HowTo: Install VMWare Server on Fedora 8

Desktop virtualization has been continuously capturing users and web services. More and more companies are creating virtual machines and appliances that can be of productive service to many web users around the globe.

From recent post, here's a quick howto install VMWare Server on Fedora 8.

VMWare Server Pre-Requirements

VMWare Server package needs to compile its own needed VMWare kernel modules in order to be installed successfully. Make sure you have the necessary kernel packages and gcc compiler. Here are my own version details prior to my own VMWare Server installation.

kernel-2.6.23.1-42.fc8
kernel-headers-2.6.23.9-85.fc8
kernel-devel-2.6.23.1-42.fc8
gcc-4.1.2-33
gcc-c++-4.1.2-33


Usually, these packages can be queried using the standard rpm query format like so

# rpm -qa kernel* gcc*

Kernel versions differ from each Fedora boxes. The pros and cons of upgrading your current F8 kernel would not be covered here.

VMWare Server Installation on Fedora 8

Simplified four steps of installing VMWare Server on Fedora 8 OS.

1. Download VMWare Server rpm package installer for linux from here. While downloading, take a few minutes to do other stuff and comeback after a while since the download size of VMWare Server version 1.0.4 is around 105 MB in size, it would take a while. Alternatively, you can prepare your registration details from the next installation step.

2. Do register from and retrieve VMWare Server serial number from here.

3. Launch rpm to install VMWare Server package like so

# rpm -ivh VMware-server-1.0.4-56528.i386.rpm

At this point, it is adviseable not to execute vmware-config.pl perl script yet as the VMWare files package needs to be patched first.

4. Download and apply the vmware patch version 115 from here. This can be done as shown

# tar zxvf vmware-any-any-update115.tar.gz
# cd vmware-any-any-update115
# ./runme.pl

Here are the usual questions that might be presented using the patch perl script. Most of them are answerable by simply hitting the ENTER key as shown below:

The file /usr/lib/vmware/modules/source/vmmon.tar that this script was about to
install already exists. Overwrite? [yes]

The file /usr/lib/vmware/modules/source/vmnet.tar that this script was about to
install already exists. Overwrite? [yes]

In which directory do you want to install the mime type icons?
[/usr/share/icons]

What directory contains your desktop menu entry files? These files have a
.desktop file extension. [/usr/share/applications]

In which directory do you want to install the application's icon?
[/usr/share/pixmaps]

None of the pre-built vmmon modules for VMware Server is suitable for your
running kernel. Do you want this program to try to build the vmmon module for
your system (you need to have a C compiler installed on your system)? [yes]

What is the location of the directory of C header files that match your running
kernel? [/lib/modules/2.6.23.1-42.fc8/build/include]

..

..

The below replies fits my need.

Do you want networking for your virtual machines? (yes/no/help) [yes]

Do you wish to configure another bridged network? (yes/no) [no]

Do you want to be able to use NAT networking in your virtual machines? (yes/no)
[yes]

Do you want this program to probe for an unused private subnet? (yes/no/help)
[yes] no

You can change the below to your needs should you decide to have bridging network and NAT enabled virtual hosts.

What will be the IP address of your host on the private
network? 192.168.200.2

Do you want to be able to use host-only networking in your virtual machines?
[yes]

Configuring a host-only network for vmnet1.

Do you want this program to probe for an unused private subnet? (yes/no/help)
[yes] no

Do you wish to configure another host-only network? (yes/no) [no]

The default port : 902 is not free. We have selected a suitable alternative
port for VMware Server use. You may override this value now.
Remember to use this port when connecting to this server.
Please specify a port for remote console connections to use [904] Enter

Do you want this program to set up permissions for your registered virtual
machines? This will be done by setting new permissions on all files found in
the "/etc/vmware/vm-list" file. [no] yes

Generating SSL Server Certificate

In which directory do you want to keep your virtual machine files?
[/var/lib/vmware/Virtual Machines] /root/.VirtualBox/

Do you want to enter a serial number now? (yes/no/help) [no]

You should be seeing the below lines once you a successful VMWare Server installation

The configuration of VMware Server 1.0.4 build-56528 for Linux for this running kernel completed successfully.

Congrats, you now have a successful install of working VMWare Server.

Enjoy VMWare server from your Fedora 8 box.

Binary Launch

# vmware

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