Install Workstation Pro on a Linux Host

You run the Linux bundle installer to install Workstation Pro on a Linux host system. On most Linux distributions, the Linux bundle installer launches a GUI wizard. On some Linux distributions, including Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5.1, the bundle installer launches a command-line wizard instead of a GUI wizard. You can run the installer with the --console option to install Workstation Pro in a terminal window.

Remote connections and virtual machine sharing are enabled by default when you install Workstation Pro. With remote connections, you can connect to remote hosts and run remote virtual machines. With virtual machine sharing, you can create virtual machines that other instances of Workstation Pro can access remotely.

Shared virtual machines are stored in the shared virtual machines directory, where VMware Workstation Server (vmware-workstation-server) manages them. Remote users connect to VMware Workstation Server through HTTPS port 443 on the host system.

To change the shared virtual machines directory or select a different port during the installation process, you must specify the --custom option. You can also change the shared virtual machines directory, select a different port, and disable remote connections and virtual machine sharing after Workstation Pro is installed by modifying the Shared VMs Workstation Pro preference setting.

Prerequisites

• Verify that the host system meets the host system requirements. See Host System Requirements for Workstation Pro.

• Verify that no incompatible VMware products are installed on the host system. See Installing Workstation Pro with Other VMware Products.

• Obtain the Workstation Pro software and license key. See Obtaining the Workstation Pro Software and License Key.

• If you plan to use the Integrated Virtual Debugger for Eclipse, install it on the host system. See Installing the Integrated Virtual Debuggers for Eclipse.

• Compile the real-time clock function into the Linux kernel.

• Verify that the parallel port PC-style hardware option (CONFIG_PARPORT_PC) is built and loaded as a kernel module and that it is set to m when the kernel is compiled.

• Familiarize yourself with the Linux command-line installation options. You must use the --custom option to specify certain configuration settings. See Linux Command Line Installation Options.

• Verify that you have root access on the host system.

Procedure

1. Log in to the host system with the user name that you plan to use when you run Workstation Pro.
2. Become root.

   For example: su root

   The command that you use depends on your Linux distribution and configuration.

3. Change directories to the directory that contains the Workstation Pro installer file.
4. Run the appropriate Workstation Pro installer for the host system.

   For example: sh VMware-Workstation-xxxx-xxxxxxx.architecture.bundle [--option]

   xxxx-xxxxxxx is the version and build numbers, architecture is i386 or x86_64, and option is a command line option.

5. Accept the Open Virtualization Format (OVF) Tool license agreement.

   If you are using the --console option or installing Workstation Pro on a host system that does not support the GUI wizard, press Enter to scroll through and read the license agreement or type q to skip to the [yes/no] prompt.

6. Follow the prompts to finish the installation.

Results

After Workstation Pro is installed, vmware-workstation-server starts on the host system. When Workstation Pro starts, log in using your regular user name, not root. vmware-workstation-server starts whenever you restart the host system.