VMware Workstation - 12.0 Pro Instruction Manual

Using VMware Workstation Pro

Workstation 12 Pro

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-001870-00

Using VMware Workstation Pro

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

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Using VMware Workstation Pro 7

Introduction and System Requirements 9

Host System Requirements for Workstation Pro 9

Virtual Machine Features and Specifications 12

Installing and Using Workstation Pro 17

Obtaining the Workstation Pro Software and License Key 17

Installing Workstation Pro with Other VMware Products 18

Reinstalling Workstation Pro When Upgrading a Windows Host Operating System 18

Installing the Integrated Virtual Debuggers for Eclipse 19

Installing Workstation Pro 19

Upgrading Workstation Pro 25

Uninstalling Workstation Pro 30

Start Workstation Pro 31

Using the Workstation Pro Window 31

Using the Workstation Pro Online Help 36

Creating Virtual Machines 37

Understanding Virtual Machines 37

Preparing to Create a New Virtual Machine 38

Create a New Virtual Machine on the Local Host 47

Cloning Virtual Machines 52

Virtualize a Physical Machine 54

Importing Virtual Machines 56

Installing and Upgrading VMware Tools 58

Virtual Machine Files 69

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Using Virtual Machines 71

Starting Virtual Machines 71

Stopping Virtual Machines 73

Transferring Files and Text 77

Add a Host Printer to a Virtual Machine 87

Using Removable Devices in Virtual Machines 87

Changing the Virtual Machine Display 94

Using Folders to Manage Virtual Machines 100

Taking Snapshots of Virtual Machines 103

Install New Software in a Virtual Machine 109

Take a Screenshot of a Virtual Machine 110

Delete a Virtual Machine 111

Using VMware Workstation Pro

Configuring and Managing Virtual Machines 113

Configure Power Options and Power Control Settings 113

Set Workstation Pro Display Preferences 115

Configure Display Settings for a Virtual Machine 116

Set Preferences for Unity Mode 118

Setting Screen Color Depth 119

Using Advanced Linux Sound Architecture 120

Encrypting and Restricting Virtual Machines 121

Moving Virtual Machines 125

Configure a Virtual Machine as a VNC Server 130

Change the Hardware Compatibility of a Virtual Machine 133

Clean Up a Virtual Hard Disk on Windows Hosts 134

Export a Virtual Machine to OVF Format 135

Writing and Debugging Applications That Run In Virtual Machines 136

Configuring and Managing Devices 139

Configuring DVD, CD-ROM, and Floppy Drives 139

Configuring a USB Controller 141

Configuring and Maintaining Virtual Hard Disks 143

Adding a Physical Disk to a Virtual Machine 150

Configuring Virtual Ports 152

Configuring Generic SCSI Devices 157

Configuring Eight-Way Virtual Symmetric Multiprocessing 160

Configuring Keyboard Features 161

Modify Hardware Settings for a Virtual Machine 169

Configuring Network Connections 171

Understanding Virtual Networking Components 171

Understanding Common Networking Configurations 172

Changing the Default Networking Configuration 173

Configuring Bridged Networking 177

Configuring Network Address Translation 180

Configuring Host-Only Networking 189

Assigning IP Addresses in Host-Only Networks and NAT Configurations 194

Configuring LAN Segments 198

Configuring Samba for Workstation Pro 200

Using Virtual Network Adapters in Promiscuous Mode on Linux Hosts 201

Maintaining and Changing MAC Addresses for Virtual Machines 201

Sample Custom Networking Configuration 202

Using Remote Connections and Sharing Virtual Machines 205

Understanding VMware Workstation Server 205

Connect to a Remote Server 208

Disconnect from a Remote Server 210

Creating and Managing Shared Virtual Machines 210

Uploading Virtual Machines to Remote Servers 213

Download a Virtual Machine from a Remote Server 215

Create a Virtual Machine on a Remote Host 216

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Configure Shared and Remote Virtual Machines to Start with the Host 217

Using Roles to Assign Privileges 218

Using Permissions to Restrict Users 221

Contents

Changing Workstation Pro Preference Settings 225

Configuring Workspace Preference Settings 225

Configuring Input Preference Settings 228

Changing Hot-Key Combinations 230

Configuring Workstation Pro Display Preference Settings 231

Configuring Software Update Preference Settings 232

Sending System Data and Usage Statistics to VMware 234

Changing Shared Virtual Machine Preference Settings 235

Configuring Workstation Pro Memory Preference Settings 236

Configuring Workstation Pro Priority Preference Settings 237

Configuring Device Settings for Windows Hosts 238

Configuring Virtual Machine Option Settings 241

Configuring General Option Settings for a Virtual Machine 241

Configuring Power Settings for a Virtual Machine 243

Configuring Snapshot Options for a Virtual Machine 244

Configuring AutoProtect Options for a Virtual Machine 245

Configuring Guest Isolation Options for a Virtual Machine 245

Configuring Tablet Sensor Input Options for a Virtual Machine 246

Configuring VMware Tools Options for a Virtual Machine 247

Configuring a Virtual Machine as a VNC Server 247

Configuring Unity Mode for a Virtual Machine 248

Configuring Appliance Details for a Virtual Machine 248

Configuring Autologon for a Virtual Machine 249

Configuring Advanced Options for a Virtual Machine 249

Configuring Virtual Machine Hardware Settings 253

Adding Hardware to a Virtual Machine 253

Removing Hardware from a Virtual Machine 254

Adjusting Virtual Machine Memory 255

Configuring Virtual Machine Processor Settings 255

Configuring and Maintaining Virtual Hard Disks 256

Configuring CD-ROM and DVD Drive Settings 258

Configuring Floppy Drive Settings 260

Configuring Virtual Network Adapter Settings 260

Configuring USB Controller Settings 264

Configuring Sound Card Settings 265

Configuring Parallel Port Settings 265

Configuring Serial Port Settings 265

Configuring Generic SCSI Device Settings 266

Configuring Printer Settings 267

Configuring Display Settings 267

Installing a Guest Operating System on a Physical Disk or Unused Partition 268

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Using the Virtual Network Editor 269

Add a Bridged Virtual Network 269

Add a Host-Only Virtual Network 270

Changing Automatic Bridging Settings 271

Changing NAT Settings on a Windows Host 271

Changing DHCP Settings on a Windows Host 273

Running the Support Script 275

Run the Support Script from Workstation Pro 276

Run the Support Script from a Windows Command Prompt 276

Run the Support Script from a Linux Terminal Window 277

Using the vmware Command 279

Run the vmware Command 279

Incorporate Workstation Pro Startup Options in a Windows Shortcut 280

Index 281

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Using VMware Workstation Pro

Using VMware Workstation Pro describes how to use VMware Workstation Pro™ to create, configure, and manage virtual machines.

Intended Audience

This information is intended for anyone who wants to install, upgrade, or use Workstation Pro. The information is written for experienced Windows or Linux system administrators who are familiar with virtual machine technology and datacenter operations.

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Using VMware Workstation Pro

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Introduction and System

Requirements 1

Host computers that run Workstation Pro must meet specific hardware and software requirements. Virtual machines that run in Workstation Pro support specific devices and provide certain features.

This chapter includes the following topics:

“Host System Requirements for Workstation Pro,” on page 9

“Virtual Machine Features and Specifications,” on page 12

Host System Requirements for Workstation Pro

The physical computer on which you install Workstation Pro is called the host system and its operating system is called the host operating system. To run Workstation Pro, the host system and the host operating system must meet specific hardware and software requirements.

Processor Requirements for Host Systems

You must install Workstation Pro 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

1.3GHz or faster core speed

Multiprocessor systems are supported.

When you install Workstation Pro, the installer performs checks to make sure the host system has a supported processor. You cannot install Workstation Pro 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

An Intel CPU that has VT-x support

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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Using VMware Workstation Pro

When you install a 64-bit operating system, Workstation Pro 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 Pro 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 1 GB. 2 GB and above is recommended.

To support Windows 7 Aero graphics in a virtual machine, at least 3 GB of host system memory is required. 1 GB of memory is allocated to the guest operating system and 256 MB 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.

At least 1 GB free disk space is recommended for each guest operating system

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, 1.5 GB free disk space is required on Windows and

Linux. You can delete the installer after the installation is complete to reclaim disk space.

IDE, SATA, and SCSI optical drives are supported.

CD-ROM and DVD drives are supported.

ISO disk image files are supported.

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, Windows 10, Ubuntu, and Red Hat Enterprise Linux virtual machines, all drive types

can report their virtual disks as SSD drives.

On Windows 7 virtual machines, only IDE and SATA virtual disks can report their virtual disks as SSD.

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

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

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.

The sound card on the host system must support ALSA. The ALSA project Web site maintains a current

listing of sound cards and chipsets that support ALSA.

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Using VMware Workstation Pro

The sound device on the host system must not be muted.

The current user must have the appropriate permissions to use the sound device.

Virtual Machine Features and Specifications

Workstation Pro 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.

One virtual processor on a host system that has one or more logical processors.

Up to eight virtual processors (eight-way virtual symmetric multiprocessing, or Virtual SMP) on a host

system that has at least two logical processors.

NOTE Workstation Pro 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

NS338 SIO chip set

82093AA I/O Advanced Programmable Controller (I/O APIC)

Phoenix BIOS 4.0 Release 6 with VESA BIOS

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 Pro 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.

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104-key Windows 95/98 enhanced keyboards are supported.

To use the GL_EXT_texture_compression_s3tc and GL_S3_s3tc Open Graphics Library (OpenGL)

extensions in a Windows XP or Windows 7 or later guest operating system, you must install Microsoft DirectX End-User Runtime in the guest operating system. OpenGL is an API 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.

DVD drives can be used to read data DVD discs only.

DVD video is not supported.

Hard disks can be virtual disks or physical disks.

IDE virtual disks can be up to 8TB.

CD-ROM drives can be physical devices or ISO image files.

Virtual Machine SCSI Device Support

Chapter 1 Introduction and System Requirements

Virtual machines support certain SCSI devices and features.

Up to 60 devices are supported.

SCSI virtual disks can be up to 8TB.

Hard disks can be virtual disks or physical disks.

With Generic SCSI support, you can use devices in a virtual machine without installing drivers in the

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.

Virtual Machine Floppy Drive Support

Virtual machines can have floppy drives.

Up to two 2.88MB floppy devices are supported.

Floppy drives can be physical drives or floppy image files.

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,

or named pipes.

Up to three bidirectional parallel (LPT) ports. Output can be sent to parallel ports or host operating

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

versions.

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USB 2.0 EHCI (Enhanced Host Controller Interface) controllers are supported if the virtual machine

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

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

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

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.

Serial tablets are supported.

USB tablets are supported.

Virtual Machine Ethernet Card Support

Virtual machines support certain types of Ethernet cards.

Up to 10 virtual Ethernet cards are supported.

The AMD PCnet-PCI II Ethernet Adapter is supported. For 64-bit guests, the Intel Pro/1000 MT Server

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

Ethernet switches are supported on Linux host operating systems.

Three switches are configured by default for bridged, host-only, and NAT networking.

Most Ethernet-based protocols are supported, including TCP/IP, NetBEUI, Microsoft Networking,

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

is supported for PPTP over NAT.

Virtual Machine Sound Support

Workstation Pro provides a sound device that is compatible with the Sound Blaster AudioPCI and Intel High-Definition Audio Specification. The Workstation Pro sound device is enabled by default.

Workstation Pro supports sound in Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows Me, Windows NT, Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 10, 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.

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Chapter 1 Introduction and System Requirements

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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Using VMware Workstation Pro

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Installing and Using Workstation Pro 2

You can install Workstation Pro on a Linux or Windows host system. Installing or upgrading Workstation Pro typically involves running a standard GUI wizard.

This chapter includes the following topics:

“Obtaining the Workstation Pro Software and License Key,” on page 17

“Installing Workstation Pro with Other VMware Products,” on page 18

“Reinstalling Workstation Pro When Upgrading a Windows Host Operating System,” on page 18

“Installing the Integrated Virtual Debuggers for Eclipse,” on page 19

“Installing Workstation Pro,” on page 19

“Upgrading Workstation Pro,” on page 25

“Uninstalling Workstation Pro,” on page 30

“Start Workstation Pro,” on page 31

“Using the Workstation Pro Window,” on page 31

“Using the Workstation Pro Online Help,” on page 36

Obtaining the Workstation Pro Software and License Key

The Workstation Pro 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 Pro. You need one license for each host system.

If you do not enter the Workstation Pro license key during installation, you can specify the license key later, in Workstation Pro, 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 Pro prompts you to enter a license key each time you attempt to power on a virtual machine.

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Using VMware Workstation Pro

Once you have installed Workstation Pro, you can find your license key in the About VMware Workstation Pro window. Click Help > About VMware Workstation Pro.

If you have an individual license for Workstation Pro, the key is displayed in the License Information

section under Type. It is labeled Individual and followed by your license key.

If you have a version of Workstation Pro licensed for multiple users, the Type field displays Volume and

your license key is not displayed.

If you did not enter a license for Workstation Pro, the Type field displays Not applicable and a license

key is not displayed.

If you have an evaluation license key for Workstation Pro, the Type field displays Not applicable. The

date the evaluation license key expires is also displayed.

Trial Version Expiration Date Warnings

When you use the trial version of VMware Workstation Pro, a notice appears on the home page advising you of the trial license expiration date.

To purchase a license key click, click Get a license key. If you have a license key, click Enter a license key. You can also go to the Help menu and click Enter a license key.

Installing Workstation Pro with Other VMware Products

The only VMware products that can share a host system with Workstation Pro are VMware vSphere Client and VMware vCenter Converter Standalone. You cannot install Workstation Pro 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 Pro.

Reinstalling Workstation Pro 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 Pro.

The way Workstation Pro is installed and configured depends partly on the version of Windows used. As a best practice, to ensure that Workstation Pro is properly configured for a new operating system, you must remove the Workstation Pro application before you perform the operating system upgrade. Uninstalling Workstation Pro guarantees that legacy components that apply only to older versions of Windows are not left behind .

For example, if you do not uninstall Workstation Pro before upgrading the Windows operating system, some virtual network adapters might not function properly after the operating system upgrade. Before you uninstall Workstation Pro, open the virtual network editor and note the settings used. You must configure these settings again after you reinstall Workstation Pro.

When you uninstall Workstation Pro, you need only uninstall the Workstation Pro application, not the virtual machines that you have created. When the operating system upgrade is complete, reinstall Workstation Pro or, if you are also upgrading Workstation Pro, install the new version of Workstation Pro.

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Chapter 2 Installing and Using Workstation Pro

Installing the Integrated Virtual Debuggers for Eclipse

If you plan to use the Integrated Virtual Debugger for Eclipse, you should install it on the host system before you install Workstation Pro.

If you must install the Integrated Virtual Debugger for Eclipse after you install Workstation Pro, run the Workstation Pro installer again and select Modify/Change to install the associated Workstation Pro plugins.

See the Integrated Virtual Debugger for Eclipse Developer’s Guide for host system requirements and supported operating systems. This guide is available on the VMware Web site.

Installing Workstation Pro

You can install Workstation Pro 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 Pro on several Windows hosts and do not want to respond to wizard prompts. You install Workstation Pro on a Linux host system by running the Workstation Pro bundle installer.

Install Workstation Pro on a Windows Host on page 19

You run the Windows setup program and installation wizard to install Workstation Pro on a Windows host system.

Run an Unattended Workstation Pro Installation on a Windows Host on page 20

You can use the unattended installation feature of the Microsoft Windows Installer (MSI) to install Workstation Pro on Windows host systems without having to respond to wizard prompts. This feature is convenient in a large enterprise.

Install Workstation Pro on a Linux Host on page 23

You run the Linux bundle installer to install Workstation Pro 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 Pro in a terminal window.

Install Workstation Pro on a Windows Host

You run the Windows setup program and installation wizard to install Workstation Pro on a Windows host system.

Remote connections and virtual machine sharing are enabled by default when you install Workstation Pro. 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 Pro 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 Pro is installed by modifying the Shared VMs Workstation Pro preference setting.

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Using VMware Workstation Pro

Prerequisites

Verify that the host system meets the host system requirements. See “Host System Requirements for

Workstation Pro,” on page 9.

Verify that you have administrative privileges on the host system.

Verify that no incompatible VMware products are installed on the host system. See “Installing

Workstation Pro with Other VMware Products,” on page 18.

Obtain the Workstation Pro software and license key. See “Obtaining the Workstation Pro Software and

License Key,” on page 17.

If you plan to use the Integrated Virtual Debugger for Eclipse, install it on the host system. See

“Installing the Integrated Virtual Debuggers for Eclipse,” on page 19.

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 Double-click the VMware-workstation-xxxx-xxxx.exe file, where xxxx-xxxx is the version and build

numbers.

3 Select a setup option.

Option Description

Typical

Custom

Installs typical Workstation Pro features. If the Integrated Virtual Debugger for Eclipse is present on the host system, the associated Workstation Pro plug-ins are installed.

Lets you select which Workstation Pro 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.

4 Follow the prompts to finish the installation.

Depending on your configuration, you might need to restart the host system to finish the installation.

After Workstation Pro 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 Pro Installation on a Windows Host

Prerequisites

Verify that the host system meets the host system requirements. See “Host System Requirements for

Workstation Pro,” on page 9.

Verify that no incompatible VMware products are installed on the host system. See “Installing

Workstation Pro with Other VMware Products,” on page 18.

Obtain the Workstation Pro software and license key. See “Obtaining the Workstation Pro Software and

License Key,” on page 17.

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Chapter 2 Installing and Using Workstation Pro

If you plan to use the Integrated Virtual Debugger for Eclipse, install it on the host system. See

“Installing the Integrated Virtual Debuggers for Eclipse,” on page 19.

Verify that the host computer has version 2.0 or later of the MSI runtime engine. This version of the

installer is available in versions of Windows beginning with Windows XP and is available from Microsoft. For more information, see the Microsoft Web site.

Familiarize yourself with the installation properties. See “Installation Properties,” on page 21.

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 Extract the administrative installation image from the setup file.

The setup filename is similar to VMware=workstation-xxxx-xxxx.exe where xxxx-xxxx is the version and build number.

For example, if you enter setup.exe/?, the flag displays a windows message box with the command line usage for the installer.

3 Enter the installation command on one line.

Some examples are:

VMware-workstation-full-x.x.x-xxxxxx.exe /s /pass /v/qn REBOOT=ReallySuppress "EULAS_AGREED=1 INSTALLDIR=""path_to_program_directory"" ADDLOCAL=ALL SERIALNUMBER=""xxxxxxxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx"" "

VMware-workstation-full-x.x.x-xxxxxx.exe /s /v/qn EULAS_AGREED=1 SERIALNUMBER="xxxxx-xxxxxxxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx"

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. See “REMOVE

Property Values,” on page 22.

You can also run an unattended uninstallation of Workstation Pro on a Windows host. The following example uninstalls Workstation Pro and removes the license from the host.

VMware-workstation-full-x.x.x-xxxxxx.exe /s /v"/qn REMOVE=ALL"

Installation Properties

When you perform an unattended installation of Workstation Pro, 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.

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Using VMware Workstation Pro

Table 2‑1. Installation Properties

Property Description Default Value

AUTHD_PORT

AUTOSOFTWAREUPDATE

DATACOLLECTION

DATASTORE_PATH

DESKTOP_SHORTCUT

ENABLE_VIRTUAL_PRINTING

EULAS_AGREED

HOSTD_HTTPS_PORT

INSTALLDIR

KEEP_LICENSE

KEEP_SETTINGFILES

SERIALNUMBER

SOFTWAREUPDATEURL

STARTMENU_SHORTCUT

SUPPORTURL

Specifies which port the "VMware Authorization Service" communicates through.

Enables automatic upgrades for Workstation Pro or Workstation Player when a new build becomes available.

Sends user experience information to VMware. 1

Specifies the "Shared Virtual Machines" directory, "C:\Users\Public\Documents\Shared Virtual Machines"

Adds a shortcut on the desktop when Workstation Pro is installed.

Enables support for ThinPrint virtual printing on the Windows host after installing.

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 Pro in a directory that is different from the default Workstation Pro location.

Specifies whether to keep or remove license keys when Workstation Pro is installed.

Specifies whether to keep or remove settings files when Workstation Prois uninstalled

Lets you enter the license key when Workstation Pro is installed. Enter the license key with hyphens, for example, xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx.

Specifies a custom URL for managing software updates (separate from vmware.com).

Adds a Start menu item when Workstation Pro is installed. 1

Set a support URL or email alias specifically for your users to contact with product issues through the Workstation Pro or Workstation Pro Help menu.

902

C:\Program Files (86)\VMware\VMwar e Workstation

REMOVE Property Values

When you perform an unattended installation of Workstation Pro, 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 2‑2. REMOVE Property Values

Value Skipped Feature

Networking

USB

Keyboard

ParPort

22 VMware, Inc.

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 USB driver.

The virtual keyboard driver.

The parallel port driver.

Chapter 2 Installing and Using Workstation Pro

Install Workstation Pro on a Linux Host

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.

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 Pro is installed by modifying the Shared VMs Workstation Pro preference setting.

Prerequisites

Verify that the host system meets the host system requirements. See “Host System Requirements for

Workstation Pro,” on page 9.

Verify that no incompatible VMware products are installed on the host system. See “Installing

Workstation Pro with Other VMware Products,” on page 18.

Obtain the Workstation Pro software and license key. See “Obtaining the Workstation Pro Software and

License Key,” on page 17.

If you plan to use the Integrated Virtual Debugger for Eclipse, install it on the host system. See

“Installing the Integrated Virtual Debuggers for Eclipse,” on page 19.

Compile the real-time clock function into the Linux kernel.

Verify that the parallel port PC-style hardware option (CONFIG_PARPORT_PC) is built and loaded as a

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

option to specify certain configuration settings. See “Linux Command Line Installation Options,” on page 24.

Verify that you have root access on the host system.

Procedure

1 Log in to the host system with the user name that you plan to use when you run Workstation Pro.

2 Become root.

For example: su root

The command that you use depends on your Linux distribution and configuration.

3 Change directories to the directory that contains the Workstation Pro installer file.

4 Run the appropriate Workstation Pro 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.

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Using VMware Workstation Pro

5 Accept the Open Virtualization Format (OVF) Tool license agreement.

If you are using the --console option or installing Workstation Pro 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.

6 Follow the prompts to finish the installation.

After Workstation Pro 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 Pro 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

--gtk

--ignore-errors or -I

--regular

--required

--set-setting vmware-installer installShortcuts

--set-setting vmware-installer libdir /opt

--set-setting vmware-installer prefix /usr/local

--set-setting vmware-player serialNumber

--set-setting vmware-player-app simplifiedUI

--set-setting vmware-player-app softwareUpdateEnabled

--set-setting vmware-player-app softwareUpdateURL

Enables you to use the terminal for installation.

Use this option to customize the following installation settings.

The locations of the installation directories.

The user who will initially connect to VMware Workstation Server. This user

can create and manage shared virtual machines.

The hard limit for the number of open file descriptors.

The location of the shared virtual machines directory.

The HTTPS port that VMware Workstation Server uses on the host system.

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 Pro.

Adds shortcuts when Workstation Pro is installed. The default is yes .

Creates:

/opt/vmware (Workstation or Workstation Pro)

/opt/vmware-installer

/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 libdir-derived paths. The default is /usr .

Lets you enter the license key when Workstation Pro is installed. Enter the license key with hyphens, for example, xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx.

Turn on or off certain UI features of Workstation Pro. The default is no.

Enables automatic upgrades for Workstation Pro when a new build becomes available.

Specifies a custom URL for managing software updates (separate from vmware.com).

24 VMware, Inc.

Table 2‑3. Linux Command Line Installation Options (Continued)

Option Description

--set-setting vmware-player-app supportURL

--set-setting vmware-workstation serialNumber

Set a support URL or email alias specifically for your users to contact with product issues through the Workstation Pro or Workstation Pro Help menu.

Lets you enter the license key when Workstation Pro is installed. Enter the license key with hyphens, for example, xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx.

Upgrading Workstation Pro

You can upgrade from a previous version of Workstation to the current version of Workstation Pro by running the Workstation Pro installation program.

When you upgrade Workstation Pro, the installation program removes the previous version of Workstation Pro 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 Pro.

Prepare for an Upgrade on page 25

You must perform certain steps before you upgrade Workstation Pro.

Upgrade Workstation Pro on a Windows Host on page 26

You can upgrade to the current version of Workstation Pro on a Windows host system by running the Workstation Pro setup program and installation wizard for Windows.

Chapter 2 Installing and Using Workstation Pro

Upgrade Workstation Pro on a Linux Host on page 27

You can upgrade to the current version of Workstation Pro on a Linux host system by running the Linux bundle installer for Workstation Pro. 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 Pro in a terminal window.

Change the Hardware Compatibility of a Virtual Machine on page 29

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 Pro.

Procedure

Verify that all virtual machines are Workstation 7.x, 8, 9, 10 or 11 virtual machines.

Direct upgrades from Workstation 2 and 3 virtual machines are not supported .

Review the system requirements for the new version of Workstation Pro.

If a virtual machine was created with a version of Workstation earlier than Workstation 5.5 and it has a

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

bridged settings to map virtual networks to specific physical or virtual adapters, record those settings.

You must recreate these mappings after you upgrade Workstation Pro.

Power off all running virtual machines in Workstation Pro.

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Using VMware Workstation Pro

If any virtual machines are suspended, resume them and power them off in Workstation Pro.

If any virtual machines are running in the background, start them in Workstation Pro and power them

off.

Back up all virtual machines by making backup copies of the files in the virtual machine directories and

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 Pro and the previous version.

If you are upgrading Workstation 6.x on Windows XP to the current version of Workstation Pro on

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 Pro on

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 Pro on

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 Pro on a Windows Host

You can upgrade to the current version of Workstation Pro on a Windows host system by running the Workstation Pro setup program and installation wizard for Windows.

Remote connections and virtual machine sharing are enabled by default when you upgrade Workstation Pro. 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 Pro can access remotely.

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 Pro is upgraded by modifying the Shared VMs Workstation Pro preference setting.

Prerequisites

Verify that the host system meets the host system requirements. See “Host System Requirements for

Workstation Pro,” on page 9.

Verify that you have a license key.

Verify that you have administrative privileges on the host system.

Prepare for the upgrade. See “Prepare for an Upgrade,” on page 25.

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Chapter 2 Installing and Using Workstation Pro

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 Double-click the VMware-workstation-xxxx-xxxx.exe file, where xxxx-xxxx is the version and build

numbers.

3 Click Uninstall to uninstall the previous version of Workstation Pro.

4 After the host system restarts, log in 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.

5 Select a setup option.

Option Description

Typical

Custom

Installs typical Workstation Pro features. If the Integrated Virtual Debugger for Eclipse is present on the host system, the associated Workstation Pro plug-ins are installed.

6 Follow the prompts to finish the upgrade.

Depending on your configuration, you might need to restart the host system to finish the installation.

After Workstation Pro is upgraded and you restart the host system, the VMware Workstation Server service starts. The VMware Workstation Server service starts whenever you restart the host system.

What to do next

To use the latest features, upgrade existing virtual machines to the new version of Workstation Pro. See

“Change the Hardware Compatibility of a Virtual Machine,” on page 29.

If you used bridged settings to map virtual networks to specific physical or virtual adapters in the previous version of Workstation Pro, recreate the mappings. If you created teams in the previous version of Workstation, convert the teams to use them in the new version of Workstation Pro.

Upgrade Workstation Pro on a Linux Host

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Using VMware Workstation Pro

To change the shared virtual machines directory or select a different port during the upgrade 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 Pro is upgraded by modifying the Shared VMs Workstation Pro preference setting.

Prerequisites

Verify that the host system meets the host system requirements. See “Host System Requirements for

Workstation Pro,” on page 9.

Verify that you have a license key.

Prepare for the upgrade. See “Prepare for an Upgrade,” on page 25.

Familiarize yourself with the Linux command-line installation options. You must use the --custom

option to specify certain configuration settings. See “Linux Command Line Installation Options,” on page 24.

Verify that you have root access to the host system.

Procedure

1 Log in to the host system with the user name that you plan to use when you run Workstation Pro.

2 Become root.

For example: su root

The command that you use depends on your Linux distribution and configuration.

3 Change directories to the directory that contains the Workstation Pro installer file.

4 Run the appropriate Workstation Pro 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.

5 Accept the Open Virtualization Format (OVF) Tool license agreement.

6 Follow the prompts to finish the installation.

After Workstation Pro is upgraded, vmware-workstation-server starts on the host system. vmware-

workstation-server starts whenever you restart the host system.

What to do next

To use the latest features, upgrade existing virtual machines to the new version of Workstation Pro. See

“Change the Hardware Compatibility of a Virtual Machine,” on page 29.

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Chapter 2 Installing and Using Workstation Pro

Change the Hardware Compatibility of a Virtual Machine

When you upgrade Workstation Pro, you must change the hardware compatibility of virtual machines that were created in previous versions of Workstation Pro so that they can use the new features in the new version of Workstation Pro. You can run older versions of virtual machines in the new version of Workstation Pro, but you will not have the benefits of the new features.

If you want a virtual machine to remain compatible with other VMware products that you are using, you might not want to change the hardware compatibility to the latest Workstation Pro version.

NOTE If you decide not to change the hardware compatibility of a virtual machine, you should consider upgrading to the latest version of VMware Tools to obtain the latest VMware Tools features.

Prerequisites

Familiarize yourself with the considerations and limitations of changing the hardware compatibility of a virtual machine. See “Considerations for Changing the Hardware Compatibility of a Virtual Machine,” on page 30.

Procedure

1 Make backup copies of the virtual disk (.vmdk) files.

2 If you are upgrading from a Workstation 5.x virtual machine, or downgrading to a Workstation 5.x

virtual machine, make a note of the NIC settings in the guest operating system.

If you specified a static IP address for the virtual machine, that setting might be changed to automatic assignment by DHCP after the upgrade.

3 Shut down the guest operating system and power off the virtual machine.

4 Select the virtual machine and select VM > Manage > Change Hardware Compatibility.

5 Follow the prompts in the wizard to change the hardware compatibility of the virtual machine.

When you select a hardware compatibility setting, a list of the VMware products that are compatible with that setting appears. For example, if you select Workstation 4, 5, or 6, a list of Workstation 6.5 and later features that are not supported for that Workstation version also appears.

NOTE Using Workstation 10, you can change the hardware compatibility of a shared or remote virtual machine. However, you cannot down grade a previously created virtual machine.

6 Power on the virtual machine.

If you upgrade a virtual machine that contains a Windows 98 operating system to a Workstation 6.5 or later virtual machine, you must install a PCI-PCI bridge driver when you power on the virtual machine.

NOTE Because Workstation 6.5 and later versions have 32 more PCI-PCI bridges than Workstation 6, you might need to respond to the prompt 32 or 33 times.

7 If the NIC settings in the guest operating system have changed, use the NIC settings that you recorded

to change them back to their original settings.

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Using VMware Workstation Pro

8 If the virtual machine does not have the latest version of VMware Tools installed, update VMware

Tools.

You should update VMware Tools to the version included with the latest version of Workstation Pro, even if you upgraded the virtual machine to an earlier version of Workstation Pro. Do not remove the older version of VMware Tools before installing the new version.

NOTE If you are upgrading a virtual machine that runs from a physical disk, you can safely ignore this message: Unable to upgrade drive_name. One of the supplied parameters is invalid.

Considerations for Changing the Hardware Compatibility of a Virtual Machine

Before you change the hardware compatibility of a virtual machine, you should be aware of certain considerations and limitations.

For Workstation 5.x, 6, 6.5, 7.x, and later virtual machines, you can change the version of the original

virtual machine or create a full clone so that the original virtual machine remains unaltered.

If you upgrade a Workstation 5.x virtual machine that is compatible with ESX Server to Workstation 6,

6.5, 7.x, or later, you cannot use the Change Hardware Compatibility wizard to later downgrade the virtual machine to an ESX-compatible virtual machine.

When you upgrade a Windows XP, Windows Server 2003, Windows Vista, Windows 7, or Windows 8

virtual machine, the Microsoft product activation feature might require you to reactivate the guest operating system.

Using Workstation 9 or earlier, you cannot change the hardware compatibility of a shared or remote

virtual machine.

Using Workstation 10 and later, you can change the hardware compatibility of a shared or remote

virtual machine. However, you cannot down grade a previously created virtual machine.

Uninstalling Workstation Pro

You uninstall Workstation Pro on a Windows host by using the Windows setup program. On a Linux host, you uninstall Workstation Pro by running the bundle installer.

IMPORTANT If you uninstall Workstation Pro and do not save the configuration, then when you reinstall Workstation Pro, shared virtual machines will no longer appear in the Shared VMs list in the virtual machine library. To display virtual machines in the list again, you will need to share them again.

Uninstall Workstation Pro from a Windows Host

You can run the Windows setup program to uninstall Workstation Pro from a Windows host system.

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 the domain, the domain account must also be a local administrator.

2 Double-click the VMware-workstation-xxxx-xxxx.exe file, where xxxx-xxxx is the version and build

numbers.

3 Click Next on the Welcome screen and then click Remove.

4 (Optional) To save product license and Workstation Pro configuration information, select the

appropriate check boxes.

5 Click Next to begin uninstalling Workstation Pro.

30 VMware, Inc.

+ 258 hidden pages

VMware Workstation - 12.0 Pro Instruction Manual

Specifications and Main Features

Frequently Asked Questions

User Manual

Contents

Using VMware Workstation Pro

Host System Requirements for Workstation Pro

Processor Requirements for Host Systems

Supported Host Operating Systems

Memory Requirements for Host Systems

Display Requirements for Host Systems

Disk Drive Requirements for Host Systems

Solid-State Drives

Local Area Networking Requirements for Host Systems

ALSA Requirements

Virtual Machine Features and Specifications

Supported Guest Operating Systems

Virtual Machine Processor Support

Virtual Machine Chip Set and BIOS Support

Virtual Machine Memory Allocation

Virtual Machine Graphics and Keyboard Support

Virtual Machine IDE Drive Support

Virtual Machine SCSI Device Support

Virtual Machine Floppy Drive Support

Virtual Machine Serial and Parallel Port Support

Virtual Machine USB Port Support

Virtual Machine Mouse and Drawing Tablet Support

Virtual Machine Ethernet Card Support

Virtual Machine Networking Support

Virtual Machine Sound Support

Installing and Using Workstation Pro 2

Obtaining the Workstation Pro Software and License Key

Trial Version Expiration Date Warnings

Installing Workstation Pro with Other VMware Products

Reinstalling Workstation Pro When Upgrading a Windows Host Operating System

Installing the Integrated Virtual Debuggers for Eclipse

Installing Workstation Pro

Install Workstation Pro on a Windows Host

Run an Unattended Workstation Pro Installation on a Windows Host

Installation Properties

REMOVE Property Values

Install Workstation Pro on a Linux Host

Linux Command Line Installation Options

Upgrading Workstation Pro

Prepare for an Upgrade

Upgrade Workstation Pro on a Windows Host

Upgrade Workstation Pro on a Linux Host

Change the Hardware Compatibility of a Virtual Machine

Considerations for Changing the Hardware Compatibility of a Virtual Machine

Uninstalling Workstation Pro

Uninstall Workstation Pro from a Windows Host