How to Create a Virtual Machine in VMware Workstation 8

Looking to create a virtual machine in VMware Workstation 8? You’ve come to the right place!

Whether new to virtualization or an experienced user, this guide will provide step-by-step instructions and helpful tips for creating your virtual machine.

Get ready to unlock the power of virtualization and take your computing experience to the next level with our comprehensive walkthrough. Let’s dive in!

Introduction to VMware Workstation 8

VMware Workstation 8 is a powerful virtual machine software that allows users to run multiple operating systems on a single computer.

With VMware Workstation, you can create and run virtual machines, each with its own operating system, on a single physical computer.

VMware Workstation is perfect for developers and testers who need to test applications on multiple operating systems. This article will show you how to create a virtual machine in VMware Workstation 8.

System Requirements for VMware Workstation 8

1. A personal computer with an Intel Pentium or compatible processor at 1GHz or faster
2. 512MB RAM for a typical virtual machine, more for resource-intensive workloads
3. 50GB of available disk space for the virtual machine files
4. An Ethernet adapter for networking
5. A CD/DVD drive and blank CDs or DVDs to install the operating system

Setting up the Virtual Machine

1. You must first download and install the program to create a virtual machine in VMware Workstation. Once it’s installed, launch the program and click “Create a New Virtual Machine.”
2. You’ll be prompted to choose whether to create a typical or custom virtual machine. Select “Custom” and click “Next.”
3. Now you must choose the operating system you want to install on the virtual machine. Select “Linux” and then choose the version of Ubuntu you want to use. Click “Next.”
4. On the next screen, you’ll be asked to specify the amount of memory you want to allocate for the virtual machine. It’s recommended that you allocate at least 1GB of RAM. Click “Next.”
5. Now you’ll need to choose how much storage space you want to allocate for the virtual machine. If you plan on storing any large files on the VM, such as videos or ISO images, it’s recommended that you allocate at least 20GB of storage space. Click “Next.”
6. The next screen will prompt you for a name for your new virtual machine. Give it a name that reflects its purpose, such as “Ubuntu Server VM” or “My Development VM.” Click ” Next.”
7. On the final screen, review your choices and click “Finish” to create the virtual machine.

Installing an Operating System in the Virtual Machine

Assuming you have VMware Workstation installed, launch the program and click “Create a New Virtual Machine.” Select “Installer disc image file (iso):” and browse to your operating system .iso file.

You can download one online if you don’t have an operating system iso file. For this demonstration, we will be installing Ubuntu Server 18.04 LTS.

Once you have selected the operating system iso file, click “Next.” On the next screen, give your virtual machine a name and select where you would like to store it.

It is recommended that you store it on a separate hard drive from your primary operating system to avoid any potential conflicts. Once you have selected a name and location for your virtual machine, click “Next.”

On the next screen, you will be asked to select the amount of memory or RAM to allocate to the virtual machine. You should allocate at least 2GB of RAM to the virtual machine. Once you have selected the amount of RAM, click “Next.”

On the next screen, you will be asked to create a new virtual disk for the virtual machine or use an existing one. You should create a new virtual disk for the virtual machine. Once you have decided whether to create a new virtual disk, click “Next.”

On the next screen, you will be asked to select the installation type you want to perform. You should choose “Install an operating system from a bootable disc” and click “Next.”

On the next screen, you will be asked to select the operating system you want to install. It is recommended that you select “Ubuntu Server 18.04 LTS” and click “Finish.”

The virtual machine will now start installing the operating system, and it should only take a few minutes before it is ready.

Once the installation has finished, you can launch your newly installed Ubuntu Server 18.04 LTS instance and begin configuring it for your needs!

Configuring Settings of the Virtual Machine

You can configure many settings for your virtual machine, but we will review the basics here. First, you must decide on a name and location for your virtual machine.

Choosing a place where you have enough space to store all of the files for your VM (virtual machine) is essential. Next, you must select the type of operating system you want to install. In this example, we will be using Windows 10.

After that, you must allocate the amount of RAM you want to assign to your virtual machine. It is important not to allocate too much RAM, which can cause your computer to run slowly.

Finally, you must select the virtual disk size you want to create. The default size is usually fine, but if you plan on storing a lot of data on your VM, you may want to increase the size.

Accessing the Virtual Machine Remotely

Assuming you have VMware Workstation installed on your local machine, you can remotely access a virtual machine in some ways. One way is to use the VMware Remote Console (VMRC) client, a stand-alone application downloaded from the VMware website.

The other way to remotely access a virtual machine is through a web browser using the VMware Host Client. This method requires you to have network access to the ESXi host on which the virtual machine is running.

To connect to a virtual machine using the VMRC client:

1. Launch the VMRC client and enter the IP address or hostname of the ESXi server into the “VMware Remote Console” window. You will also need to enter your username and password for authentication.
2. Select the “Console” tab and then click on the name of the virtual machine you want to connect to from the list of available machines.
3. The VMRC client will launch, and you can interact with the guest operating system as if sitting at its console.

To connect to a virtual machine using the VMware Host Client:

1. Launch a web browser and navigate to https:///ui/. You will be prompted for your username and password for authentication.
2. Click on the “VMs” tab and then click on the name of the virtual machine you want to connect to from the list of available machines.
3. The virtual machine will be displayed in the web browser, and you can then interact with the guest operating system as if you were sitting at its console.

Backing Up a Virtual Machine

Assuming you have already installed VMware Workstation on your physical computer, launch the program and click “Create a New Virtual Machine.”

You will be given the option to choose between creating a typical or custom virtual machine. Choose typically and click next.

Now, select the installation method for your guest operating system. If you have a .iso file of the OS you wish to install, select “Installer disc image file (iso):” and browse to select the file.

You can also use a physical disc by selecting “Install from CD/DVD-ROM:” and then choosing your optical drive from the dropdown menu. Click next after selecting your installation method.

On the next page, name your virtual machine and choose where you would like to store it on your computer.

It is typically best practice to store it in the default location that VMware Workstation suggests. Click next when you have decided on a name and location.

The next page lets you select how much RAM to allocate to your virtual machine. It is essential not to give your virtual machine too much RAM because doing so could negatively impact the performance of your physical computer.

A good rule of thumb is to give it half as much RAM as you have on your physical computer, up to 4GB. After allocating RAM, click next.

Troubleshooting Tips for VMware Workstation 8

If you’re having trouble getting VMware Workstation 8 to work, here are a few troubleshooting tips:

1. Make sure that your computer’s BIOS is up to date. Older BIOS versions may not be compatible with VMware Workstation 8.
2. Check that your computer’s CPU supports hardware virtualization. If it doesn’t, you won’t be able to use VMware Workstation 8.
3. If you’re having trouble installing VMware Workstation 8, ensure you have enough free space on your hard drive. The minimum requirements for VMware Workstation 8 are 2 GB of free space, but 4 GB is recommended.
4. Once you’ve installed VMware Workstation 8, launch it and create a new virtual machine. Name your virtual machine and choose the operating system you want to install. The next screen will ask you how much memory to allocate to your virtual machine; the minimum is 512 MB, but 1 GB is recommended.
5. After you’ve created your new virtual machine, you’ll need to install an operating system on it before you can use it. To do this, insert an installation disc (or bootable USB drive) into your computer and select it as the “boot device” in the BIOS setup utility. Then boot into the installer and follow the prompts to install the operating system of your choice on your new virtual machine.
6. Finally, if you’re still having trouble with VMware Workstation 8, browse the official knowledge base or download the latest patches and updates from the VMware website.

Conclusion

After reading this article, you should be familiar with creating a virtual machine in VMware Workstation 8. Virtual machines are handy and can significantly help with multiple operating systems or testing networks.

Creating a VM on VMWare Workstation 8 is straightforward once you know the steps, so start setting up your virtual machine today!