VMware Workstation Pro

Note

Please note first: since VMware/VirtualBox is a type-2 hypervisor, it needs to run on top of an operating system and requires access to hardware virtualization extensions, such as Intel VT-x or AMD-V. Therefore, your computer needs to be bare metal. Before using VMware/VirtualBox, please check whether your computer/server has been virtualized. For methods, please refer to https://www.narenvadapalli.com/blog/finding-linux-machine-vm-or-baremetal/ .

Installation of VMware Workstation Pro

Download VMware Workstation Pro from the official website. The version we are using is 17.5.1. For systems with Apple chips, you should install VMware Fusion.
Install VMware Workstation Pro
- On Linux :
  
  Run the following command in your terminal, where xxxx-xxxxxxx represents the version number and internal version number.
```
sudo sh VMware-Workstation-xxxx-xxxxxxx.architecture.bundle --console
```
  Note
  
  You need to fill the activation key during the installation process when prompted.
- On Windows :
  
  Ensure that you’re logged in as either the Administrator user or as a user who belongs to the local Administrators group. If you’re logging in to a domain, make sure your domain account has local administrator privileges. Proceed by double-clicking the VMware-workstation-xxxx-xxxxxxx.exe file. Be aware that you might need to reboot your host system to finalize the installation.
  
  Note
  
  You need to fill the activation key during the installation process when prompted.
- For systems with Apple chips :
  
  Double-click the VMware-Fusion-xxxx-xxxxxxx.dmg file to open it. In the Finder window that appears, double-click the ‘Install Fusion’ icon. When prompted, enter your administrator username and password.
  
  Note
  
  You need to fill the activation key during the installation process when prompted.
Verify the successful installation by running the following:
```
vmrun -T ws list
```
If the installation along with the environment variable set is successful, you will see the message showing the current running virtual machines.

Troubleshooting

If after installing VMware you still cannot use it (e.g., the vmrun command fails as indicated by an error, similar to Issue 42 ), please try installing open-vm-tools on your host machine.

To install open-vm-tools, follow these steps:

On Ubuntu/Debian for example:

sudo apt update
sudo apt install open-vm-tools open-vm-tools-desktop

After installing open-vm-tools, restart your system and try using VMware again.

As a final solution, consider reading the code of auto-installation and debug to find the specific line.

Customizing the VM Image

If you want to customize the client machine image (e.g., adding additional tools, software, or configurations), you can modify the VM image directly using VMware:

Configure for GUI access: Set headless=False when initializing the DesktopEnv to enable the VMware GUI interface.
Access the VM: The VM will open in VMware’s graphical interface on your local computer, allowing you to interact with it directly.
Make your customizations: - Install additional software packages - Configure applications - Add custom tools or scripts - Modify system settings
Save changes: After completing your modifications, properly shut down the VM from within the guest OS.
Prepare for reuse: - Create a new init_state snapshot to save your customized configuration as the new initial state

Note

Make sure the VM is properly shut down (not force-stopped) and complete the cleanup steps to ensure your customized image can be reused properly.