information when Workstation is uninstalled.
Removes all stored licenses when Workstation is uninstalled. 0
Removes settings files when Workstation is uninstalled. 1
Lets you enter the license key when Workstation is installed. Enter the license key with hyphens, for example, xxxxx-xxxxx­xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx.
Turn on or off certain UI features of VMware Player. 0
Specifies a custom URL for managing software updates (separate from vmware.com).
Adds a Start menu item when Workstation is installed. 1
Set a support URL or email alias specifically for your users to contact with product issues through the Workstation or Player Help menu.
1
0
C:\Program Files\VMware\VMwa re Workstation
1

Install Workstation on a Linux Host

You run the Linux bundle installer to install Workstation on a Linux host system. On most Linux distributions, the Linux bundle installer launches a GUI wizard. On some Linux distributions, including Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5.1, the bundle installer launches a command-line wizard instead of a GUI wizard. You can run the installer with the --console option to install Workstation in a terminal window.
Remote connections and virtual machine sharing are enabled by default when you install Workstation. With remote connections, you can connect to remote hosts and run remote virtual machines. With virtual machine sharing, you can create virtual machines that other instances of Workstation can access remotely.
Shared virtual machines are stored in the shared virtual machines directory, where VMware Workstation Server (vmware-workstation-server) manages them. Remote users connect to VMware Workstation Server through HTTPS port 443 on the host system.
20 VMware, Inc.
Chapter 2 Installing and Using Workstation
To change the shared virtual machines directory or select a different port during the installation process, you must specify the --custom option. You can also change the shared virtual machines directory, select a different port, and disable remote connections and virtual machine sharing after Workstation is installed by modifying the Shared VMs Workstation preference setting. See Using VMware Workstation for more information.
Prerequisites
Verify that the host system meets the host system requirements. See “Host System Requirements,” on
n
page 7.
Verify that no incompatible VMware products are installed on the host system. See “Installing
n
Workstation with Other VMware Products,” on page 16.
Obtain the Workstation software and license key. See “Obtaining the Workstation Software and License
n
Key,” on page 15.
If you plan to use the Integrated Virtual Debugger for Eclipse, install it on the host system. See
n
“Installing the Integrated Virtual Debuggers for Eclipse and Visual Studio,” on page 16.
Compile the real-time clock function into the Linux kernel.
n
Verify that the parallel port PC-style hardware option (CONFIG_PARPORT_PC) is built and loaded as a
n
kernel module and that it is set to m when the kernel is compiled.
Familiarize yourself with the Linux command-line installation options. You must use the --custom
n
option to specify certain configuration settings. See “Linux Command Line Installation Options,” on page 22.
Verify that you have root access on the host system.
n
Procedure
1 Log in to the host system with the user name that you plan to use when you run Workstation.
2 Become root.
For example: su root
The command that you use depends on your Linux distribution and configuration.
3 If you are installing Workstation from the installation media, mount the Workstation installation media.
4 Change directories to the directory that contains the Workstation 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 Workstation installer for the host system.
For example: sh VMware-Workstation-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 Open Virtualization Format (OVF) Tool license agreement.
If you are using the --console option or installing Workstation 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.
VMware, Inc. 21
After Workstation is installed, vmware-workstation-server starts on the host system. vmware-workstation-
server starts whenever you restart the host system.
Linux Command Line Installation Options
You can use command line installation options to install Workstation 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 2‑3. Linux Command Line Installation Options
Option Description
--console
--custom
--eulas-agreed
--gtk
--ignore-errors or -I
--regular
--required
--set-setting vmware-installer installShortcutsAdds shortcuts when Workstation is installed. The default is yes .
--set-setting vmware-installer libdir /opt
--set-setting vmware-installer prefix /usr/local
--set-setting vmware-player serialNumber
--set-setting vmware-player-app simplifiedUITurn on or off certain UI features of Player. The default is no.
--set-setting vmware-player-app softwareUpdateEnabled
--set-setting vmware-player-app softwareUpdateURL
--set-setting vmware-player-app supportURL
--set-setting vmware-workstation serialNumber
Enables you to use the terminal for installation.
Use this option to customize the following installation settings.
The locations of the installation directories.
n
The user who will initially connect to VMware Workstation Server.
n
This user can create and manage shared virtual machines.
The hard limit for the number of open file descriptors.
n
The location of the shared virtual machines directory.
n
The HTTPS port that VMware Workstation Server uses on the host
n
system.
Allows you to silently accept the product EULAs.
Opens the GUI-based VMware installer, which is the default option.
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
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 Workstation.
Creates:
n
/opt/vmware (Workstation or Player)
n
/opt/vmware-installer
n
/opt/vmware-vix
The default is /usr/lib .
Installs executable files you run directly (ex: vmware, vmplayer, vmware­networks, etc.) here. Remainder of the product distributed under libdir­derived paths. The default is /usr .
Lets you enter the license key when Player is installed. Enter the license key with hyphens, for example, xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx.
Enables automatic upgrades for VMware Player when a new build becomes available.
Specifies a custom URL for managing software updates (separate from vmware.com).
Set a support URL or email alias specifically for your users to contact with product issues through the or Player Help menu.
Lets you enter the license key when Workstation is installed. Enter the license key with hyphens, for example, xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx.
22 VMware, Inc.

Upgrading Workstation

You can upgrade from Workstation 4, 5.x, 6.x, or 7.x to the current version of Workstation by running the Workstation installation program.
When you upgrade Workstation, the installation program removes the previous version of Workstation before it installs the new version.
To use the latest features, virtual machines that were created in the previous versions of Workstation must be upgraded to the current version of Workstation.
Prepare for an Upgrade on page 23
n
You must perform certain steps before you upgrade Workstation.
Upgrade Workstation on a Windows Host on page 24
n
You can upgrade from Workstation version 4, 5.x, 6.x, or 7.x to the current version of Workstation on a Windows host system by running the Workstation setup program and installation wizard for Windows.
Upgrade Workstation on a Linux Host on page 25
n
You can upgrade Workstation version 4, 5.x, 6.x, or 7.x to the current version of Workstation on a Linux host system by running the Linux bundle installer for Workstation. On most Linux distributions, the Linux bundle installer launches a GUI wizard. On some Linux distributions, including Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5.1, the bundle installer launches a command-line wizard instead of a GUI wizard. You can run the installer with the --console option to upgrade Workstation in a terminal window.
Chapter 2 Installing and Using Workstation
Change the Hardware Compatibility of a Virtual Machine on page 27
n
You can change the hardware compatibility of a virtual machine. All virtual machines have a hardware version. The hardware version indicates which virtual hardware features that the virtual machine supports, such as BIOS or EFI, number of virtual slots, maximum number of CPUs, maximum memory configuration, and other hardware characteristics.

Prepare for an Upgrade

You must perform certain steps before you upgrade Workstation.
Procedure
Verify that all virtual machines are Workstation 4, 5.x, 6.x, or 7.x virtual machines.
n
Direct upgrades from Workstation 2 and 3 virtual machines are not supported.
Review the system requirements for the new version of Workstation.
n
If a virtual machine was created with a version of Workstation earlier than Workstation 5.5 and it has a
n
snapshot, delete the snapshot.
If you are upgrading from Workstation 4, 5.x, 6.x, or 7.x, and the previous version of Workstation used
n
bridged settings to map virtual networks to specific physical or virtual adapters, record those settings.
You must recreate these mappings after you upgrade Workstation.
Power off all running virtual machines in Workstation.
n
If any virtual machines are suspended, resume them and power them off in Workstation.
n
If any virtual machines are running in the background, start them in Workstation and power them off.
n
VMware, Inc. 23
Back up all virtual machines by making backup copies of the files in the virtual machine directories and
n
storing them in different directories.
The files that you back up should include .vmdk or .dsk files, .vmx or .cfg files, and .nvram files. Depending on the upgrade path, you might not be able to run virtual machines under both the current version of Workstation and the previous version of Workstation.
If you are upgrading Workstation 6.x on Windows XP to the current version of Workstation on
n
Windows Vista or Windows 7, verify that Service Pack 2 is installed and then upgrade the host operating system to Windows Vista or Windows 7.
If you are upgrading Workstation 5.x on Windows Vista to the current version of Workstation on
n
Windows Vista, select Programs > Programs and Features > Uninstall a program in the Windows control panel to manually uninstall Workstation 5.x.
If you are upgrading Workstation 5.x on Windows XP to the current version of Workstation on
n
Windows Vista or Windows 7, select Add or Remove Programs in the Windows control panel to manually uninstall Workstation 5.x.
During an upgrade from Windows XP to Windows Vista or Windows 7, the location of virtual machines might change. The Windows Vista and Windows 7 upgrade use the registry to map the virtual machines to a new location. Before the upgrade, the default virtual machine location on Windows XP is
C:\Documents and Settings\username\My Documents\My Virtual Machines. After the upgrade, the default
virtual machine location on Windows Vista and Windows 7 is C:\Users\username\Documents\Virtual
Machines\guestOSname.

Upgrade Workstation on a Windows Host

You can upgrade from Workstation version 4, 5.x, 6.x, or 7.x to the current version of Workstation on a Windows host system by running the Workstation setup program and installation wizard for Windows.
Remote connections and virtual machine sharing are enabled by default when you upgrade Workstation. With remote connections, you can connect to remote hosts and run remote virtual machines. With virtual machine sharing, you can create virtual machines that other instances of Workstation can access remotely.
Shared virtual machines are stored in the shared virtual machines directory, where VMware Workstation Server (the VMware Workstation Server service) manages them. Remote users connect to VMware Workstation Server through HTTPS port 443 on the host system.
To change the shared virtual machines directory or select a different port during the upgrade process, you must select the Custom option. You can also change the shared virtual machines directory, select a different port, and disable remote connections and virtual machine sharing after Workstation is upgraded by modifying the Shared VMs Workstation preference setting. See Using VMware Workstation for more information.
Prerequisites
Verify that the host system meets the host system requirements. See “Host System Requirements,” on
n
page 7.
Verify that you have a license key.
n
Verify that you have administrative privileges on the host system.
n
Prepare for the upgrade. See “Prepare for an Upgrade,” on page 23.
n
Procedure
1 Log in to the Windows host system as the Administrator user or as a user who is a member of the local
Administrators group.
If you log in to a domain, the domain account must also be a local administrator.
24 VMware, Inc.
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