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Procedure to Install Ubuntu Linux on VMWare Workstation

As more as the technology develops it gives more flexibility, usability, and portability. With the introduction of cross-platform technology like virtualization and remote computing, any program can be run on any platform irrespective of compatibility. Hardware virtualizations allows to create a fully working virtual machine on any platform. VMWare Workstation is one such hardware visualization platform available in the market on which any virtual machines can be created. In this post, we will show you how to install Ubuntu Linux on VMWare Workstation to create a full-fledge working Ubuntu Linux virtual machine.

What Is Ubuntu?

Ubuntu is one of the popular Linux distributions developed on the Debian Linux platform. Ubuntu is a full operating system available in multiple editions: Desktop edition, Servers edition, IoT, and Cloud. These editions can run on either a computer or virtual machines.

What Is VMWare Workstation?

VMWare Workstation is an application developed by VMWare to create virtual machines, containers, and Kubernetes clusters on any desktop or server system. VMWare released VMWare Workstation in two products: VMWare Workstation Pro and VMWare Workstation Player. VMWare Workstation Player is released on a free license with limited features, whereas VMWare Workstation Pro is an enterprise paid version that has loaded with a lot of features. Full documentation is published on the VMWare portal for free. Refer the documentation from here.

  1. VMware Workstation Pro Documentation Center
  2. VMware Workstation Player Documentation Center

Prerequisites To Install Ubuntu On VMWare Workstation:

To install Ubuntu Linux on VMWare Workstation you just need a physical machine, VMWare Workstation Pro or Player, and Ubuntu Linux ISO image.

  1. A host system with minimum:
    1. 8 GB of memory
    2. A quad core CPU
    3. 500 GB of Hard Drive
  2. VMWare Workstation Pro or Player application:0
    1. Download VMWare Workstation
  3. Ubuntu Operating System to install on VMWare Workstation.
    1. Download Ubuntu Linux

How To Install Ubuntu Linux On VMWare Workstation?

Time needed: 30 minutes

How to Install Ubuntu Linux on VMWare Workstation?

  1. Fier up VMWare Workstation

    Download the VMWare Workstation application for your host operating system and install it on your machine. The installation procedure is pretty simple and straight. Read the documentation for more details. Open the app after installation. Create a new Virtual Machine.


    Create a new Virtual Machine on VMWare Workstation

  2. Select Custom Configuration Wizard

    You can choose either Typical or Custom Wizard. We recommend selecting Custom if you want to install with all the configurations. If you are okay with default configurations then go ahead with Typical configurations.


    Select Custom Configuration Wizard

  3. Select Virtual Machine Hardware Compatibility

    Go with the default option if you don’t have the choice.


    Select Virtual Machine Hardware Compatibility

  4. Select the Operating System Media

    Select ‘I will install the operating system later’ for an interactive installation.


    Select the operating system media

  5. Select Guest Operating System



    Select guest operating system

  6. Name the Virtual Machine Name and location


    Type a name and give the location details.


    Name the Virtual Machine Name and location

  7. Allocate the Processors

    Assign the processors, Calculate the processor required to run the host machine. Assign the leftover resources to the virtual machine.


    Assign the Processors

  8. Allocate the Memory for Virtual Machine

    Memory allocation calculation is the same as the processor allocation. Leave sufficient memory for the host system and allocate the remaining memory for the virtual machine.


    Allocate the Memory for Virtual Machine

  9. Choose the Network Configuration

    Select any one of the network configurations as per your requirement.

    Choose the Network Configuration

  10. Select the I/O Controller Type



    Select the IO Controller Type

  11. Select Disk Type



    Select Disk Type

  12. Select Virtual Disk

    Select the Virtual Disk if you have or create one.


    Select Virtual Disk

  13. Select Disk Capacity

    Select the disk size. Selecting a single disk will increase the performance. However, selecting a split disk will help in the disk transfer scenario.


    Select Disk Capacity

  14. Specify Virtual Disk File



    Specify Virtual Disk File

  15. Create Virtual Machine



    Create Virtual Machine

  16. Supply Ubuntu ISO Image to Virtual Machine

    Download Ubuntu image. Edit the CD/DVD settings and import the downloaded Ubuntu image.

    Supply Ubuntu ISO Image

  17. Install Ubuntu Linux on VMWare Workstation



    Install Ubuntu Linux on VMWare Workstation

  18. Power On the Virtual Machine

    Press the Play button to power on the Virtual Machine.


    Power On the Virtual Machine

  19. Welcome Ubuntu Virtual Machine

    After powering on the Virtual machine, you will be treated with a welcome screen on which you will see two options: Try Ubuntu and Install Ubuntu. Select Try Ubuntu if you want to run Ubuntu in live mode. Select Install to continue the installation process.


    Welcome Ubuntu Virtual Machine

  20. Select Keyboard Layout



    Select Keyboard Layout

  21. Software Update and Package Selection in Virtual Machine



    Software Update and Package Selection in Virtual Machine

  22. Partition the Disk

    Select Erase the Disk for auto partition. Or Select the Advance option to create the custom partition.


    Partition the Disk

  23. Write Changes to Disk



    Write Changes to Disk

  24. Select Time Zone



    Select Time Zone

  25. Create an Admin Account



    Create an Admin Account

  26. Installation of Ubuntu in Progress



    Installation of Ubuntu in Progress

  27. Reboot Virtual Machine

    Reboot the machine after installation.


    Reboot Virtual Machine

  28. Remove the installation media

    Remove the installation media before reboot.


    Remove the installation media

  29. Boot Ubuntu



    Boot Ubuntu

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This is how you should install Ubuntu Linux on VMWare Workstation. We hope this tutorial post will help you in installing Ubuntu Linux on VMWare Workstation. Thanks for reading this post. Please share this post and help to secure the digital world. Visit our social media page on FacebookLinkedInTwitterTelegramTumblr, & Medium and subscribe to receive updates like this.

Frequently Asked Questions:

1. What is VMware Workstation?

VMware Workstation is a virtualization software that enables users to create and manage multiple virtual machines (VMs) on a single physical computer. It allows users to run multiple operating systems simultaneously, such as Windows, Linux, and macOS, without the need for dual-booting or partitioning the hard drive.

2. Why should I install Ubuntu Linux on VMware Workstation?

Installing Ubuntu Linux on VMware Workstation provides several benefits, including:


1. Testing new software or configurations without risking the host operating system
2. Running multiple operating systems on a single computer
3. Learning and practicing Linux without affecting your existing OS
4. Developing and testing cross-platform applications

3. What are the system requirements for installing Ubuntu Linux on VMware Workstation?

To install Ubuntu Linux on VMware Workstation, ensure that your system meets the following requirements:


1. A compatible 64-bit host operating system (Windows or Linux)
2. A minimum of 2 GB RAM (4 GB or more recommended)
3. At least 20 GB of free disk space for the virtual machine
4. A compatible processor with virtualization support (Intel VT-x or AMD-V)

4. How do I create a new virtual machine in VMware Workstation?

To create a new virtual machine in VMware Workstation:


1. Open VMware Workstation and click “Create a New Virtual Machine” on the home tab.
2. Choose “Custom (Advanced)” and click “Next.”
3. Select the hardware compatibility and click “Next.”
4. Browse to the Ubuntu Linux ISO file and click “Next.”
5. Choose “Linux” as the guest operating system and select “Ubuntu” as the version.
6. Name the virtual machine and specify its location on your hard drive.
7. Allocate disk space and choose whether to store the virtual disk as a single file or split into multiple files.
8. Customize the virtual machine’s hardware settings, such as memory, processors, and network adapters.
9. Click “Finish” to create the virtual machine.

5. How do I install Ubuntu Linux on the virtual machine?

To install Ubuntu Linux on the virtual machine:


1. Start the virtual machine in VMware Workstation.
2. Follow the prompts in the Ubuntu Linux installer, selecting your language, keyboard layout, and time zone.
3. Choose your installation type (e.g., “Normal installation” or “Minimal installation”) and click “Continue.”
4. Select the installation destination (e.g., “Erase disk and install Ubuntu”) and click “Install Now.”
5. Confirm the changes to the disk and click “Continue.”
6. Create a user account, enter your name, computer name, username, and password, then click “Continue.”
7. Wait for the installation to complete, and click “Restart Now” when prompted.

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6. How do I access the Ubuntu Linux virtual machine after installation?

To access the Ubuntu Linux virtual machine after installation:


1. Open VMware Workstation and select the virtual machine from the library.
2. Click “Power on this virtual machine.”
3. Enter your username and password when prompted to log in to Ubuntu Linux.

7. Can I transfer files between my host operating system and the Ubuntu Linux virtual machine?

Yes, you can transfer files between your host operating system and the Ubuntu Linux virtual machine using features like drag-and-drop or shared folders. To enable these features, you must first install VMware Tools on the virtual machine.

8. How do I install VMware Tools on the Ubuntu Linux virtual machine?

To install VMware Tools on the Ubuntu Linux virtual machine:


1. Power on the virtual machine and log in to Ubuntu Linux.
2. In the VMware Workstation menu, click “VM > Install VMware Tools.”
3. Open the file manager in Ubuntu Linux and navigate to the “/media” directory.
4. Locate and open the “VMware Tools” CD image.
5. Copy the “VMwareTools-<version>.tar.gz” file to your home directory.
6. Extract the contents of the file by right-clicking it and selecting “Extract Here.”
7. Open a terminal and navigate to the extracted “vmware-tools-distrib” directory using the “cd” command.
8. Run the installer by entering “sudo ./vmware-install.pl” and follow the prompts.
9. Restart the virtual machine after the installation is complete.


Once VMware Tools is installed, you can enable drag-and-drop, shared folders, and other features from the VMware Workstation settings.

9. How do I enable shared folders between my host operating system and the Ubuntu Linux virtual machine?

To enable shared folders between your host operating system and the Ubuntu Linux virtual machine:


1. Ensure that VMware Tools is installed on the virtual machine.
2. In VMware Workstation, select the virtual machine and click “Edit virtual machine settings.”
3. Click the “Options” tab and select “Shared Folders.”
4. Choose “Always enabled” or “Enabled until next power off or suspend.”
5. Click “Add” to create a new shared folder, specify the folder path on the host operating system, and assign a name for the folder.
6. Configure folder attributes (e.g., read-only or read-write access) and click “OK.”
7. Click “OK” again to save the settings.


Now, you can access the shared folder from the Ubuntu Linux virtual machine by navigating to “/mnt/hgfs/<shared_folder_name>.”

10. Can I use the Ubuntu Linux virtual machine offline or without an internet connection?

Yes, you can use the Ubuntu Linux virtual machine offline or without an internet connection. However, you may not be able to access certain features or software updates that require an internet connection.

11. Can I create snapshots of the Ubuntu Linux virtual machine?

Yes, you can create snapshots of the Ubuntu Linux virtual machine in VMware Workstation. Snapshots allow you to save the current state of the virtual machine, including the operating system, applications, and data, and revert to that state later if needed. To create a snapshot, right-click the virtual machine in the library and select “Take Snapshot” or use the “VM > Snapshot > Take Snapshot” menu option.

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About the author

Arun KL

Hi All, I am Arun KL, an IT Security Professional. Founder of “thesecmaster.com”. Enthusiast, Security Blogger, Technical Writer, Editor, Author at TheSecMaster. To know more about me. Follow me on LinkedIn

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