How to Install VMware Workstation and Create a Virtual Machine with Screenshots

Virtualization is one of the best way to practice Linux safely without affecting your main system. VMware Workstation is a free and powerful tool that lets you run multiple operating systems (like Linux) inside your existing OS because it is expensive and not a feasible solution to use physical resources for labs and practice. Most of the time physical resources are not available easily and in required quantity. In such situations virtualization is best companion.

In previous post we explained Linux desktop and CLI environments, Now you’ll learn how to install VMware Workstation and create your first virtual machine.

What You'll Learn

•        How to install VMware Workstation  on Windows
•        How to create and configure a new virtual machine
•        Customization of virtual machine

Requirements

•        A Window or Linux system with internet access
•        4 GB RAM or more (recommended) but host should contain at least 32 GB RAM
•    20 GB of free disk space minimum but host should contain at least 1 TB

Note: more ram and disk space is required because host will entertain more than one virtual machine at the same time.

Step 1. Download VMware Workstation

      1.    Visit the official VMware download page:

      https://www.vmware.com/go/downloadplayer

      2.    Choose the appropriate version:

•        Windows 64-bit for Window users
•        Linux bundle for Linux users

3.  Download the installer and run it as Administrator

Step 2. Install VMware Workstation on Windows

1. Double-click the downloaded .exe file

A window opens to ask, do you want to install this app with option yes and no. click yes to install.

2. Welcome to the VMware Workstation Pro Setup, click next

3. Accept the license agreement and click next

      4.   Select the installation destination and any additional features

   select enhanced keyboard driver if you want and click next

5. Select check for product updates on startup and click next

      6.   select both check box and click next

        7.   Click install to install the VMware workstation and enter License key if you have otherwise skip it for later

     8.  Click on finish to complete the installation

Note: You may need to restart your PC after installation.

Step 3. How to Create a New Virtual Machine

 1. Double click the icon of VMware workstation on Desktop

       2. Click on create a New Virtual Machine

Open VMware Workstation and click on New Virtual Machine or go to File and click on New Virtual Machine, you can use shortcut Ctrl +N to create New Virtual Machine as well.

     3. Select typical and click next

      4.  Guest Operating System Installation

Options available as disc installer, ISO file and I will install Operating system later. It’s your choice you can select disc to load installer media or upload ISO file for installation. I will select last option for reason that I will explain in next step.

5. Operating System and Version
Select operating system and its version then click next

6. Choose Location of Virtual Machine

Name your virtual machine as per your desire as Ubuntu Test server etc. Click browse and Select location of virtual machine and click next.

7. Specify Disk Capacity

Enter the required disk capacity that fulfil your needs and click next

8. Click finish to create the virtual machine

Finally the virtual machine is created and ready to install operating system.

Step 4.  Customization of Virtual Machine

Virtual machine settings can be customized further as per requirement. Click on edit virtual machine settings.

     1.   Edit property settings

 

     2. Click on Options

Enable or Disable the options according to your need.

     3. Add extra hardware

Click add button on edit property settings and add extra hardware like disk, network

adapter etc.

Select required component and click next to follow the instruction to add the new hardware.

Final Thoughts

VMware Workstation is perfect for learning Linux, testing tools or running multiple systems on one machine. Whether you're practicing for certification or just exploring, a virtual machine is your best starting point.