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VMware no longer offers this product

VMware Server is a proprietary virtualization software package made available for no cost from the VMware website. VMware Server allows you to run entire operating systems in a virtual machine, which run on top of Ubuntu. This guide provides instructions on installing, configuring and running VMware Server and VMware Server Console on Ubuntu. VMware server may be used on Desktop and Server editions of Ubuntu.

Installation and Quick Start

Ubuntu 11.04 (VMware Server 2.0.x)

http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?p=10761345

Ubuntu 10.10 (VMware Server 2.0.x)

The same procedure as for Ubuntu 10.04 applies and works.

Ubuntu 10.04 (VMware Server 2.0.x)

The same procedure as for Ubuntu 9.10 applies and works.

Ubuntu 9.10 (VMWare Server 2.0.x)

Both vmware-server.2.0.1-156745 and vmware-server.2.0.2-203138 can be installed from scratch by using a script I built. For more details you can visit How to install VMware Server 2.0.x on Ubuntu 9.10 Karmic Koala.

  1. Download VMware Server (2.0.1 or 2.0.2) – gz format, not rpm. For the 2.0.2 version you might need to wait a couple of hours until you will receive the license key. Whichever version you choose, keep the license key near.

  2. Copy the script from here (copy, paste, save).

  3. Run the script with super user rights either in the same folder where you have downloaded the server archive, or by providing it the path to that folder. The script will download the needed patch from my server. Make sure the folder where you have downloaded the server's archive doesn't contain spaces in its path name. You will reach to a point where a lot of warnings appear on your terminal. Do not worry unless the script exits. If it exits, it will give you a decent warning from which you should be able to tell what’s wrong. Also, the VSOCK module will not work (will fail to compile), giving you a hint that your kernel sources might not be the ones for your running kernel. This is not true, as the script takes care of this before doing the hard work. Anyway, VMware Server will work without it.

  4. When you are asked about adding users to the server, if you do not provide your own account, the user used for loging in the web console of the server will be root (maybe you should add yourself there).
  5. Provide the license key when asked about it.

If you experience problems with the script please write them in the post's comments so that I can offer assistance.

Ubuntu 9.04 (VMWare Server 2.0.1 Build 156745)

At Ubuntu Server installation do not choose the option Minimal Virtual Host as it includes virtualization parts that interfere with VMware Server. There is no package yet available. You can download it at http://www.vmware.com/go/getserver

  1. Get a serial number (displayed at the download page link received by email as part of the registration process)
  2. Download the tar.gz file to your home directory
  3. Install required packages

sudo apt-get install build-essential linux-headers-`uname -r`
sudo apt-get install make
sudo apt-get install gcc
  1. Download the required patch at http://ubuntuforums.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=94477&d=1227872015 and save in your home directory

  2. Unpack, apply patch and run vmware-install.pl

cd ~
tar -zxvf VMware-server-2.0.1-156745.x86_64.tar.gz

cd vmware-server-distrib
sudo patch ./bin/vmware-config.pl ~/vmware-config.pl.patch.txt
sudo ./vmware-install.pl
  1. Follow the settings displayed at your screen and don't change default values if not necessary. Be sure to add your normal username as VMware Server administrator

  2. Enter the serial number when prompted
  3. Vmware2 has a web interface. Browse with Firefox to http://localhost:8222.

  4. Log in with your normal username and password

Note: You can also access the web interface via SSL at https://localhost:8333. You will probably need to add this site to your SSL Exception sites on your browser.

Ubuntu 8.10 (VMWare Server 2.0.0 Build 122956)

There is no package yet available. You can download it at http://www.vmware.com/go/getserver

  1. Get a serial number (displayed at the download page link received by email as part of the registration process)
  2. Download the tar.gz file to your home directory
  3. Install required packages

sudo apt-get install build-essential linux-headers-`uname -r`
  1. Download the required patch at http://ubuntuforums.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=94477&d=1227872015 and save in your home directory

  2. Unpack, apply patch and run vmware-install.pl

cd ~
tar -zxvf VMware-server-2.0.0-122956.i386.tar.gz

cd vmware-server-distrib
sudo patch ./bin/vmware-config.pl ~/vmware-config.pl.patch.txt
sudo ./vmware-install.pl
  1. Follow the settings displayed at your screen and don't change default values if not necessary. Be sure to add your normal username as VMware Server administrator

  2. Enter the serial number when prompted
  3. Vmware2 has a web interface. Browse with Firefox to http://localhost:8222.

  4. Log in with your normal username and password

Note: You can also access the web interface via SSL at https://localhost:8333. You will probably need to add this site to your SSL Exception sites on your browser.

Ubuntu 8.04 (VMWare Server 2.0.0 Build 116503)

There is no package yet available. You can download it at http://www.vmware.com/go/getserver

  1. Get a serial number (displayed at the download page link received by email as part of the registration process)
  2. Download the tar.gz file
  3. Install the build package

sudo apt-get install build-essential linux-headers-`uname -r`
sudo apt-get install libice6 libxt6 libxtst6 libxrender1
  1. Unzip and run vmware-install.pl
  2. Follow the settings displayed at your screen and don't change default values if not necessary. Be sure to add your normal username as VMware Server administrator

  3. Enter the serial number when prompted
  4. Vmware2 has a web interface. Browse with Firefox to http://localhost:8222.

  5. Log in with your normal username and password

Note: You can also access the web interface via SSL at https://localhost:8333. You will probably need to add this site to your SSL Exception sites on your browser.

Ubuntu 8.04 (Vmware Server 1.0.6 Stable !)

Note: This will take care of uninstalling any old version of VMWare server you might have, while keeping the virtual machines and their settings intact.

  1. Prep ~. Install the needed tools.

sudo apt-get install build-essential linux-headers-`uname -r` xinetd
sudo apt-get install libice6 libxt6 libxtst6 libxrender1
  1. Download vmware server (be sure to obtain a serial number) Place it in a safe directory ( I use ~/src/VMWare) and extract.

mkdir -p ~/src/VMWare #Download VMWare files here

cd ~/src/VMWare
tar -xzf VMware-server-1.0.6-91891.tar.gz

cd ~/src/VMWare/vmware-server-distrib
sudo ./vmware-install.pl

sudo cp /lib/libgcc_s.so.1 /usr/lib/vmware/lib/libgcc_s.so.1
sudo cp /usr/lib/libpng12.so.0 /usr/lib/vmware/lib/libpng12.so.0
  1. In addition, for 64 bit users only,

sudo apt-get install ia32-libs
sudo ln -s /usr/lib32 /usr/l32
sudo sed -i -e 's:usr/lib/:usr/l32/:g'  /usr/lib32/gtk-2.0/2.10.0/loader-files.d/libgtk2.0-0.loaders
sudo sed -i -e 's:usr/lib/:usr/l32/:g' /usr/lib32/libgdk_pixbuf-2.0.so.0.1200.9

Ubuntu 7.10 (Gutsy Gibbon)

From Ubuntu packages

  1. Get a free serial number by registering your product here.

  2. Add the following line to your /etc/apt/sources.list

 deb http://archive.canonical.com/ubuntu gutsy partner
  1. Install the vmware-server package
  2. Follow the instructions in the installer wizard
  3. At least the 64-bit version of ubuntu-server 7.10 is affected by bug #112937. The fix provided by Walter in the bug report does the trick.

Ugly Source + Patch Method

Note: amd64 users will need to add ia32-libs. This can be found in Synaptic.

sudo apt-get install build-essential linux-headers-`uname -r` xinetd
wget http://download3.vmware.com/software/vmserver/VMware-server-1.0.3-44356.tar.gz
wget http://knihovny.cvut.cz/ftp/pub/vmware/vmware-any-any-update115.tar.gz
tar -xzvf VMware-server-1.0.3-44356.tar.gz
tar -xzvf vmware-any-any-update115.tar.gz
cp vmware-any-any-update115/*.tar vmware-server-distrib/lib/modules/source/
cd vmware-server-distrib/
sudo mkdir -p /etc/vmware/ssl
sudo touch /etc/vmware/ssl/rui.key
sudo touch /etc/vmware/ssl/rui.crt
sudo ./vmware-install.pl

Ubuntu 7.04 (Feisty Fawn)

From Ubuntu packages

  1. Get a serial number by registering (for free) at http://register.vmware.com/content/registration.html

  2. Add the universe, multiverse, and commercial repositories to your Ubuntu 7.04 install Directions.

  3. Uninstall vmware-server if it is already installed according to the section in this document titled "Transitioning from a Source Install."
  4. Install the vmware-server package
  5. Until bug #115295 is fixed, you might need to edit /etc/pam.d/vmware-authd to read as follows:

#%PAM-1.0
auth required pam_unix_auth.so shadow nullok
account required pam_unix_acct.so
  1. Start the remote access console by going to Applications > System Tools > VMWare Server Console in the menus (or run vmware from the command line). From there you will be able to access vmware servers locally or remotely, and create/open VMware virtual machines. Login with your regular username and password.

For troubleshooting see the troubleshooting section in this document.

Installing VMware Tools on an Ubuntu VMware guest system

Installing VMware Tools inside your virtual machines can improve their performance. For information about speeding up your Ubuntu virtual machines see VMware/Tools

Other Topics

Installing from Source

These instructions have not been fully tested and are recommended for advanced users only.

Run http://knihovny.cvut.cz/ftp/pub/vmware/vmware-any-any-update115.tar.gz after the initial install fails when compiling kernel modules.

AMD64 users may get this error

/usr/lib/vmware/bin/vmware: /usr/lib/vmware/lib/libgcc_s.so.1/libgcc_s.so.1: version `GCC_***' not found

Install Getlibs and enter the following commands.

getlibs /usr/lib/vmware/bin/vmware
sudo mv /usr/lib/vmware/lib/libgcc_s.so.1/libgcc_s.so.1 /usr/lib/vmware/lib/libgcc_s.so.1/libgcc_s.so.1-old
sudo ln -s /usr/lib32/libgcc_s.so.1 /usr/lib/vmware/lib/libgcc_s.so.1/

Run http://ftp.cvut.cz/vmware/vmware-any-any-update109.tar.gz after the install fails when compiling kernel modules. See Install VMWare Server To Ubuntu Feisty for other solutions. A more elegant solution here would be much appreciated, as the diff between the current kernel modules provided by vmware and the modules in that .tar.gz is substantial.

The second package is the linux-headers- package for your currently-installed kernel; the uname -r part will automatically insert your kernel version for you. to install two required packages.

If you are using the server edition then you also need to install the following 3 X libraries and their dependencies.

sudo aptitude install libxtst6 libxt6 libxrender1
  1. Once you have installed the required packages, you can now begin the VMware installer. Open a Terminal and type the following:

cd <temporary-location-with-disk-space>
tar -zxvf /<download-location>/VMware-server-<xxx>.tar.gz
cd vmware-server-distrib/
sudo ./vmware-install.pl

cd <location>
tar -zxvf VMware-server-<xxx>.tar.gz
cd vmware-server-distrib/
sudo ./vmware-install.pl

sudo sed -i -e "s/\/sbin\/insmod -s -f \"\/lib\/modules\/\`uname -r\`\/misc\/\$1.o\"/modprobe -s -f \$1/" /etc/init.d/vmware
sudo sed -i -e "s/sub configure_module {/sub configure_module {\n return 'yes';/" /usr/bin/vmware-config.pl
sudo vmware-config.pl
sudo /etc/init.d/vmware restart

Uninstalling Source Installs

VMware Server installs with the web management console

$ sudo vmware-uninstall-mui.pl

VMware Server installs from source may be removed by running the following command:

$ sudo vmware-uninstall.pl

If you experience problems during the uninstall, remove ~/.vmware and retry the steps above.

You may also wish to remove your virtual machines by removing /var/lib/vmware. It is also recommended that you remove

Transitioning from a Source Install

  1. Follow the directions in the "Uninstalling Source Installs" section of this document, but do not remove the /var/lib/vmware directory.
  2. Follow the directions in the "Installation and Quick Start" section.
  3. Move files from /var/lib/vmware to /var/lib/vmware-server and then remove the empty /var/lib/vmware directory.
  4. Reregister your existing virtual machines by running vmware-cmd -s register /var/lib/vmware-server/Virtual\ Machines/machinename/diskname.vmx
  5. Start any needed virtual machines using the management console. It is best to do this from the console instead of restarting because it will detect that you have moved the virtual machines and offer to regenerate the machine's unique identifiers, which you should decline to do.

VMware Server MUI Component Installation (Optional, Source Install Only)

If you would like VMware ESX-style web-access for configuration of your server, you can install the VMware MUI component, available from the VMware website. After having downloaded the package, open a Terminal and run the following commands:

cd <location>
tar -zxvf VMware-mui-<xxx>.tar.gz
sudo ./vmware-install.pl

Replace <location> with the path of the directory where you saved the archive, and replace <xxx> with the version number of the package you downloaded. An installer program will be run. Follow the installer's instructions. Once installation has completed, run the following commands in a Terminal:

sudo /etc/init.d/httpd.vmware start
sudo /etc/init.d/httpd.vmware restart
sudo /etc/init.d/httpd.vmware status

The VMware MUI component should now be available at

http://localhost:8222/

which should automatically redirect you to

https://localhost:8333/

Next from the same or a separate client machine login to this page and chose the most appropriate install program from the selection labeled : Download VMware Server Console

Use Synaptic/Adept to remove the package.

Note: If you receive a "starting httpd.vmware:-ne failed" error at the end of running vmware-config-mui.pl you will need to run the following command. /bin/sh is a symlink to /bin/dash, however we need /bin/bash, not /bin/dash. Therefore we do this, and then run vmware-config-mui.pl again:

sudo ln -s -f /bin/bash /bin/sh
sudo vmware-config-mui.pl

VMware Server Console Installation (Optional, Source Install Only)

By default, the VMware Server Console is installed on the same computer as VMware Server. However, it is possible to install the application on other computers and use it to access your VMware Server remotely. Installers are available for other operating systems, such as Windows. You can download the console package only from http://downloads.vmware.com/d/info/datacenter_downloads/vmware_server/1_0 and click one which version you require. Within the next page you can download the console only zip file.

To download the file:

wget http://download3.vmware.com/software/vmserver/VMware-server-linux-client-1.0.10-203137.zip

If installing the console on Ubuntu, open a Terminal and type the following commands:

cd <location>
tar -zxvf VMware-server-console-<xxx>.tar.gz
cd vmware-server-console-distrib/
sudo ./vmware-install.pl

Replace <location> with the path of the directory where you saved the archive, and replace <xxx> with the version number of the package you downloaded. After having run the installer, press Alt + F2, type gksudo vmware and press Run to start the Server Console application.

If you are getting an error similar to the following when trying to run the console (probably hardy-specific):

/.../lib/vmware-server-console/bin/vmware-server-console: /.../lib/vmware-server-console/lib/libgcc_s.so.1/libgcc_s.so.1: version `GCC_3.4' not fou.2)

Use the following command:

cd /usr/lib/vmware-server-console/lib/ && sudo mv libgcc_s.so.1 libgcc_s.so.1.org && sudo mv libpng12.so.0 libpng12.so.0.org

If this fails, you may try copying the 'missing' file from /usr/lib/gcc/i486-linux-gnu/3.4.6/ and replacing the one distributed with the vmware server console. If you get similar error on libpng12.so.0, the file is placed in /usr/lib. You of course have to have the appropriate packages (gcc-3.4, libpng12) installed.

Running Other Operating Systems From Physical Partitions (Optional)

  1. To run regular virtual machines from files, no additional setup is needed. However, to be able to run operating systems from physical partitions, your user needs to be part of the disk group.

  2. Never use this mode unless you have a boot loader such as GRUB installed. Reloading the currently running Ubuntu system from VMware will likely corrupt your partition, so always load different Operating Systems from VMWare.

Additional explanations

Troubleshooting

Additional Resources


CategoryVirtualization CategoryObsolete

VMware/Server (last edited 2017-10-31 01:35:16 by dpsi)