Configuring and Maintaining Virtual Hard Disks 295
Configuring CD-ROM and DVD Drive Settings 297
Configuring Floppy Drive Settings 299
Configuring Virtual Network Adapter Settings 299
Configuring USB Controller Settings 304
Configuring Sound Card Settings 305
Configuring Parallel Port Settings 305
Configuring Serial Port Settings 306
Configuring Generic SCSI Device Settings 306
Configuring Printer Settings 307
Configuring Display Settings 307
Installing a Guest Operating System on a Physical Disk or Unused Partition 308
Using the Virtual Network Editor310
13
Add a Bridged Virtual Network 310
Add a Host-Only Virtual Network 312
Rename a Virtual Network 313
Change Automatic Bridging Settings 313
Change NAT Settings 314
Change DHCP Settings on a Windows Host 316
Running the Support Script317
14
Register and Create a Support Request 317
Run the Support Script from Workstation Pro 318
Run the Support Script from a Windows Command Prompt 318
Run the Support Script from a Linux Terminal Window 319
Using the vmware Command320
15
Run the vmware Command 320
Incorporate Workstation Pro Startup Options in a Windows Shortcut 321
VMware, Inc. 6
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.
VMware, Inc. 7
Introduction and System
Requirements1
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:
n
Host System Requirements for Workstation Pro
n
Virtual Machine Features and Specifications
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 following host systems are supported.
n
Systems using processors launched in 2011 or later except for systems using the following
processors.
n
Intel Atom processors based on the 2011 Bonnell micro-architecture. For example, Atom
Z670/Z650 and Atom N570.
n
Intel Atom processors based on the 2012 Saltwell micro-architecture. For example, Atom Atom
S1200, Atom D2700/D2500, and Atom N2800/N2600.
n
AMD processors based on the Llano and Bobcat micro-architectures.
n
Systems using the following processors.
n
Intel processors based on the 2010 Westmere micro-architecture. For example, Xeon 5600, Xeon
3600, Core i7-970, Core i7-980, and Core i7-990.
VMware, Inc.
8
Using VMware Workstation Pro
Processor Requirements for 64-Bit Guest Operating Systems
For supported processors to run 64-bit guest operating systems, the host system must use one of the
following processors.
n
An AMD CPU with AMD-V support
n
An Intel CPU with 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.
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.
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 2 GB. 4 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.
VMware, Inc. 9
Using VMware Workstation Pro
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 TypeRequirements
Hard disk
Optical CD-ROM and DVD
FloppyVirtual machines can connect to disk drives on the host computer. Floppy disk image
n
IDE, SATA, SCSI and NVMe hard drives are supported.
n
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.
n
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.
n
IDE, SATA, and SCSI optical drives are supported.
n
CD-ROM and DVD drives are supported.
n
ISO disk image files are supported.
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, IDE, or NVMe).
n
On Windows 8, Windows 10, Ubuntu, and Red Hat Enterprise Linux virtual machines, all drive types
can report their virtual disks as SSD drives.
Note
n
NVMe virtual hard disks are natively supported for Windows 8.1 and later.
n
To create a new a virtual machine with a Windows 7 or Windows 2008 R2 guest operating system
using NVMe as the virtual hard disk, apply the appropriate Windows hot fix. See
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/2990941.
n
Several Linux operating systems support NVMe while others do not. Check with the operating
system vendor.
n
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.
Use the virtual machine operating system to verify your virtual machine is using SSD as its virtual disk.
VMware, Inc. 10
Using VMware Workstation Pro
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.
n
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 listing of sound cards and chipsets that support ALSA.
n
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.
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.
For the most recent list of guest operating systems that VMware products support, see the VMware
Compatibility Guide site: http://www.vmware.com/resources/compatibility/search.php.
For instructions about how to install the most common guest operating systems, see the VMware GuestOperating System Installation Guide: http://partnerweb.vmware.com/GOSIG/home.html.
Virtual Machine Processor Support
Virtual machines support certain processor features.
n
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 16 virtual processors (sixteen-way virtual symmetric multiprocessing, or Virtual SMP) on a host
system that has at least 2 logical processors.
Note Workstation Pro considers multiprocessor hosts that have 2 or more physical CPUs, single-
processor hosts that have a multicore CPU, and single-processor hosts that have hyperthreading
enabled, to have two logical processors.
VMware, Inc. 11
Using VMware Workstation Pro
Virtual Machine Chip Set and BIOS Support
Virtual machines support certain virtual machine chip set and BIOS features.
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.
The maximum amount of memory for each virtual machine is 64GB.
Virtual Machine Graphics and Keyboard Support
Virtual machines support certain graphics features.
n
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)
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.
The VMware guest operating system OpenGL driver for Windows and Linux supports the OpenGL
3.3 core profile only. The OpenGL3.3 compatibility profile is not supported.
Virtual Machine IDE Drive Support
Virtual machines support certain IDE drives and features.
n
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.
VMware, Inc. 12
Using VMware Workstation Pro
Virtual Machine SCSI Device Support
Virtual machines support certain SCSI devices and features.
n
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
host operating system. Generic SCSI support works with scanners, CD-ROM drives, DVD drives,
tape drives, and other SCSI devices.
n
The LSI Logic LSI53C10xx Ultra320 SCSI I/O controller is supported.
Virtual Machine Floppy Drive Support
Virtual machines can have floppy drives.
n
Up to two 2.88MB floppy devices are supported.
n
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.
n
Up to four serial (COM) ports are supported. Output can be sent to serial ports, Windows or Linux
files, or named pipes.
n
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.
n
USB 1.1 UHCI (Universal Host Controller Interface) is supported for all virtual machine hardware
versions.
n
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.
n
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.
n
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.
VMware, Inc. 13
Using VMware Workstation Pro
n
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.
n
PS/2 and USB mouse types are supported.
n
Serial tablets are supported.
n
USB tablets are supported.
Virtual Machine Ethernet Card Support
Virtual machines support certain types of Ethernet cards.
n
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 Adapter is also supported.
Virtual Machine Networking Support
Virtual machines support certain Ethernet switches and networking protocols.
n
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.
n
Three switches are configured by default for bridged, host-only, and NAT networking.
n
Most Ethernet-based protocols are supported, including TCP/IP, NetBEUI, Microsoft Networking,
Samba, Novell NetWare, and Network File System (NFS).
n
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 all supported Windows 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.
VMware, Inc. 14
Using VMware Workstation Pro
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.
VMware, Inc. 15
Installing and Using
Workstation Pro2
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:
n
Obtaining the Workstation Pro Software and License Key
n
Installing Workstation Pro with Other VMware Products
n
Reinstalling Workstation Pro When Upgrading a Windows Host Operating System
n
Installing the Integrated Virtual Debuggers for Eclipse
n
Installing Workstation Pro
n
Upgrading Workstation Pro
n
Uninstalling Workstation Pro
n
Start Workstation Pro
n
Using the Workstation Pro Window
n
Using the Workstation Pro Online Help
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.
VMware, Inc.
16
Using VMware Workstation Pro
Once you have installed Workstation Pro, you can find your license key in the About VMwareWorkstation Pro window. Click Help > About VMware Workstation Pro.
n
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.
n
If you have a version of Workstation Pro licensed for multiple users, the Type field displays Volume
and your license key is not displayed.
n
If you did not enter a license for Workstation Pro, the Type field displays Not applicable and a license
key is not displayed.
n
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 licensekey. 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.
VMware, Inc. 17
Using VMware 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.
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.
n
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.
n
Run an Unattended Workstation Pro Installation on a Windows Host
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.
n
Install Workstation Pro on a Linux Host
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.
VMware, Inc. 18
Using VMware Workstation Pro
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.
Prerequisites
n
Verify that the host system meets the host system requirements. See Host System Requirements for
Workstation Pro.
n
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
Workstation Pro with Other VMware Products.
n
Obtain the Workstation Pro software and license key. See Obtaining the Workstation Pro Software
and License Key.
n
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.
Procedure
1Log 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.
2Double-click the VMware-workstation-xxxx-xxxxxxx.exe file, where xxxx-xxxxxxx is the version
and build numbers.
3Follow 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
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.
Prerequisites
n
Verify that the host system meets the host system requirements. See Host System Requirements for
Workstation Pro.
n
Verify that no incompatible VMware products are installed on the host system. See Installing
Workstation Pro with Other VMware Products.
VMware, Inc. 19
Using VMware Workstation Pro
n
Obtain the Workstation Pro software and license key. See Obtaining the Workstation Pro Software
and License Key.
n
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.
n
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.
n
Familiarize yourself with the installation properties. See Installation Properties.
Procedure
1Log 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.
2Extract 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.
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 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.
When you perform an unattended installation of Workstation Pro, you can customize the installation by
specifying installation properties in the installation command.
VMware, Inc. 20
Using VMware Workstation Pro
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 2‑1. Installation Properties
PropertyDescriptionDefault Value
AUTOSOFTWAREUPDATE
DATACOLLECTION
DESKTOP_SHORTCUT
ENABLE_VIRTUAL_PRINTING
EULAS_AGREED
INSTALLDIR
KEEP_LICENSE
KEEP_SETTINGFILES
SERIALNUMBER
SOFTWAREUPDATEURL
Enables automatic upgrades for Workstation Pro or Workstation
Player when a new build becomes available.
Sends user experience information to VMware.1
Adds a shortcut on the desktop when Workstation Pro is installed.1
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.
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 uninstalled.
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-xxxxxxxxxx-xxxxx".
Specifies a custom URL for managing software updates (separate
from vmware.com).
1
0
0
C:\Program Files
(86)\VMware\VMware
Workstation
1
1
STARTMENU_SHORTCUT
SUPPORTURL
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.
Install Workstation Pro on a Linux Host
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.
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.
VMware, Inc. 21
Using VMware Workstation Pro
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
n
Verify that the host system meets the host system requirements. See Host System Requirements for
Workstation Pro.
n
Verify that no incompatible VMware products are installed on the host system. See Installing
Workstation Pro with Other VMware Products.
n
Obtain the Workstation Pro software and license key. See Obtaining the Workstation Pro Software
and License Key.
n
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.
n
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
kernel module and that it is set to m when the kernel is compiled.
n
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.
n
Verify that you have root access on the host system.
Procedure
1Log in to the host system with the user name that you plan to use when you run Workstation Pro.
2Become root.
For example: su root
The command that you use depends on your Linux distribution and configuration.
3Change directories to the directory that contains the Workstation Pro installer file.
4Run the appropriate Workstation Pro installer for the host system.
For example: sh VMware-Workstation-xxxx-xxxxxxx.architecture.bundle [--option]
xxxx-xxxxxxx is the version and build numbers, architecture is x86_64, and option is a command-line
option.
VMware, Inc. 22
Using VMware Workstation Pro
5Accept 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.
6Follow the prompts to finish the installation.
After Workstation Pro is installed, vmware-workstation-server starts on the host system. When
Workstation Pro starts, log in using your regular user name, not root. 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 2‑2. Linux Command Line Installation Options
OptionDescription
--console
--custom
--gtk
--ignore-errors or -IAllows the installation to continue even if there is an error in one of the installer
--regular
--required
--set-setting vmware-installer
installShortcuts yes | no
--set-setting vmware-installer libdir
lib_path
--set-setting vmware-installer
prefix /usr/local
Enables you to use the terminal for installation.
Use this option to customize the following installation settings.
n
The locations of the installation directories.
n
The user who will initially connect to VMware Workstation Server. This user
can create and manage shared virtual machines.
n
The location of the shared virtual machines directory.
n
The HTTPS port that VMware Workstation Server uses on the host system.
Opens the GUI-based VMware installer, which is the default option.
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.
The libdir parameter instructs the installer where to place product-specific data
files, such as libraries and internal icons. The installer places product files in
$libdir/vmware and $libdirvmware-installer. 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 .
VMware, Inc. 23
Using VMware Workstation Pro
Table 2‑2. Linux Command Line Installation Options (Continued)
OptionDescription
--set-setting vmware-workstation
serialNumber xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-
xxxxx
--set-setting vmware-player
serialNumber xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-
xxxxx
--set-setting vmware-player-app
simplifiedUI yes|no
--set-setting vmware-player-app
softwareUpdateEnabled yes|no
--set-setting vmware-player-app
softwareUpdateURL https://url/
--set-setting vmware-player-app
supportURL https://url/
Lets you enter the license key when Workstation Pro or Workstation Player is
installed. Enter the license key with hyphens, for example, xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxxxxxxx-xxxxx.
Turn on or off certain UI features of Workstation Player. The default is no.
Enables automatic upgrades for Workstation Pro or Workstation 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 Help menu.
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.
n
Prepare for an Upgrade
You must perform certain steps before you upgrade Workstation Pro.
n
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.
n
Upgrade Workstation Pro on a Linux Host
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.
n
Change the Hardware Compatibility of a Virtual Machine
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 UEFI, number of virtual slots, maximum number of CPUs,
maximum memory configuration, and other hardware characteristics.
VMware, Inc. 24
Using VMware Workstation Pro
Prepare for an Upgrade
You must perform certain steps before you upgrade Workstation Pro.
Procedure
n
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 .
n
Review the system requirements for the new version of Workstation Pro.
n
If a virtual machine was created with a version of Workstation earlier than Workstation 5.5 and it has
a snapshot, delete the snapshot.
n
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.
n
Power off all running virtual machines in Workstation Pro.
n
If any virtual machines are suspended, resume them and power them off in Workstation Pro.
n
If any virtual machines are running in the background, start them in Workstation Pro and power them
off.
n
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.
n
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.
n
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.
n
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.
VMware, Inc. 25
Using VMware Workstation Pro
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.
Prerequisites
n
Verify that the host system meets the host system requirements. See Host System Requirements for
Workstation Pro.
n
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.
Procedure
1Log 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.
2Double-click the VMware-workstation-xxxx-xxxxxxx.exe file, where xxxx-xxxxxxx is the version
and build numbers.
3Click Uninstall to uninstall the previous version of Workstation Pro.
4After 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.
5Follow 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.
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.
VMware, Inc. 26
Using VMware Workstation Pro
Upgrade Workstation Pro on a Linux Host
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.
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.
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 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
n
Verify that the host system meets the host system requirements. See Host System Requirements for
Workstation Pro.
n
Verify that you have a license key.
n
Prepare for the upgrade. See Prepare for an Upgrade.
n
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.
n
Verify that you have root access to the host system.
Procedure
1Log in to the host system with the user name that you plan to use when you run Workstation Pro.
2Become root.
For example: su root
The command that you use depends on your Linux distribution and configuration.
3Change directories to the directory that contains the Workstation Pro installer file.
4Run the appropriate Workstation Pro installer for the host system.
For example: sh VMware-Workstation-xxxx-xxxxxxx.architecture.bundle [--option]
xxxx-xxxxxxx is the version and build numbers, architecture is x86_64, and option is a command-line
option.
VMware, Inc. 27
Using VMware Workstation Pro
5Accept 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.
6Follow the prompts to finish the installation.
After Workstation Pro is upgraded, vmware-workstation-server starts on the host system. vmwareworkstation-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.
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.
Change the Hardware Compatibility of a Virtual Machine
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 UEFI, number of virtual slots, maximum number of CPUs, maximum memory
configuration, and other hardware characteristics.
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.
Procedure
1Make backup copies of the virtual disk (.vmdk) files.
2If 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.
VMware, Inc. 28
Using VMware Workstation Pro
3Shut down the guest operating system and power off the virtual machine.
4Select the virtual machine and select VM > Manage > Change Hardware Compatibility.
5Follow 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 or later, you can change the hardware compatibility of a shared or
remote virtual machine. However, you cannot downgrade a previously created virtual machine.
6Power 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.
7If 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.
8If the virtual machine does not have the latest version of VMware Tools installed, update VMware
Tools.
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.
n
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.
n
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.
n
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.
n
Using Workstation 9 or earlier, you cannot change the hardware compatibility of a shared or remote
virtual machine.
VMware, Inc. 29
Using VMware Workstation Pro
n
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
1Log 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.
2Double-click the VMware-workstation-xxxx-xxxxxxx.exe file, where xxxx-xxxxxxx is the version
and build numbers.
3Click 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.
5Click Next to begin uninstalling Workstation Pro.
Uninstall Workstation Pro from a Linux Host
You must run a command to uninstall Workstation Pro from a Linux host.
Prerequisites
Verify that you have root access to the host system.
Procedure
1Log in to the Linux host system with the user name that you use when you run Workstation Pro.
2Become root.
For example: su root
The command that you use depends on your Linux distribution and configuration.
3In a terminal window, type vmware-installer -u vmware-workstation
4Click Next to begin uninstalling Workstation Pro.
VMware, Inc. 30
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