VMWare

VMware allows you to run one or more virtual machines at the same time on one computer. You can download VMWare Player for free.

Using VMware Player

After downloading VMware Player you must install it. So, open a console and enter

sh VMware-Player-4.0.0-471780.x86_64.bundle

To run vmware player, enter

vmplayer

Installing VMWare ESX server

After installing VMWare ESX server, set in /etc/ssh/sshd_config

PermitRootLogin yes

The vmware files

• .vmdk files hold virtual disks
• .vmx files describe a virtual machine (where to find the virtual disks etc.) in vmware's own format. It can be opened e.g. with vmware player.
• .ovf files describe a virtual machine in a standardized format. The virtual machines can be imported e.g. with vmware player.
• .ova files describe a virtual machine in a standardized format. The virtual machines can be imported e.g. with vmware player.

TroubleShooting

mouse-keyboard-screen control

Symptom: When you start vmplayer you get a pop-up saying "Failed to initialize mouse-keyboard-screen control"

Reason

You have probably tried to start your virtual machine in an nx session

Solution

Better use a vnc session.

C header files

Symptom

When starting vmplayer you get a pop-up saying "C header files matching your running kernel were not found. Refer to your distribution's documentation for installation instructions."

Solution

Make sure your kernel sources are installed. Make sure their version fits the running kernel, e.g. the following will not work:

# rpm -qv kernel-desktop kernel-source
kernel-desktop-2.6.37.6-0.7.1.x86_64
kernel-source-2.6.37.6-0.9.1.noarch

See also

• turn your physical computer into a virtual one