You create a virtual machine in Workstation Player by running the New Virtual Machine wizard.

Prerequisites

  • Verify that you have the information the New Virtual Machine wizard requires to create a virtual machine. See Preparing to Create a Virtual Machine.

  • Verify that the guest operating system you plan to install is supported. See the online VMware Compatibility Guide, which is available on the VMware Web site.

  • See the VMware Guest Operating System Installation Guide for information about the guest operating system you plan to install.

  • If you are installing the guest operating system from an installer disc, insert the installer disc in the CD-ROM drive in the host system.

  • If you are installing the guest operating system from an ISO image file, verify that the ISO image file is in a directory that is accessible to the host system.

Procedure

  1. Select Player > File > New Virtual Machine.
  2. Select the source of the guest operating system.

    Option

    Description

    Use a physical disc

    Select the physical drive where you inserted the installation disc.

    Use an ISO image

    Type or browse to the location of the ISO image file.

    Install the guest operating system later

    Create a virtual machine that has a blank disk. You must install the guest operating system manually after the virtual machine is created.
  3. Specify information about the guest operating system.

    Option

    Description

    You are using Easy Install

    Type the Easy Install information for the guest operating system.

    You are not using Easy Install

    Select the guest operating system type and version. If the guest operating system is not listed, select Other.
  4. Type a virtual machine name and type or browse to the directory for the virtual machine files.
  5. Select the virtual disk size and specify whether the disk should be split into multiple files.
  6. (Optional) Click Customize Hardware to change the default hardware settings.

    You can also modify virtual hardware settings after you create the virtual machine.

  7. (Optional) Select Power on this virtual machine after creation to power on the virtual machine after it is created.

    This option is not available if you are installing the guest operating system manually.

  8. Click Finish to create the virtual machine.

Results

If you are using Easy Install, guest operating system installation begins when the virtual machine powers on. The guest operating system installation is automated and typically runs without requiring any input from you. After the guest operating system is installed, Easy Install installs VMware Tools.

If you are not using Easy Install, the virtual machine appears in the library.

What to do next

If you used Easy Install and the virtual machine did not power on when the installation finished, power on the virtual machine to start the guest operating system installation. See Use Easy Install to Install a Guest Operating System.

If you did not use Easy Install, install the guest operating system manually. See Install a Guest Operating System Manually.