How to install VMWare Server on Linux Red Hat

Nowadays, virtualization is a solution which is interested by many IT manager. By converting existing system to virtual, you can save lot of money from buying new hardware every year, avoid hardware conflicts when you move virtual to another computer, etc. But when you convert system to virtual, you still need OS to run virtual software (VMWare, Virtual PC, etc).

The best practice is to have Linux operationg system running on host so that you won’t have to pay an additional license. Then, you can have whatever OS you want on virtual. For virtual software, VMWare is the one I recommend to try. There are some free licenses if you want to try. Like VMWare Server, you can have many virtual on a PC and you can connect to manage your virtuals remotely by using VMWare Server Console. This article shows how to install VMWare Server on Redhat Enterprise 4.

Step-by-step to install VMWare Server on Linux Red Hat

  1. Install prerequisite program on Redhat. To install VMWare Server on Linux, you need to install gcc compiler and xinetd before install VMWare Server. By default, xinetd is already installed on Redhat Enterprise 4 so you only need to install gcc.
    • To install gcc, click Application -> System Settings -> Add/Remove Applications
      Open Add/Remove Application on Linux Redhat
    • Browse to ‘Development’ section and check ‘Development Tools’. Click update.
      Install gcc on Linux Redhat
    • This will show what are going to install.
      Note: To install this, you may requires Redhat installation CD (disc 3).
      Review for installation files
  2. Now download VMWare Server for Linux from vmware.com. Also, you need to register for a free serial number. When writing this article, the latest version is 1.0.4. I have copied the setup file to my desktop. In this example, I logged in as ‘root’ for installation and configuration VMWare Server.
    VMWare Server for Linux installation file
  3. Open terminal, extract the zipped file by type ‘tar xvfz “your-file-name.tar.gz”‘.

    tar xvfz VMWare-server-1.0.4-56528.tar.gz

    Extract the setup file

  4. When extract finishes, you’ll see the VMWare Server on desktop or at the same place with your zipped file.
    The VMWare Server extracted folder
  5. Run the installation file. Open Terminal and change directory to the extracted folder and execute vmware-install.pl.

    cd vmware-server-distrib/
    ./vmware-install.pl

    Install VMWare Server on Linux Red Hat - Execute vmware-install.pl

  6. This is the steps for installation and configuration VMWare Server. If you don’t know what value to enter, you can simply press Enter button to accept the default value in the bracket [ ] which is provided by the installation file. In this example, I install and configure as default value setting so I only press Enter on each question.
    • The installation file asks for paths to install files (1-7).
      set path for VMWare Server installation on Redhat
    • The installation file asks for path to install documentation (8-9). Also, it asks for configure VMWare Server now (10). If yes, press Enter to view End User License Agreement (10).
      set path for VMWare Server installation on Redhat
    • Press Ctrl + C to exit the EULA and type ‘y’ or ‘yes’ to accept the EULA (11).
      VMWare Server End User License Agreement
    • The configuration continue asks for path to install file (12-14) and whether to configure NAT network for VMWare Server now (15-16).
      Configure NAT network for VMWare Server
    • The configuration asks for configure Host-only network for VMWare Server (19-20).
      Configure Host-only network for VMWare Server
    • The configuration asks for port which for remotely connection to this VMWare Server Console (22).
      Configure port for remote connection to this VMWare Server Console
    • The configuration asks for path to keep virtual machine files (23) and serial number for VMWare Server (25). You can get one by register at vmware.com for free. If you don’t have now, you can enter this number later but it suggest you should enter it now. Otherwise, you need to re-run the config file again.
      Enter serial number for VMWare Server
    • Whether you enter the serial number now or not, the configuration is finished. You’ll see VMWare service is starting.
      Finishes install and configure VMWare Server
  7. Try open VMWare Server Console, select Applications -> System Tools -> VMWare Server Console.
    Open VMWare Server Console
  8. VMWare Server Console ask you to connect to which VMWare Server. Select Localhost and click connect.
    Connect to VMWare Server on localhost
  9. That’s it. You can manage your virtual machine here.
    VMWare Server Console

8 Comments

  1. Vijay March 28, 2008
  2. linglom April 8, 2008
  3. Long Gia Duong April 11, 2008
  4. linglom April 11, 2008
  5. Hema April 18, 2008
  6. thisi October 8, 2008
  7. vbavbalist November 12, 2008
  8. linglom November 12, 2008

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