Getting Started Guide VMware Player 3.1 This document supports the version of each product listed and supports all subsequent versions until the document is replaced by a new edition. To check for more recent editions of this document, see http://www.vmware.com/support/pubs.
Getting Started Guide You can find the most up-to-date technical documentation on the VMware Web site at: http://www.vmware.com/support/ The VMware Web site also provides the latest product updates. If you have comments about this documentation, submit your feedback to: docfeedback@vmware.com Copyright © 1998–2010 VMware, Inc. All rights reserved. This product is protected by U.S. and international copyright and intellectual property laws.
Contents About This Book 5 1 What Is VMware Player? 7 What You Can Do with VMware Player Features in VMware Player 8 8 2 Host System Requirements for VMware Player 11 Compatible Virtual Machines and System Images Using Virtual Symmetric Multiprocessing 12 12 3 Supported Host and Guest Operating Systems for VMware Player 13 Processor Support for 64-Bit Guest Operating Systems 4 Installing and Running VMware Player 13 15 Install VMware Player on a Windows Host 15 Install VMware Player on a Linux Ho
Getting Started Guide 4 VMware, Inc.
About This Book ® This preface provides information about the VMware Player Getting Started Guide and links to VMware educational resources. Intended Audience This book is intended for anyone who wants to install and use VMware Player 3.1. VMware Player 3.1 users include anyone who wants to create and run virtual machines or virtual appliances. You can download and safely run prebuilt application environments provided by software vendors or colleagues.
Getting Started Guide 6 VMware, Inc.
What Is VMware Player? 1 VMware Player is a desktop application that lets you create, configure, and run virtual machines. With VMware Player you can use the following features: n Create virtual machines that can run on a Windows or Linux PC. n Run virtual machines, making it easy to take advantage of the security, flexibility, and portability of virtual machines. n Access all of the host machine hardware devices, such as USB drives, from the virtual machine.
Getting Started Guide This chapter includes the following topics: n “What You Can Do with VMware Player,” on page 8 n “Features in VMware Player,” on page 8 What You Can Do with VMware Player VMware Player allows you to perform various tasks in a virtual machine. You can create and run virtual machines, use and evaluate prebuilt applications, simplify software distribution, and collaborate with colleagues.
Chapter 1 What Is VMware Player? n Direct Launch – Drag guest applications from the Unity start menu directly onto the host desktop. Doubleclick the shortcut to open the guest application. The shortcut remains on the desktop after you exit Unity and close VMware Player. n OVF 1.0 Support – Import or export virtual machines and vApps to upload them to VMware vSphere or VMware Cloud. The VMware OVF tool is a command-line utility bundled in the VMware Player installer.
Getting Started Guide 10 VMware, Inc.
Host System Requirements for VMware Player 2 Your computer must have the compatible hardware to install VMware Player. The minimum host system requirements for installing and using VMware Player are: n Standard x86-compatible or x86-64 with Intel VT Intel™ Virtualization Technology feature turned on or most AMD64 processors (except the earliest revision C Opteron processors). n Processor speed – 1.
Getting Started Guide Compatible Virtual Machines and System Images VMware Player runs virtual machines and system images created with other VMware and non-VMware products. The following virtual machines and system images are compatible with VMware Player: VMware Virtual Machines VMware Player runs virtual machines created with VMware Workstation 4 and later, GSX Server 3.x, VMware Server, and ESX Server 2.5 and later. Workstation 4 virtual machines run in legacy mode.
Supported Host and Guest Operating Systems for VMware Player 3 You can check the supported host and guest operating systems list for virtual machines running in VMware Player to verify whether your computer operating system allows you to install VMware Player. For installation, VMware Player requires approximately 250MB (Windows) or 200MB (Linux) free disk space. You can delete the installer after installation is complete to reclaim disk space.
Getting Started Guide 14 VMware, Inc.
Installing and Running VMware Player 4 The installation instructions for VMware Player require a product CD to install on Windows and Linux hosts. If you do not have a product CD, download VMware Player from the VMware Web site. If you are installing VMware Player from a CD and autorun is enabled, follow the prompts when you insert the CD in your CD-ROM drive. If you are installing VMware Player from a CD and autorun is not enabled, double-click the VMware-Player.
Getting Started Guide 3 (Optional) Select or deselect Check for product updates at startup to allow VMware Player to check for product updates when you start VMware Player. Product updates include new releases of VMware Player. Click Learn More to review details of the information collected to provide software product updates. 4 (Optional) To change product update settings, select File > Player Preferences menu. 5 Click Next.
Chapter 4 Installing and Running VMware Player 6 (Optional) Select either Yes or No to allow VMware Player to check for product updates when you start VMware Player. Product updates include new releases of VMware Player. Click Learn More to review details of the information collected to provide software product updates. 7 (Optional) To change product update settings, select File > Player Preferences menu. 8 Click Next.
Getting Started Guide Start VMware Player To start VMware Player you must open the .vmx virtual machine configuration file. Procedure 1 Select Start > Programs > VMware Player in Windows or use the corresponding program menu in a Linux X windows session. n On Windows, type vmplayer from the Start > Run command menu. You can also type \vmplayer.exe in the command interpreter, where is the appropriate path on your system to the VMware Player executable file.
Uninstalling VMware Player 5 You can uninstall VMware Player from Windows and Linux hosts. n Uninstall VMware Player on a Windows Host on page 19 To install the latest version of VMware Player on a Windows host you must uninstall the previous version of the product. n Uninstall VMware Player on a Windows Vista or Windows 7 Host on page 19 To install the latest version of VMware Player on a on a Widows Vista or Windows 7 host you must uninstall the previous version of the product.
Getting Started Guide Uninstall VMware Player on a Linux Host To install the latest version of VMware Player on a Linux host you must uninstall the previous version of the product. Procedure 20 1 Enter the vmware-installer -u vmware-player command to remove VMware Player from your system. 2 Select Yes or No to confirm whether you want to preserve or remove your configuration files. VMware, Inc.
Index C R compatible virtual machines and system images 12 resources 5 D document feedback 5 G U uninstall VMware Player Linux 20 Windows 19 Windows Vista 19 guest operating system, 64-bit 13 H host operating system 13 host system requirements 11 I install VMWare Player Linux host 16 Windows host 15 intended audience 5 V Virtual Symmetric Multiprocessing (SMP) 12 VMware Player close 18 features 8 install 15 introduction 7 start 18 use 8 L Linux installation options 17 VMware, Inc.
Getting Started Guide 22 VMware, Inc.
