[all variants] How to VMWare Server 2.0 on Ubuntu 8.10

[bodhi.zazen]

Install VMWare Server 2.0 in Ubuntu 8.10

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Introduction

Server 2 installs easily and without any major difficulties. I find it has less features then 1.0.7 (I could not find an option to boot a physical partition for example).

Advantages:

• Nice web interface (yes, I know there is a web interface for 1.0.x).
• Easy to install, no patches necessary.

Disadvantages:

• For some reason it seems slower, more bloated.
• Less features.

Installation

OK, enough, tell us how to install it already

1. Prep.
   

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

2. Download : http://www.vmware.com/download/server/
   • Be sure to download the appropriate arch for your host (32 vs 64 bit).
   • Do not forget to get a serial number
   
   * Personally I save this to ~/src/vmware , you will need to adapt this how-to if you save it elsewhere (ie ~/Desktop).
   
   
3. Extract.
   
   

   cd ~/src/vmware
   tar xzvf VMware-server-2*

4. Install.
   

   cd vmware-server-distrib
   sudo ./vmware-install.pl

   Unless you know what you are doing, select the defaults.
   
   When you get to the question:
   
   

   The current administrative user for VMware Server is ''. Would you like to specify a different administrator? [no]

   Enter "yes" and specify a non-root user. You will log into the web server with this user (using the same password to log onto Ubuntu).
   
   
5. Last you will need to configure your keyboard.
   
   Using any editor make a file ~/.vmware/config
   

   The directory ~/.vmware *should* exist, but the "config" file does not.

   Add the following text (from the VMWare forums):
   
   

   xkeymap.nokeycodeMap = TRUE

   WARNING: The 'xkeymap.nokeycodeMap = true' configuration breaks the Unity feature on VMWare Workstation! Use the alternate solution below.
   

   Old solution (I left this in the event the "new" configuration does not work, you do not need to do this if the above solution works).

   xkeymap.keycode.108 = 0x138 # Alt_R
    xkeymap.keycode.106 = 0x135 # KP_Divide
    xkeymap.keycode.104 = 0x11c # KP_Enter
    xkeymap.keycode.111 = 0x148 # Up
    xkeymap.keycode.116 = 0x150 # Down
    xkeymap.keycode.113 = 0x14b # Left
    xkeymap.keycode.114 = 0x14d # Right
    xkeymap.keycode.105 = 0x11d # Control_R
    xkeymap.keycode.118 = 0x152 # Insert
    xkeymap.keycode.119 = 0x153 # Delete
    xkeymap.keycode.110 = 0x147 # Home
    xkeymap.keycode.115 = 0x14f # End
    xkeymap.keycode.112 = 0x149 # Prior
    xkeymap.keycode.117 = 0x151 # Next
    xkeymap.keycode.78 = 0x46 # Scroll_Lock
    xkeymap.keycode.127 = 0x100 # Pause
    xkeymap.keycode.133 = 0x15b # Meta_L
    xkeymap.keycode.134 = 0x15c # Meta_R
    xkeymap.keycode.135 = 0x15d # Menu

   Thanks nthrbldyblg

Run VMWare

sudo /etc/init.d/vmware start|stop|status|restart

Open a browse and enter :

localhost:8222

If you prefer https (you will be redirected automatically to https if you are connecting remotely):

localhost:8333

Enter your user name and password.

The only caveat is you will need to install a plug in in Firefox (or *gasp* IE) to view the guests on the VMWare console.

If you wish to access the machines over the Internet you must forward ports 902, 8222, and 8333.