This is a list of steps to install VMWare Player (AKA VMPlayer) in openSUSE 12.1. Although it’s written for 64-bit architecture, it’s the same for 32-bit installs, just grab the 32-bit bundle.
Usually the open-source community prefer Virtualbox (AKA VBox) due to it’s community edition. However, AFAIK it lacks the usb feature found in Oracle’s edition, licensed only for personal use (you can’t use it at work), and after the original developer, Sun, was sold to Oracle, there are some concerns about the future of Sun’s opensource projects (see what happened to Ooo).
As a user of vmplayer for years, I’ve always found it reliable and easy to use, and perceptibly faster than vbox, at least the couple of times I experimented both side by side. That is not to say that vbox is not good - it is.
So here it is:
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Make sure that Kernel-sources, gcc and make are installed.
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go to VMware and register, it’s free but they do ask for a valid e-mail, name and address.
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Activate your account from the e-mail you’ll receive a couple minutes after registering.
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VMWare Player download is somewhat buried in their site, they’d prefer you buy workstation, but you can get it from here. If this link get outdated google vmware player download, it’ll be faster than navigating their site.
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Download the latest package (extension .bundle) for your architecture. As of this writing it is VMware-Player-4.0.1-528992.x86_64.bundle.
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Make it executable: from Dolphin, right-click on the .bundle file -> Properties -> Permissions -> check “Is Executable”.
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Open a terminal and navigate to the folder where you downloaded the file, or if you’re still in Dolphin just press F4, it will open a terminal in the current directory.
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Type su <ENTER> and give your root password to acquire admin rights.
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Type ./VMware-Player-4.0.1-528992.x86_64.bundle <ENTER>
(Note the dot-slash immediately before the filename. You’ll obviously substitute the filename above for the one you actually downloaded.) -
After it finishes installing, and while you still have admin rights, type vmware-modconfig --console --install-all <ENTER> to compile the necessary service modules (drivers).
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After a couple minutes of compilation, the vmware services will be started. You can then close the terminal - or press F4 again if still on Dolphin - and start VMPlayer from the Applications menu > System > More Programs > VMWare Player. Accept the end-user license and you’re ready to go.
Of course, you now need to create a virtual machine (vm) where you’ll install your OS of choice. In my case I have a windows vm to run a couple apps I’m forced to use.
VMPlayer’s interface for usage and vm creation is quite friendly and intuitive, you’ll have no problems using it. Just remember to install vmware tools in the guest OS - the OS you’re running in the virtual machine - for a much better experience.
There are a number of cool things, like the unity view (nothing to do with Ubuntu), where only the guest OS apps windows are shown directly in your HOST (the real computer) desktop, almost as if they where native apps.
USB, shared folders, bridged/NAT networking and all other facilities are included, you just have to configure them.
That’s it, a nicely done and extremely useful free app, even if not opensource.
