VMware Player is a virtualization software that lets you run multiple operating systems using a single computer or host. It’s a lightweight version of VMware Workstation and works in Windows, Mac OS X and Linux systems, including Ubuntu. If you can’t afford to purchase VMware Workstation, then VMware Player should work just fine.
The newest version of VMware Player ( 6.0) brings many new changes including, a commercial or paid feature called VMware Player 6 Plus, support for unattended installation using enterprise configuration management tools, simplified UI and support for Ubuntu 13.10, Windows 8.1 and other newer operating systems.
This brief tutorial is going to show you how to install VMware Player in Ubuntu. For Windows and Mac OS X users, the process is simple. Just download the installer package and start the installation. In Ubuntu, you may have to prepare your system before installing.
To get started, press Ctrl – Alt – T on your keyboard to open the terminal or console. When it opens, run the commands below to install required packages.
sudo apt-get install build-essential linux-headers-`uname -r`
After that, go and download a copy of VMware Player 6 from here or VMware software download page.
After downloading the software package, change to your Downloads folder by running the commands below.
cd ~/Downloads
Next, run the commands below to make the installer executable.
chmod +x VMware-Player*
Finally, run the commands below to begin the installation.
sudo ./VMware-Player-6*
During the installation, when prompted for a license key, leave it blank. The license is only there if you’re going to be using the Plus feature. If not, then don’t worry about license key. After installing it, open Dash and launch it.
Enjoy!
Frequently Asked Questions
How to install VMware Player 6.0 in Ubuntu?
To install VMware Player 6.0 in Ubuntu, you need to first ensure that your system has the required packages installed. After that, download the VMware Player 6.0 package, make it executable, and run the installation command in the terminal.
What are the new features in VMware Player 6.0?
VMware Player 6.0 introduces new features such as VMware Player 6 Plus, support for unattended installation using enterprise tools, a simplified user interface, and compatibility with Ubuntu 13.10, Windows 8.1, and other newer operating systems.
Can VMware Player run on Mac OS X?
Yes, VMware Player can run on Mac OS X along with Windows and Linux systems. It is a lightweight virtualization software that allows users to run multiple operating systems on a single computer.
Is VMware Player free to use?
Yes, VMware Player is available for free as a lighter version of VMware Workstation. Users who cannot afford VMware Workstation can opt for VMware Player, which should work well for most virtualization needs.
Do I need a license key for VMware Player installation?
You do not need a license key for installing VMware Player unless you plan to use the commercial feature VMware Player 6 Plus. For regular usage, you can leave the license key blank during installation.
What packages are required to install VMware Player in Ubuntu?
To install VMware Player in Ubuntu, you need to have the build-essential and linux-headers packages installed. These packages are necessary for the proper functioning of VMware Player on Ubuntu.
How do I launch VMware Player after installation?
After installing VMware Player, you can launch it by opening Dash in Ubuntu and searching for VMware Player. Click on the icon to start using VMware Player for virtualization.
Can VMware Player be used to run multiple operating systems on one computer?
Yes, VMware Player allows users to run multiple operating systems on a single computer or host system. It provides a virtualization environment for testing, development, or running different OS environments.
