Virtual machine - software, emulating computer hardware. Allows you to create and simultaneously run several operating systems directly independent of each other.

The original, main or real operating system is called the host, while the OS installed through the virtual machine is called the guest, secondary or virtual. In this case, the host and guest OS will operate as separately as possible. In the event of a virus attack or other malicious activity on a virtual machine, the data of the real OS (host) will not be affected.

One of the most popular programs for creating a virtual machine is VMware Workstation or its reduced functionality, freely distributed version VMware Player. With its help, you can install a minor OS X on the main Windows OS or vice versa, as well as a number of other operating systems, for example, the Linux family. There are ample opportunities for setting up and debugging the virtual OS.

Before you create a virtual machine, you need to install special software that allows you to do this. In our case, this is VMware Workstation. If for some reason this particular program is not suitable for you, you can install a guest OS on a virtual machine Virtualbox.

Installing the VMware Workstation distribution is similar to any other software:

1. Run the program's executable file. Preparations for unpacking will begin.
2. Next, a window will appear in which you can select standard or custom installation. If you don’t know which components you need and are using a virtual machine for the first time, then choose the “standard” program package. If necessary, you can always expand the functionality and add them through the program menu.
3. After clicking the Next button, you will be asked to select the directory in which the program will be installed.
4. If necessary, you can mark the places where VMware Workstation shortcuts will be additionally placed for quick launch.
5. At this point, the preparatory stage is considered complete, and after clicking the Install button, the distribution will begin the process of unpacking the main components.

Once the download is complete, a message will appear on the screen asking you to get started. This means that we have figured out how to install a virtual machine, and now we can start creating the virtual machine itself with using VMware Workstation.

First start

The virtual machine and the guest operating system created in it will consume a certain amount of system resources. Therefore, before working with a virtual machine, it is recommended to close other resource-intensive programs, including those running in the background.

The next thing you need to understand is that the higher the production capacity of the computer, the more comfortable it will be to work with the virtual machine. It is not recommended to create, let alone run, more than one virtual OS on a device with weak hardware.

Will open immediately after launch home page programs. In total, the user will have access to two main menus: the top and side menus located on the left, as well as the main screen or “Home”.

The top menu is similar in its capabilities to most programs of this level. Here you will find all the tools you need to configure: file, edit, view, virtual machine, tabs, help.

On the left side of the screen is the “Library”. This is where all virtual machines installed in the program will be displayed. Using the same menu, you can find out how to delete a virtual machine.

The “Home” or central screen contains the most frequently used functionality. Allows you to immediately start creating a new virtual machine or launch a previously created one, even on another device (you must first copy the data), as well as connect to a remote server or synchronize with VMware vCloud Air.

Since it is impossible to install Windows on a virtual machine without first creating it, we suggest you familiarize yourself with this process.

Making a machine

To create a virtual machine, you must perform the following steps:

• Installation using a bootable DVD through a physical, not virtual, drive of a laptop or PC.
• Boot using a virtual drive and a ready-made image file (ISO).
• Postpone loading the OS until later and create only the VM shell.

If you decide to install a secondary operating system immediately by selecting one of the first two options, a window will appear on the screen with all the information regarding the installation of the application. In our case it is Windows. Here you can immediately enter all the necessary data, key and password, or postpone it until later.

If the first or second loading method was selected, then after all necessary settings The installation of the selected OS will begin. Otherwise, it will begin after debugging the basic configurations of the virtual machine itself.

If you decide to install a guest OS later, using the third option, the program will prompt you to select the OS type from the list: Linux, Windows, Other, etc. After this, you must specify the version of the OS that will be installed. As in the previous menu, you can mark it as “Other”, but only if the required version is not in the list.

The program has a huge selection of pre-installed configurations for a wide variety of operating systems and their versions. Therefore, there should be no problems.

Setting up the application shell

The next thing you need to do is give a name for the VM, and also indicate the directory in which the main components of the program will be installed.

If the device has several drives, for example, system C and D, then the location of the main folders and other system data is virtual VMware machines It is recommended to change Workstation to D. That is, to a disk that is not a system one. This must be done so that in the event of a virus attack, unauthorized access, or an ordinary failure of the host (real OS), the VM files are not damaged.

Before you set up your virtual machine, make sure you know exactly what settings you need. Otherwise, leave the settings at default.

Thus, after reinstalling the main operating system on drive C, the secondary data will not be affected.

You will only need to re-download the VMware Workstation program shell, and then turn on the existing virtual machine, pointing the program to the path to the files. But before you run it, make sure everything is necessary tools already installed.

Now you need to select the maximum amount of disk memory that the virtual machine you are creating will occupy. The default is 60 GB. This is sufficient for most tasks, but you can change this setting to a higher or lower value if you wish.

Here it is also necessary to take into account the fact that while saving, without dividing the disk space into several components, the guest OS you created in the virtual machine and the included host will run much faster.

At this point, the VM configuration is considered complete. And after clicking the Finish button, the process of loading the secondary, virtual, operating system will begin.

Virtual machine configuration

As a rule, there is no need for additional VM configuration. VMware Workstation automatically adapts to the system and offers the most optimal option. Moreover, if during the installation most of the parameters did not change and were selected by default.

If necessary, some configurations can be changed after downloading. Namely:

• open shared or remote access to some files and folders;
• change the characteristics of the VM hardware;
• add or change a previously selected drive for installing a secondary operating system;
• change settings for connecting external and USB devices.

To make some files and folders available for shared use by the guest OS and the host, you must:

1. Go to the tab " Options" and in the drop-down list find the line " Shared folders ", depending on the version which may have a different name.
2. In the window that opens, check the box “ Connect as network drive in Windows guests».
3. After this, an additional Add button will appear, by activating which you can create and select a folder that you plan to make publicly available for the guest OS and the host.

To avoid problems with data loss and reinstallation of the main OS, it is recommended to select a directory that is not located on the disk with the real operating system installed on it.

After completing the steps described above, the folder will automatically become public. When you configure the default settings, you will be able to use the system's capabilities drag-and-drop, both from the secondary OS to the host, and vice versa. If any of the described functions are not necessary, then do not forget to uncheck the unnecessary option.

As you can see, setting up a virtual machine does not take much time and does not require additional knowledge in order to understand how it works.

Common problems and their solutions

Most of the problems, as a rule, arise due to the lack of necessary components for correct operation. computer hardware(processor, video card, audio card, etc.) components. Do not forget that the secondary OS, like the main one, needs the most necessary programs, ensuring stable operation of the video adapter, audio card, etc.

To avoid unnecessary problems with finding and installing them, immediately after loading the VMware OS onto the virtual machine, you will be prompted to install an additional component - VMware Tools, made in order to simplify work not only with the VM, but also with external devices, for example, printers, faxes, USB drives.

If for some reason this does not happen, then you can start loading the tool yourself. To do this, go to the menu item “ Virtual machine» and in the drop-down list find an offer to download this package. Upon completion, you will be prompted to reboot the guest OS. The installed tool will start working automatically, and no additional operations need to be performed to start it.

One of the most common problems is the appearance of an error like: The VMware Authorization Service is not running. To solve it, just go to the “Services” menu on the main OS, this can be done through the Control Panel - Administration. Then, in the list of services, find the one you need and start it. If necessary, enter the name manually. If it appears that this service is already working, then turn it off and on again.

To avoid most problems, it is strongly recommended to install only official or verified builds of the program.

Video on the topic

In this article you will learn how to install and configure a VMware Workstation Pro virtual machine. Setting up VMware is simple and it will be easy for the average user to install the program and configure the necessary settings.

Files for downloading - , you can also download from . After downloading and unzipping the program, install it on your PC.

Run VMware as administrator.

Click Install to install the program on your PC. Launch the crack that is in your archive and click "Install".

Click "Create a new virtual machine".

Select a custom installation.

Check the box to install the operating system later. In another tab, select the desired OS for which you want to create a virtual machine.

Set the name of the virtual machine and select the installation location. In the next window, don’t touch anything and click “Next”.

In the first window we distribute the number of cores for the virtual OS, in the second the number random access memory. Don't allocate more resources than your physical PC's hardware can handle. Try to leave at least 2GB of RAM for your main system.

Leave the checkbox "Use broadcast" network addresses(NAT), in the next window we don’t touch anything, everything will start automatically, click “Next”.

“Do not touch the selection of disk type”, select “Create a new virtual disk” in the next window.

We save the disk in one file.

Open the "Hardware Settings" tab.

Go to the "Processor" menu - check the "Virtual Intel VT-x/EPT or AMD-V/RVI" item.

Go to the “New CD/DVD” menu and check the “ISO image file” item, click “Browse” and select the operating system ISO image downloaded from the Internet.

This article will talk about working with virtual machines(virtual operating systems) via free program VWWare Workstation Player.

Let me start briefly with what a virtual machine actually is. I already touched on this topic once, but now I’ll repeat myself a little so that you are immediately aware of everything that this article will be about. A virtual machine is a kind of virtual computer with an installed operating system (hereinafter referred to as “OS”), which runs on your real system via special program in a separate window. It turns out that you can work with any other OS through a special program without interrupting your work, without restarting the computer and without performing any other complex operations to switch work from one OS to another.

What is this all for? You can use a virtual system to test some programs and services. For example, I often use a virtual machine to record video lessons, since my virtual OS is clean, without any personal files and folders, and this will allow me not to expose anything important to the whole world in my video :) I also use a virtual machine for testing all sorts of things Windows settings, so as not to experiment on a real system, as well as to test any new programs.

Also, working in a virtual OS is good for those who earn money in axleboxes. Why is it suitable? If you work in a bookstore, you've probably come across a ton of tasks where you need to install some small game or program on your computer, register in it, log in, and possibly perform some other actions. Can you imagine what will happen to your real OS in the near future if you often perform such tasks, installing just a shitload of programs and games? :) Nothing good will happen! And sooner or later you’ll catch some kind of virus. And when working in a virtual OS, all this installed rubbish will remain there, without touching your real system in any way, and all the viruses (if you catch them) will also remain there.

This is what a virtual OS looks like running in a separate window:

As you can see, the same OS, only in a window :)

Previously in articles I talked about a way to work with virtual machines through a free program Oracle VirtualBox. At first I used it myself, but then I tried an alternative - VMWare Workstation Player (previously called simply VMWare Player) and realized that this program would be simpler. There are not so many settings in it, they are not so cloudy and incomprehensible and everything, in my opinion, is much more convenient. For beginners, this option is, in my opinion, better suited than the VirtualBox analogue.

Let's begin to figure out in order how to install WMWare Workstation Player to work with virtual machines and then how to install and configure the virtual OS itself through this program!

I recorded the whole process on video, where I show what to download from where, what and how to configure. If it’s not very convenient for you to perceive the information from the video, then below the whole process is described in text and graphic form.

Attention!
VMWare Workstation Player only works with 64-bit operating systems! Also note that to work with virtual machines, you must have powerful computer, with a modern processor (for example, Intel Core i3, i5, i7) and a recommended amount of RAM of at least 4 GB. Better yet, even more! If you don’t know what RAM, processor and other computer components are, then I recommend reading the article. Otherwise, the virtual machine will be very slow, or your real system will slow down and not work stably.

You can see the bit depth of your OS and system information (processor, amount of RAM) as follows. Press the Win+R keys and in the “Run” line that appears, enter the command: msinfo32.exe. Click OK:

In the window that opens, on the “System Information” tab, you can find the necessary information:

The “Type” line indicates the bit depth of your system (x64 – 64-bit, x86 – 32-bit).

In the "Processor" line - information about the processor, and in the "Installed RAM" line - the amount of RAM on your computer.

Installing the WMWare Workstation Player program to work with virtual machines!

The program can run on both the Windows and Linux operating systems, so you can download it for any OS. Click the “Download” button next to the desired operating system and the download will begin:

I will show using Windows as an example.

The WMWare Workstation Player installation wizard will open. Wait until the first installation window appears. Click “Next” there.

Further, the installation process is the same as in most programs (I talked about how to install programs), so I will only focus on those stages where it is necessary to perform some special actions.

At one of the installation stages, check the “Enhanced Keyboard Driver” checkbox and click “Next”:

Enabling this option means that an extended keyboard driver will be installed for virtual machines and it is better to install it just in case.

In one of the installation windows, uncheck the “Help Improve VMWare Workstation 12 Player” option, and leave the first option enabled:

The first option means that the program will automatically check for updates and if there are any a new version, then you can immediately upgrade to it. The second option is to provide assistance to program developers by sending anonymous information about the operation of this program from your computer. This is the option I recommend turning off.

That's it, installation is complete! The next step is to install a virtual OS through this program.

Launch VMWare Workstation Player and install a virtual operating system!

After the VMWare program for working with virtual machines is installed, launch it using a shortcut on the desktop or from the Start menu.

When you launch the program for the first time, the following window will appear:

Here you need to select the first item, as in the image above and indicate your E-Mail address. This is only necessary so that you can use the program for free. I inserted my real email and then I didn’t receive any spam, i.e. there is nothing to be afraid of :)

After entering your email, click “Continue”.

In the next window, click “Finish”:

The program window will open. Immediately after the first launch, in a separate window, a proposal may appear on top of the main one to upgrade to the extended “Pro” version. We don't need it because it's paid. Click the "Skip this Version" button:

Now in the main program window, click “Create a New Virtual Machine” to create a new virtual machine (OS):

Now we have reached the stage where we need to choose where, from which file or disk the operating system will be installed as a virtual one. The window will have 2 options: install from a CD/DVD disc (Installer disc) or install from an image file stored on your computer (Installer disc image file). Choose the first option if you have your own CD/DVD with the OS that you want to install as a virtual one:

For example, you have a disk with Windows 7 and you want to install this system as a virtual one. Then insert the disk with this system into the computer and select the first option.

But operating systems for installation can also be stored in special file on your computer, which is called an "image". Then you can install the operating system as a virtual machine directly from this file. Here is an example of an image file with the Windows XP operating system:

VMWare Workstation Player supports image files in the ".ISO" format, so if you have a file ISO image with an operating system, then the easiest way to install a virtual machine is from it. And then select the second option in the current window:

Using the “Browse” button you can select exactly required file image with the operating system.

Having selected the desired option, click the “Next” button below.

Note!
Any operating system can be installed as a virtual one, i.e. any Windows system, any Linux or any others! Those. not necessarily just Windows.

In the next window, we are asked to specify in advance the key for installing the operating system, specify the user name and password:

After all, installing an operating system in a virtual machine will be no different from installing a real OS on your computer :) The only difference is that the system will be installed virtually in a window, and not on your real hard drive. But in that window, I recommend leaving only the username, which will most likely be set automatically (taken from your real OS). It is easier to specify the key and other parameters, if necessary, during OS installation. So in that window, just click “Next” to continue.

A window will probably appear warning you that you did not provide a key. Click Yes:

In the next window, in the first field you need to indicate the name of the virtual machine you are creating, and in the second field - the location of the virtual machine files on your computer.

You can call it whatever you want, it’s usually called the name of the OS that you will install. The main thing is that you yourself understand where your OS is, if you suddenly install and work with several virtual OSs in the future. Those. don’t call it like this: “1234”, because then you yourself won’t understand what kind of virtual machine you have with that name until you launch it :)

You can choose any location of the virtual machine on your computer – i.e. any folder or drive on your real system. It is in the selected folder that the files (there will be many of them) responsible for launching the virtual machine will be located. Please note that the virtual machine will take up a lot of space (a minimum of 10 GB is typical, but 20-30 GB is most common), so be sure to have enough space on your hard drive to store the virtual machine.

When you specify the name and location, click “Next”.

In the next window you need to indicate the volume of your hard drive that will be allocated for the operation of the created virtual machine. This is a very important step!

As I already said, a virtual machine is practically no different from your real OS. She will also have her own hard drive, only a virtual one. And the volume of the virtual OS hard disk will be equal to the volume of your real hard disk that you allocate for the virtual machine. Everything here will depend on what operating system you are installing as a virtual one. If, for example, Windows XP, then it does not require much space on the hard drive and somewhere around 10-15 GB will be enough. But modern Windows operating systems: 7, 8, 10 require a decent amount of free disk space for their operation, at least 20 GB, and preferably 30-40 GB.

And in the first field of the current window, you need to specify how much of your real hard drive you will allocate for the virtual machine being created. As I already said, for example, I will install a 30-day trial Windows version XP. For this system, 15 GB will be enough. volume virtual disk. Please note that your real hard drive must have at least as much free space as you allocate for the virtual machine!

By checking that option, we indicated that there is no need to divide the virtual hard disk on which the virtual OS will run into several files; let it be in one file. If we selected the second option “Split virtual disk into multiple files”, then the virtual hard disk would be divided into several files. I personally don’t find any sense in this, so I always choose the mode – virtual hard disk in one file.

In the next window you will receive information about the settings of the virtual machine being created. We can “Finish” right now to start installing the virtual machine, but we won’t do that now. Let's move on to additional settings virtual machine to understand another extremely important setting!

Click the “Customize Hardware” button:

An additional window will open with a bunch of settings on several tabs. We are only interested in the “Memory” tab, where you configure the amount of RAM on your computer allocated to the virtual machine.

RAM is the most important component of every computer, without which it simply will not work. This is temporary memory where everything that is running on your computer is preloaded - programs, processes, etc. In the article I provided a link where you can learn in more detail about all the main components of a computer.

So, in this window you need to indicate the amount of your real RAM that will be allocated for the operation of the virtual machine. Everything again depends on what operating system you will install. If this is Windows XP, then it will be able to work with only 128 MB of memory, although it will be very slow. It is better to allocate 1-2 GB for it. RAM. If you install Windows 7, 8 or 10 as a virtual machine, then I recommend allocating at least 2 GB. RAM (preferably 3-4 GB so that the virtual system works stably and does not slow down). But there is one more point. If your computer already has little RAM, then you cannot allocate much for the virtual system :)

If the computer has only 2 GB of memory (such a computer is very weak today), then you are unlikely to allocate more than 512 MB (megabytes) of memory for the virtual machine, because if you allocate more, your main system may begin to slow down severely. Take this into account!

In general, if your computer is weak, it’s easier not to bother with virtual machines, as I already mentioned at the very beginning of this article.

You will be returned to a window with information about setting up your virtual machine. Well, it’s time to proceed directly to installing the virtual machine! Make sure that the “Power on this virtual machine after creation” checkbox is checked so that the installation begins immediately and click “Finish”:

The installation of the virtual OS you configured will begin. First, windows will appear notifying you that some of your real computer hardware is connected to the virtual machine, as well as windows with various non-essential information. Just check the box “Do not show this hint again” in these windows and click “OK”:

Also, a window will then appear asking you to install additional tools for the virtual machine. We’ll post them a little later, so click “Remind Me Later.” Alerts on a light background at the bottom of the VMWare Workstation Player window can be closed by clicking on the cross:

Well, then the installation of the virtual OS will begin. I install Windows XP and the installation looks like this:

No different from the actual installation process on a computer. If you install a more modern Windows, the installation process will, of course, look different from the Windows XP installation process. Since the installation process for each OS is different, I will only briefly discuss it below. About Windows installation I discussed 8 and 10 in a separate article:

As for the duration of installation, it depends on the OS being installed and is practically no different in time from the duration of installing a real system on a computer. Windows XP installs in about 20 minutes, Windows 7,8 and 10 - about the same. This largely depends on the power of the computer.

The installation process has reached the point of entering the license key:

Now, to fully work with the virtual machine, we will install additional tools for it. This is necessary primarily so that you can easily drag and drop files from the real system into the virtual OS window or vice versa. This is just an awesomely convenient feature!! And this is a big advantage of VMWare Workstation Player over its analogue for working with VirtualBox virtual machines, because in the second I couldn’t directly drag and drop files, no matter how much I tinkered with the settings... Also, installing additional tools is necessary for the correct operation of some other functions of the virtual machine .

Open the “Player” menu on the top toolbar, select “Manage” and then “Install VMWare Tools”:

A window will appear in the virtual OS window where we click “Download and Install”:

A window for downloading additional tools will appear for a few seconds. Then you need to open the “My Computer” section (also called “Computer” or “This Computer”) through the virtual Windows Explorer and start installing additional tools, which are displayed in the form of a connected CD/DVD disk to the computer:

The system will ask you to reboot. This must be done so that the installed additional tools start working. Click the “Yes” button to reboot the virtual machine:

After the reboot, the additional virtual machine tools will take effect. Firstly, you will be able to drag and drop files and folders from a real system to a virtual one and vice versa. Simply drag and hold the left mouse button on one or more objects directly into the virtual machine window, then release the left mouse button. Files/folders will be moved:

Secondly, you will be able to quickly resize the virtual machine window by simply dragging the left mouse button outside the window borders. This way you can make the window with the virtual OS larger than it was originally, so that it is more convenient for you to work in it.

To switch to a virtual OS, just move the cursor to the window with it and that’s it, you will find yourself there and can perform any actions directly in the virtual machine. Getting back to the real system is also easy - just return the cursor from the virtual window to the real system window.

Another one useful feature– open the virtual machine in full screen mode. To do this, click the button as shown in the image below:

As a result, the virtual OS window will be stretched across the entire screen and outwardly it will no longer be distinguishable from the real system. You can return to windowed mode using the same button.

The virtual machine turns off just like a real one, i.e. go to the “Start” menu, click “Shutdown” and then the same button again. Or you can turn off the virtual machine by simply closing the VMWare Workstation Player window and clicking “Power Off” in the warning window:

In order to restart the desired virtual machine, open the VMWare Workstation Player program, select the virtual machine from the list and click “Play virtual machine” on the right:

And the last thing I would like to show you today is how to go to the settings of an already created and installed virtual machine. Please note that you can only configure a virtual machine if it is already turned off! To configure the desired virtual machine, select it in the main window of VMWare Workstation Player and click the “Edit virtual machine setting” button on the right:

A familiar window with virtual OS settings will appear:

That's all! Now, I think, you can independently create and configure a virtual machine with any operating system for your own tasks. I hope I made everything clear for beginners :)

Have a nice day and good mood everyone! Bye everyone ;)

Getting started with VMware Workstation
(for Dummies)

Many people, having heard the term “Virtual Machine”, think that it is very difficult and do not want to use this wonderful and very useful tool, which in many ways makes life easier for both software developers, testers, and ordinary users. In this article I will try to dispel the myth about the complexity of working with virtual machines and will walk you through the entire process, from installing the virtualization program to installing and configuring the guest operating system. Also, in conclusion, I will give basic techniques for working with a virtual machine.

As an example, I chose the VMware Workstation 7.1.4 virtual machine and the ubuntu-12.04 guest operating system. And I will install and configure all this in the host operating system Window XP.

Well, let's get started and start with a description of the process of installing a virtual machine.

1. Install the VMware Workstation 7.1.4 virtual machine.

The VMware Workstation 7.1.4 distribution comes in the form of a single executable file: VMware_Workstation_7.1.4_Micro_Rus.exe. After launching the executable file, a window appears on the screen showing the process of preparing to install the program (Figure 1).

Figure 1. Preparing to install a virtualization system.

After 10-20 seconds, after collecting all the necessary information and preparing to install VMware, an installation assistant window will open on the screen, first of all warning about intellectual property rights (Figure 2).

Figure 2. VMware Installation Assistant.

Feel free to click the “next” button to proceed to selecting the installation type (Figure 3).

Since the article describes the installation for novice users, let’s not split hairs and choose the installation standard package VMware, which will be sufficient for most user virtualization software requirements. In the future, it will always be possible to add components that are not included in the standard package.

Figure 3. Selecting the installation type.

After clicking the “Next” button, the installation assistant will prompt you to select the folder in which the program will be installed (Figure 4).

Figure 4. Selecting an installation location.

After clicking the “Next” button again, a window will open in front of you with a choice of where to place the shortcuts for quick launch of the virtualization program (Figure 5). Where to place quick launch shortcuts is a matter of taste. I find it most convenient to use the Start menu.

Figure 5. Selecting a quick launch location.

This was the last preparation for installation, as you will be informed by the window that opens after clicking on the “Next” button (Figure 6).

Figure 6. Ready to install message.

To start the installation, click the “Install” button and a window will open in front of you showing the installation process (Figure 7). Now you have to wait a couple of minutes.

Figure 7. Installing VMware Workstation.

After the installation is completed, a window will open on the screen informing you about this long-awaited event (Figure 8). Click the “Finish” button to complete the installation and proceed to creating and configuring your first virtual machine.

Figure 8. Completing the VMware Workstation installation.

2. Create a virtual machine.

Creating your first virtual machine will be as easy as installing virtualization software. To create a virtual machine, launch the VMware Workstation virtualization program from the Start menu (Figure 9).

Figure 9. Launching VMware Workstation.

Naturally, when you first start the program, it will prompt you to read license agreement and accept it (Figure 10). We don’t have much of a choice, and if we want to create a virtual machine based on VMware, we agree with it.

Figure 10. License agreement.

As soon as you agree to accept the license, the VMware Workstation program window will open in front of you (Figure 11), in which you will be offered a choice of one of three actions:

• create a new virtual machine;
• create new group virtual machines (usually used when you need to create a virtual computer system, for ease of access and work with individual virtual machines that are part of the virtual computing system);
• open an existing virtual machine or group of virtual machines.

Since this is our first launch of VMware Workstation, there is nothing to open yet, and it’s too early to create a group; first we need to learn how to handle a separate virtual machine. Therefore, we choose the first of the proposed options.

Figure 11. VMware Workstation program.

After selecting the first option, the Virtual Machine Creation Wizard window will open (Figure 12), which will help you quickly and easily create and configure your first virtual machine.

Figure 12. Virtual machine creation wizard.

For the first time, we will select a standard virtual machine configuration that will suit most users. To do this, mark the option “Normal (recommended)” in the configuration options offered to choose from and click the “Next” button.

After this, a window for selecting the source for installing the guest operating system will open (Figure 13). I downloaded the Ubuntu 12.04 guest operating system in advance from RuTracker.org as an installation disk image (.iso). Therefore, in the window that opens, select the second option: “Install from an installation disk image” and indicate the path to the required file (ubuntu-12.04-oem-i386.iso).

Figure 13. Selecting the guest OS installation source.

To simplify the installation of the guest operating system, next step, the virtual machine creation wizard will prompt you to specify personal data for installing the guest operating system (Figure 14). In the window that opens, enter your name, username and password.

Figure 14. Entering personal data.

After clicking the “Next” button again, we proceed to setting up the parameters of the created virtual machine. First of all, you will be asked for the name of the virtual machine and its location. An example of filling in these parameters is shown in Figure 15.

Figure 15. Name and location of the created virtual machine.

For comfortable work with the Ubuntu operating system, 20 GB is enough. The file size is quite large, so if you plan to transfer it to other computers or make backups, then you should think about the possibility of hosting a virtual hard drive in several files.

Since I don’t have the task of moving or copying a virtual machine, I will select the “Save the virtual disk as one file” option. In addition, the virtual machine works a little faster with such virtual hard disks.

Figure 16. Configuring virtual hard disk settings.

On this basic settings the virtual machine ends and after clicking on the “Next” button, a window will open showing the virtual machine parameters you have set (Figure 17).

Figure 17. Installed virtual machine parameters.

As you can see from the figure, all the basic parameters necessary for comfortable work with the virtual machine are installed:

• hard drive size – 20 GB;
• RAM size – 500 MB;
• type network adapter- NAT;
• input/output devices, etc. – CD/DVD, Floppy, USB controller, Printer, Sound Card.

Almost all virtual devices are present here and their parameters are quite suitable for normal work with a virtual machine. If, for any reason, you need to connect an additional device or change the parameters of the virtual machine, for example, the amount of RAM, then click the “Hardware Settings...” button and select add devices or change their parameters.

Since you can add new devices or change any parameters of a virtual machine without problems even after it is created and the guest operating system is installed, at this stage I will not change anything in the proposed parameters and will proceed to installing the guest operating system.

To do this, just check the box “Start the virtual machine after creation” and click “Finish” to complete the creation of the virtual machine. In this case, the files of your virtual machine will appear in the folder you selected (Figure 18), the virtual machine will start, and the installation process of the guest operating system will automatically begin (Figure 19).

Figure 18. Files of the created virtual machine.

Figure 19. Starting the guest OS installation.

3. Install the guest operating system.

The guest operating system is installed on a virtual machine in almost the same way as on an ordinary computer, but I will still briefly describe the process Ubuntu installations 12.04 as a guest operating system.

Installation of the operating system will begin automatically after the creation of the virtual machine is completed, and after a few seconds a window with the Ubuntu installation wizard will open on the screen (Figure 20), in which you must select the language in which the installation wizard will dialogue with you and select one of the OS installation options :

• try Ubuntu by launching the operating system from the disk;
• install Ubuntu.

Naturally, we choose the second option, since we need a full-fledged guest operating system. Click the “Install Ubuntu” button to begin installing the guest operating system.

Figure 20. Ububtu installation wizard.

If you have slow Internet access or no Internet access at all, or for some reason you do not want to download updates for the operating system you are installing, uncheck the Enable Networking menu item by clicking the button and then clicking on the line in the menu that appears “Enable Networking” (Figure 21).

As a result of these actions, the checkbox next to the “Enable Networking” line should be absent. This will allow you to save a lot of time when installing the operating system, and if you wish, update the system and install latest versions software is possible after installing and configuring Ununtu.

Figure 21. Disabling the network during installation.

Before starting the installation, the “installation wizard” will inform you about the required hard disk space and the need to connect to the Internet, which is desirable, but not at all necessary (Figure 22). In addition, if the Internet is slow, the installation process can take a long time.

It is also advisable to allow the installation of Fluendo MP3 to play multimedia content.

Figure 22. Preparing to install Ubuntu.

At the next stage, you need to select a method for partitioning the hard disk into partitions (Figure 23). Since we have created only one virtual HDD and not very large in size, then we will choose the first option, besides, after creating the virtual hard disk there is no useful information and you can safely format it.

Figure 23. Partitioning the hard drive.

At the next stage, we select the hard drive on which we will install the operating system. And since we have only one virtual hard disk, there is actually nothing to choose from and it will be offered by default. Simply click the “Install Now” button to begin the installation.

Figure 24. Selecting a hard drive for installation.

After clicking the “Install Now” button, files will begin copying from the image installation disk to a virtual hard disk. To save time, in parallel with the copying process, you need to make basic settings for the operating system and the first setting will be to select your location.

You can enter the name of the city or select its approximate location on the map. Once the required city is specified, click the “Continue” button.

Figure 25. Selecting a location.

At the next stage, the keyboard layout is selected (Figure 26). In the same window, you can check your selection and make sure that the printed text is displayed correctly. Usually, by default, the keyboard layout is determined correctly according to the city you specified and no additional actions are required at this stage. Click the “Continue” button to move to the next step Ubuntu settings.

Figure 26. Selecting a keyboard layout.

Now you need to set personal data (Figure 27):

• own name;
• computer name;
• username (must not be the same as your name);
• password for logging into the operating system under specified name user.

Here you will be asked to indicate how to log in to the system: automatically or after entering a password. If unauthorized people will have access to your virtual machine, then it is better to select the “require a password to log in” option. This will keep your personal information intact.

After entering all the data, click the “Continue” button.

Figure 27. Entering personal data.

This completes the basic Ubuntu settings (Figure 28) and the entire further installation process will take place automatically.

Figure 28. Automatic installation Ubuntu.

During the installation process, advertising screensavers will periodically appear, describing the advantage of the installed operating system over previous versions Ubuntu, which will help somewhat brighten up the wait for the installation to complete. However, the installation process may take several tens of minutes, but fortunately we are installing the operating system on a virtual machine, and you can simply minimize the window with the installation process and go about your business.

When the installation is complete, a message will appear on the screen notifying you that the installation is complete and prompting you to restart your computer (Figure 29). Feel free to click “reboot”, because this only applies to your new, ready-made virtual machine, and not to the entire computer.

Figure 29. Completing the Ubuntu installation.

In a few seconds, a virtual machine window with the Ubuntu operating system installed will open in front of you (Figure 30), revealing the widest possibilities of virtual machines and complexes that you have not yet used. Customize the operating system settings to suit you and enjoy your work.

Figure 30. Operating system Ubuntu 12.04.

4. Basic operations with a virtual machine.

4.1. Starting a virtual machine

From the start menu, launch the virtualization system:

Start->All Programs->VMwre->VMware workstation

In the window that opens, select the menu item:

File->Open

And select the virtual machine you created (the .vmw file). My virtual machine is located at the following address:

F:/VM Ware/Ubuntu.vmx

Start an open virtual machine using one of the following methods:

4.2. Pausing the virtual machine.

When you finish working with the virtual machine, you can pause it, which will save the state of the virtual machine at the time you finished working, and you can close the virtualization program.

After resuming work (see section 4.1), the virtual machine will appear in front of you in the form in which you finished working with it. This is the most common and convenient way finishing work with the virtual machine.

You can pause the virtual machine in one of the following ways:

4.3. Shutdown the virtual machine.

To shut down the virtual machine, just complete in a standard way operation of the guest operating system. In this case, the virtual machine will end automatically and you can close the virtualization program.

However, there is also an analogue of the computer buttons “Power off” and “reboot”, which allow you to turn off or restart the virtual machine, regardless of the state of the guest operating system. You can turn off virtual machines:

You can reboot the virtual machine:

• select menu item: VM->Power->Reset;
• press the key combination ctrl+R.

However, the most convenient way to complete work with a virtual machine, in my opinion, is to install it on a slot (section 4.2).

4.4. Connecting removable devices to a virtual machine.

You can connect removable devices in the menu:

VM->removable devices

By checking the box next to the required removable devices, you connect them to the virtual machine; by unchecking the box, you disconnect them. As you can see, everything is very simple.

To make it even easier, I’ll give an example of connecting to a virtual machine USB storage:

• connect the USB drive to the computer and after a few seconds in the menu “VM->Removable Devices” a new item will appear with the name of the connected USB drive, in my case it is: Feiya Mass Storage Device;
• check the menu “VM->Removable Devices -> Feiya Mass Storage Device->Connect (Disconnect from Host)”(Figure 31) and after a few seconds a folder with the contents of the USB drive will open on the desktop of your guest operating system (in our case, Ubuntu);

Figure 31. USB connection drive.

For USB disconnect drive, uncheck the box in the same menu.

4.5. Switching between host and guest operating systems.

To switch from the guest operating system to the host operating system, press the key combination ctrl+alt. To return to the guest operating system, click on the window with the guest operating system.

This is quite enough to start working with a virtual machine, and in the future, if you like the capabilities of the new tool, and you will certainly like them, you can easily explore all its capabilities, and I will try to help you in one of the following articles.

Read, how to restore a VMware Workstation virtual machine that has been deleted or the contents of the virtual machine disk. What are the built-in tools of the virtual machine or third party programs use it to restore it. and VMware Player is virtualization software that is designed to allow multiple operating systems to run simultaneously on one physical computer.

VMware is one of the most stable and secure platforms for computer virtualization, which allows a large number of IT specialists, developers and other company specialists to be more flexible and productive in their work.

Content:

VMware Workstation System Files

That is, VMware Workstation is another virtual running operating system inside the operating system of your computer. All files of this operating system (both system and personal user files) are saved on the computer’s hard drive, and by default they are located in the folder:
C:\Users\ Username\Documents\Virtual Machines\ Virtual machine name

Most often, users do not need to know the name and location of the VMware virtual machine files. The program manages its files itself. But there are situations when such knowledge cannot be avoided, for example: if a virtual machine needs to be restored in case of its loss, or restored deleted files from it, etc.

As you can see from the screenshot above, the virtual machine folder consists of a certain set of files. VMware creates such a separate folder for each virtual machine and calls it the name of the virtual machine, which is assigned by the user during the installation of the virtual operating system.

The main files of the virtual machine have the following extensions:

• *.log– VMware Workstation key activity log file. It is used to troubleshoot problems if they occur
• *.nvram– state file and BIOS settings virtual machine
• *.vmdk– a virtual disk file that stores the contents of the virtual machine’s hard disk
  Note. Depending on the VMware settings Workstation, the virtual machine disk can consist of one or more *.vmdk files.
• *.vmem– virtual machine swap file. Created and visible only while the virtual machine is running
• *.vmsd– file of parameters of the current snapshot
• *.vmsn– a snapshot state file that stores the current state of the virtual machine while it is in use
• *.vmss– suspended virtual machine state file
• *.vmtm– configuration file, one of the virtual machine parameters files
• *.vmx– the main configuration file in which all parameters of the virtual machine are stored
• *.vmxf– additional configuration file.

Note. Files with the described extensions are basic. The virtual machine folder may also contain other files and folders, including those that are displayed only while it is running.

How to recover a virtual machine that has been deleted

Accidental deletion, formatting of the computer's hard drive or damage file system, all this can cause data loss. But, as a rule, virtualization software does not offer built-in recovery functions. In this regard, the issue of recovering virtual machine data becomes a rather difficult problem for users.

The previous paragraph of the article describes the main types of files that make up a virtual machine and in which all its data is stored. By restoring them and opening the main configuration file in VMware, which stores all the parameters of the virtual machine, the user has the opportunity to restore the lost virtual machine.

To restore a virtual machine that has been deleted:

How to recover the contents of a VMware virtual machine disk

As we have already stated, all files that are saved on the virtual machine’s disks are located in the .vmdk files of the virtual disk. Recovery program hard data Hetman Partition Recovery disk has the function of mounting virtual disks and recovering data from them.

If for some reason your virtual machine has lost its functionality, and important files were stored on its disks, they can be restored. For this:

How to recover a VMware virtual machine disk file from the virtual machine itself

As a result of the experiments, it was discovered that files that were deleted or lost inside the virtual machine cannot be restored.

VMware Workstation, although it is a virtual machine, can store very real data on it. In this regard, loss of access to a virtual machine or its deletion may become an unpleasant surprise, and the possibility of recovery will save user data from possible irretrievable loss.