TheNewbie
06-03-06, 12:14 PM
VMplayer Smart Guide
Welcome to TheNewbie’s VMplayer Smart Guide
• So you need a free Virtual Machine solution, well you have come to the right thread then. I will Briefly explain to how setup VMplayer and How to make your first vmx (virtual Machine file). So there are a few choices out there for a VM solution but they are pretty expensive (for me anyways) so I will be using all free software found on the web.
I have chosen to use VMware’s VMplayer for this illustration because it seems to be the most developed and supported. The VMplayer is ok but the VMware Workstation 5.5 is well worth the money, if you can afford it, it has everything included to make VM's. If you can install an OS then you can set up a VM, its very simple.
First I will explain how to set up a .vmx file to get started. First once you have the VMplayer downloaded installed you will need a pre-made vmx file. You can download VMXwizard or similar program, I am using VMXwizard for now. Open the VMXwizard, select the Guest Operating System you will be installing (the Guest OS will be the OS ran on the Virtual Machine) and ram size (I would not use less than 128mb for Windows based OS's) click next.
Select disk size for the Guest OS, I am currently using 1gb of disk space for mine seems to be plenty for what I am doing, size is really dependant on what your personal needs will be for the OS installed and programs you want to add later.
Next select the file path of an ISO image or choose the option to Auto detect a CD-rom drive. The next step will be to choose a connection type, the best one I have used w/ out problems is the VM network (NAT) setup (acts kinda like a router for your VM's).
Next step is to choose a file name for your VM and location (I use the default path and name) it should be placed in the VMplayers file named My Virtual Machines or similar. Now that you have a vmx file you need to install a guest OS.
And finally Start VMplayer and open the vmx. you have just created(make sure the CD of the OS you will be installing is in the CD-rom drive at the time you start the vmx in VMplayer!!). Now the the VMplayer starts the install process that you are accustomed to when you install an OS regularly. And Voila! you have just made your first Virtual Machine. Once you have the OS install you should reboot it and install VMware Tools. The tools are very helpful in managing your VM’s and makes the transition form going back and forth between your computer and your VM’s more seamlessly. Good luck, any comments, complaints, suggested edits or questions can be sent to me by PM .
Welcome to TheNewbie’s VMplayer Smart Guide
• So you need a free Virtual Machine solution, well you have come to the right thread then. I will Briefly explain to how setup VMplayer and How to make your first vmx (virtual Machine file). So there are a few choices out there for a VM solution but they are pretty expensive (for me anyways) so I will be using all free software found on the web.
I have chosen to use VMware’s VMplayer for this illustration because it seems to be the most developed and supported. The VMplayer is ok but the VMware Workstation 5.5 is well worth the money, if you can afford it, it has everything included to make VM's. If you can install an OS then you can set up a VM, its very simple.
First I will explain how to set up a .vmx file to get started. First once you have the VMplayer downloaded installed you will need a pre-made vmx file. You can download VMXwizard or similar program, I am using VMXwizard for now. Open the VMXwizard, select the Guest Operating System you will be installing (the Guest OS will be the OS ran on the Virtual Machine) and ram size (I would not use less than 128mb for Windows based OS's) click next.
Select disk size for the Guest OS, I am currently using 1gb of disk space for mine seems to be plenty for what I am doing, size is really dependant on what your personal needs will be for the OS installed and programs you want to add later.
Next select the file path of an ISO image or choose the option to Auto detect a CD-rom drive. The next step will be to choose a connection type, the best one I have used w/ out problems is the VM network (NAT) setup (acts kinda like a router for your VM's).
Next step is to choose a file name for your VM and location (I use the default path and name) it should be placed in the VMplayers file named My Virtual Machines or similar. Now that you have a vmx file you need to install a guest OS.
And finally Start VMplayer and open the vmx. you have just created(make sure the CD of the OS you will be installing is in the CD-rom drive at the time you start the vmx in VMplayer!!). Now the the VMplayer starts the install process that you are accustomed to when you install an OS regularly. And Voila! you have just made your first Virtual Machine. Once you have the OS install you should reboot it and install VMware Tools. The tools are very helpful in managing your VM’s and makes the transition form going back and forth between your computer and your VM’s more seamlessly. Good luck, any comments, complaints, suggested edits or questions can be sent to me by PM .