up vote 0 down vote favorite
share [g+] share [fb]

ok, I have downloaded a linux .iso and the VMWare player, but I'm missing a VM file to allow me to run the OS in the VM - how do I create this file, or where do i get one from?

thanks

link|improve this question
56% accept rate
1  
Use VMWare Server to create a virtual machine, install Ubuntu on it, then use VMWare player to "play" it. VMWare is not easy to use, but it's very robust and has much better hardware hooks (in my experience) than either VirtualBox or Virtual PC. – Michael Todd Oct 7 '09 at 21:52
feedback

4 Answers

up vote 1 down vote accepted

I got an Ubuntu 9.04 Desktop VM from http://linhost.info/vmware/ . Download, unzip using 7-zip (free download), create a user account and delete the default user.

I've also used Virtualbox and setup Ubuntu by mounting the image and running the install, but downloading a pre-made VM is much faster and I've found VMWare Player to be more stable than VirtualBox and faster to save state on exits.

link|improve this answer
Also, Check out ubuntuguide.net/install-vmware-tools-on-ubuntu-904 for a convenient script to install vmware tools which which made window resizing work for me. – Ian Cohen Nov 12 '09 at 13:09
feedback
up vote 2 down vote

I'll retract my answer if I'm just outright wrong, but if you're starting with an (installation) .ISO for the O/S (Ubuntu in your case) I think you want to run VMWare Server, not Player. VMware Server is also free. My understanding is that Player is for running existing VMs, not typically for creating new ones.

link|improve this answer
And by @Diablomarcus' answer it looks like it may be possible to run a LiveCD in the mode you're attempting, although I think that's not the "expected"/out-of-the-box usage. Still, if it works... :) – JMD Oct 7 '09 at 19:46
thanks JMD, I will try this :) – mooep Oct 7 '09 at 22:06
feedback
up vote 1 down vote

Here is a good guide to it: http://www.virtualization.info/2005/10/how-to-launch-iso-and-use-livecds.html

Basically you use a pre-used file and then hack it a bit. The instructions are very clear in that post.

link|improve this answer
feedback
up vote 0 down vote

I don't know if VMWare is required for you and I don't like to promote software without permission but I find VMWare to be anything but usable for me.

In my experience, VMWare is extremely verbose and difficult to configure.

I use Sun Virtual Box for my virtualization solutions.

Sun VBox makes it easy to mount/unmount .iso images to your virtual machine just by a drop-down menu.

link|improve this answer
If you're talking about VMware ESX, then I would completely agree but I think overall usability of VMware Server is very comparable to that of VirtualBox. I use both on a daily basis. – EmmEff Nov 12 '09 at 14:42
feedback

Your Answer

 
or
required, but never shown
discard

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.