We have shown you many times how to install VirtualBox in Ubuntu on this blog. Well, this brief tutorial is going to show you how to install VMware Player, an alternative to VirtualBox in Ubuntu 12.04.

VMware is a major player in the desktop virtualization business and has a good track record of producing quality software. If you don’t know what VMware Player is, it is a software the lets you run multiple virtual machines or computers from a single host computer. With it, you can install almost all versions of Windows (XP, Vista 7 Server 2008). It will also allows you install most Linux distributions easily.

So, if you’re currently using VirtualBox but you want to try an alternative, then continue below to learn how to install VMware Player in Ubuntu 12.04.

Objectives:

  • Install VMware Player 4.0.3 in Ubuntu 12.04 (Precise Pangolin)
  • Enjoy!

To get stated, press Ctrl – Alt – T on your keyboard to open Terminal. When it opens, run the commands below to install required packages.

sudo apt-get install build-essential linux-headers-`uname -r`

 

vmware_player_precise

 

Next, go to VMware website and login (or register) to download VMware Player from here.   By default your downloads should be saved in your Downloads folder.

 

After downloading the file, open terminal and then copy and paste the line below and press Enter to make the file executable.

chmod +x ~/Downloads/VMware-Player-4.0.3-703057.i386.bundle

 

vmware_player_precise_1

 

Next, run the commands below to install VMware Player. Follow the wizard to complete the installation.

sudo sh -c ' ~/Downloads/VMware-Player-4.0.3-703057.i386.bundle'

 

vmware_player_precise_2

 

After installing, copy and paste the line below and press Enter to download a patch to fix errors with VMware Player "Unable to start services. See log file /tmp/vmware-root/mdconfig-23331.log for details"

wget https://liberiangeek.net/blog/tools/vmware-patch.tar

 

vmware_player_precise_3

 

Then run the commands below to extract the patch.

tar xvf vmware-patch.tar

 

vmware_player_precise_4

 

Finally, run the commands below to install the patch.

sudo ./patch-modules_3.2.0.sh

 

After patching, open VMware from Dash

 

vmware_player_precise_5

 

Enjoy!

 

  

                                                                                                                     via askubuntu

Frequently Asked Questions

How to install VMware Player 4.0.3 in Ubuntu 12.04?

To install VMware Player 4.0.3 in Ubuntu 12.04, you need to open Terminal and run commands to install required packages, download the VMware Player from the official website, make the file executable, and then run the installation commands as guided by the wizard.

What are the steps to download VMware Player 4.0.3 for Ubuntu 12.04?

To download VMware Player 4.0.3 for Ubuntu 12.04, you need to visit the VMware website, log in or register, download the file which is saved in the Downloads folder by default, make the file executable in Terminal, and then proceed with the installation process.

Can VMware Player run multiple virtual machines on Ubuntu 12.04?

Yes, VMware Player can run multiple virtual machines on Ubuntu 12.04. It allows you to run different operating systems like Windows XP, Vista, 7, Server 2008, and various Linux distributions from a single host computer.

What is the alternative to VirtualBox for Ubuntu 12.04 users?

VMware Player is a popular alternative to VirtualBox for Ubuntu 12.04 users. It is known for its desktop virtualization capabilities and the ability to easily run multiple virtual machines on a single host computer.

How to fix 'Unable to start services' error in VMware Player on Ubuntu 12.04?

To fix the 'Unable to start services' error in VMware Player on Ubuntu 12.04, you can download a patch from a specific URL and extract it using Terminal commands. This patch helps resolve the error related to starting VMware services.

What are the benefits of using VMware Player in Ubuntu 12.04?

Using VMware Player in Ubuntu 12.04 allows you to run multiple virtual machines, install various Windows and Linux distributions, and experience desktop virtualization with a software known for its quality and reliability in the industry.

How to register for a VMware account to download VMware Player for Ubuntu 12.04?

To download VMware Player for Ubuntu 12.04, you need to register for an account on the VMware website. This account will allow you to access the downloads section and get the necessary files for installation.

What are the key features of VMware Player 4.0.3 for Ubuntu 12.04 users?

Key features of VMware Player 4.0.3 for Ubuntu 12.04 users include the ability to run multiple virtual machines, support for Windows and Linux distributions, easy installation process, and desktop virtualization capabilities for enhanced computing experience.