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Introduction

VMware is virtualization software that enables the creation of one or more "virtual machines".

For example, it is possible to install a different operating system such as Ubuntu, Windows, etc as a "guest" virtual machine.

One of the benefits of this is to be able to run different operating systems at the same time on the same physical hardware. For example, you may prefer using Mageia Linux but need to run Windows to keep your satnav device up-to-date. In this case, Mageia is installed on the physical hardware and Windows can be installed as a guest virtual machine allowing the satnav software to run.


VMware is commercial virtualization software which is not available in the Mageia URPMI sources. In order to download the install image it is necessary to register and login on http://vmware.com .

A license key (purchased from VMware) is needed to run VMware beyond the free trial period.

Preparation

Install C++ development package

The C++ development package needs to be installed to enable compilation of some kernel modules used by VMware workstation.

# Install C++ development package
# (copy & paste, run as root):

 urpmi task-c++-devel

# (end copy & paste)


Install required kernel packages

Kernel modules have to be compiled for VMware workstation. The latest kernel-devel package needs to be installed. Check which kernel you have with the following command:


$ uname -r
4.1.8-desktop-1.mga5


The above example shows a "desktop" kernel. Another kernel type would be: "server". Open a root shell and set a shell variable for the kernel type:

# Define shell variable "kernel_type"
# (copy & paste, run as root):

  kernel_type=$(uname -r | awk -F- '{print$2}')

# (end copy & paste)

Now, check that kernel-desktop-latest installed (NB: if it is "server" then check for kernel-server-latest):


$ rpm -qa | grep "^kernel-${kernel_type}-latest"
kernel-desktop-latest-4.1.8-1.mga5


We do have kernel-desktop-latest installed. That is good. If you don't see that installed, you can install it:

  # Install kernel "latest" meta rpm
  # ( copy & paste, run as root)

  /sbin/urpmi kernel-${kernel_type}-latest

  # (end copy & paste)

Next, check the matching devel kernel rpm is installed:


$ rpm -qa | grep "^kernel-${kernel_type}-devel-latest"
kernel-desktop-devel-latest-4.1.8-1.mga5


We see kernel-desktop-devel-latest and that is good. If kernel-desktop-devel-latest was not installed, install it with:

  # Install kernel "devel" latest meta rpm
  # (copy & paste, run as root)

  /sbin/urpmi kernel-${kernel_type}-devel-latest

  # (end copy & paste)

Download the VMware workstation 11 install image

A free trial copy of the VMware workstation install image is available from http://vmware.com after registering.

The VMware workstation 11 image can be found by searching for "VMware-Workstation-Full-11.1.4-3848939.x86_64.bundle" on the http://vmware.com page. Example: https://my.vmware.com/web/vmware/details?productId=462&downloadGroup=WKST-1114-LX

Verify download

In the VMware download page, click on "Read More" to display the checksums for the install image file. Copy the MD5 checksum to a local file like this:

  # Copy MD5 checksum to local file same name but with .md5 name extension
  # (copy&paste run as non-root)

  f=VMware-Workstation-Full-11.1.4-3848939.x86_64.bundle

  echo "4b6df46e67a0e8ac900158ca7787442b  ${f}" > ${f}.md5

  # Verify MD5 checksum
  md5sum -c ${f}.md5

  # (end copy & paste)

Example:


[user@localhost Downloads]$   # Copy MD5 checksum to local file same name but with .md5 name extension
[user@localhost Downloads]$   # (copy&paste run as non-root)
[user@localhost Downloads]$ 
[user@localhost Downloads]$   f=VMware-Workstation-Full-11.1.4-3848939.x86_64.bundle
[user@localhost Downloads]$ 
[user@localhost Downloads]$   echo "4b6df46e67a0e8ac900158ca7787442b  ${f}" > ${f}.md5
[user@localhost Downloads]$ 
[user@localhost Downloads]$   # Verify MD5 checksum
[user@localhost Downloads]$   md5sum -c ${f}.md5
VMware-Workstation-Full-11.1.4-3848939.x86_64.bundle: OK


In this example (above) the "OK" indicates the MD5 checksum matches correctly indicating that the download completed with no errors.


Install

Execute the install image

If you have a license key for VMware workstation 11 then have this ready to copy and paste.

Run the downloaded install file and respond to the EULA agreement prompts that appear. Example: Here, running as root, we unset the DISPLAY shell variable to ensure a non-graphical install.


  [root@localhost Downloads] # (unset DISPLAY; /bin/sh ./VMware-Workstation-Full-11.1.4-3848939.x86_64.bundle)


The install will display two EULAs:

  1. VMware Workstation End User License Agreement
  2. VMware OVF Tool component for Linux End User

If you respond that you agree then you should see something like the following:

 [ text of EULA deleted for brevity ]

If You have any questions concerning this
EULA, please send an email to info@vmware.com.

Do you agree? [yes/no]: yes

Would you like to check for product updates on startup? [yes]: 

Would you like to help make VMware software better by sending
anonymous system data and usage statistics to VMware? [yes]: 

Please enter the user that will initially connect to Workstation
Server. Without setting this correctly, you will not be able to share
VMs with other users. Additional users and administrators can be
configured later in Workstation by selecting "Shared VMs" and clicking
"Permissions".  [user]: 

Please choose a directory for your shared virtual machines.
[/var/lib/vmware/Shared VMs]: 

Please enter the port to use for https access to Workstation Server.
(HTTPS port:) [443]: 

Enter license key. (optional) You can enter this information later.: 

The product is ready to be installed.  Press Enter to begin
installation or Ctrl-C to cancel.

Installing VMware Workstation 11.1.4
    Configuring...
[######################################################################] 100%
Installation was successful.


Patch VMware (to work with kernel 3.19 or newer)

NB: If you have VMware Workstation 11.1.4 then you can skip this step. Patching was needed for earlier versions such as VMware workstation 11.1.0.

In order to run VMware 11.1.0 on Mageia 5, it is important to apply the following patch.

ref: https://askubuntu.com/questions/618503/unable-to-run-vmware-workstation-11-failed-to-build-vmnet

  # Patch VMware code for kernel 3.19 or newer - not needed in Vmware workstation 11.1.4
  # (copy & paste, run as root)

  curl http://pastie.org/pastes/9934018/download -o /tmp/vmnet-3.19.patch
  cd /usr/lib/vmware/modules/source
  tar -xf vmnet.tar
  patch -p0 -i /tmp/vmnet-3.19.patch
  tar -cf vmnet.tar vmnet-only
  rm -r *-only
  vmware-modconfig --console --install-all

  # (end copy & paste)

Run

NB: Do not attempt to run VMware workstation 11.1.0 without applying the patch (as shown above) or it will fail with a message like: "W110: Failed to build vmnet."

VMware workstation can be started from a shell with the command:

vmware

Alternatively, start via the desktop: Applications -> Systems Tools -> VMware Workstation

First time run

Note that the first time VMware workstation is run the following two windows are seen as the required modules are compiled:

2015 10 26 vmware 1st run screen1of2.png

You will also be prompted for the root password which is needed to install the kernel modules that will be compiled.


2015 10 26 vmware 1st run screen2of2.png

Also, if a license key was not entered when the install image bundle was executed then a prompt will appear:

2015 10 29 vmware license prompt.png

Finally, you should see the VMware workstation 11 "Home" window appear:

2015 10 29 vmware workstation11 home.png

Subsequent runs

After the initial run that built and installed the kernel modules, subsequent runs will display the VMware workstation 11 window.