Let’s start with the acronym. CentOS stands for Community ENTerprise Linux Operating System, a well-known open-source Linux distribution managed by the RedHat Community. CentOS was first released back in May 2004 as CentOS v2. Later in January 2014, it was officially joined RedHat while staying independent from RHEL. However, now CentOS is recognized as an RHEL without official product support. You can use CentOS as an alternative to RHEL as both CentOS and RHEL share the same source code. Those who want to try RHEL can try CentOS. Before giving it a try, you should install it on your local machine. Instead of directly installing CentOS on your machine, we recommend installing CentOS Linux on VMWare Workstation.
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CentOS Stream vs. CentOS Linux
In February 2021, RedHat made a big announcement on CentOS. Which led to some confusion within the Linux community for some time. RedHat announced that it would discontinue CentOS Linux as downstream to RHEL. Instead of that, it would continue the CentOS stream which is the upstream version of RHEL. This made some people presume that CentOS will no longer be available.
Both CentOS Linux and CentOS Streem are open-source Linux distros and part of the overall enterprise Linux ecosystem. CentOS is going to be the open-source development platform for upcoming releases of RHEL. Where CentOS Linux is the same open-source development platform derived from the source code of RHEL.
According to RedHat, the open-source development cycle of RHEL is:
- Fedora: The upstream project on which future Red Hat Enterprise Linux major releases are based.
- CentOS Stream: A preview of upcoming Red Hat Enterprise Linux minor versions.
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux: The official, hardened, and fully supported enterprise operating system product.
- CentOS Linux: A community-supported and -produced Linux distro derived from source code released by Red Hat.
Prerequisites To Install CentOS Linux On VMWare Workstation:
To install CentOs Linux on VMWare Workstation you just need a physical machine, VMWare Workstation Pro or Player, and CentOS ISO image.
- A host system with minimum:
- 8 GB of memory
- A quad core CPU
- 500 GB of Hard Drive
- VMWare Workstation Pro or Player application:0
- CentOS Operating System ISO image to install on VMWare Workstation.
How To Install CentOS Linux On VMWare Workstation?
Time needed: 30 minutes.
Anyway, from the user front, if you just want to deploy CentOS, you really need to worry about either CentOS Linux or CentOS Stream. It’s just a matter of release time frame. Considering that we have created this post for those who want to try CentOS by installing it on VMWare Workstation. Let’s get started.
- 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.
- 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 Virtual Machine Hardware Compatibilityrkstation
Go with the default option if you don’t have the choice.
- Select the Operating System Media
Select ‘I will install the operating system later’ for an interactive installation.
- Select Guest Operating System
- Name the Virtual Machine Name and location
Type a name and give the location details.
- Allocate the Processors
Assign the processors, Calculate the processor required to run the host machine. Assign the leftover resources to the virtual machine.
- 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.
- Choose the Network Configuration
Select any one of the network configurations as per your requirement.
- Select the I/O Controller Type
- Select Disk Type
- Select Virtual Disk
Select the Virtual Disk if you have or create one.
- 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.
- Specify Virtual Disk File
- Create Virtual Machine
- Supply centOS ISO Image to Virtual Machine
Download CentOS image. Edit the CD/DVD settings and import the downloaded Ubuntu image.
- Install CentOS on VMWare Workstation
- Power On the Virtual Machine
Press the Play button to power on the Virtual Machine.
- Welcome CentOS Virtual Machine
After initiating the installation. You will be treated with a welcome screen on which you will see the option to select the language. Select your language and click Continue.
- Configure the required installation settings
Set the Keyboard, Language supports, Time and Date settings, Software package selections for installation, root password, Installation media, and disk partition information to proceed with installation of CentOS.
- Partition the Disk
Select Erase the Disk for auto partition. Or Select the Advance option to create the custom partition.
- Set root account password
- Begin Installation after setting up all the required settings
- Installation of CentOS is in Progress
- Reboot Virtual Machine
Reboot the machine after installation.
- Remove the installation media
Remove the installation media before reboot.
- Read and accept the License Information and create a user account if needed.
- Create a user account.
- This will finish the configuration wizard
Click Finish Configuration to continue.
- Sign In with user account
- Select Language
You will be treated with a screen to select the language. Select your language then click Next.
- Select your keyboard then click Next.
- Toggle Location Services either to ON or OFF as per your requirement.
- You can connect this VM to your online accounts. However, this is an optional step. We have skipped this in the demonstration.
- That’s all. Now, we are ready to go!!!
- Installation of CentOS is done on VMWare Workstation.
This is how you should install CentOS Linux on VMWare Workstation. We hope this tutorial post will help you in installing CentOS 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 Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Telegram, Tumblr, Medium & Instagram, and subscribe to receive updates like this.
Frequently Asked Questions:
CentOS Linux is a free, open-source, enterprise-class Linux distribution derived from the sources of Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL). It is designed to provide a stable, secure, and high-performance platform for running various applications and services.
VMware Workstation is a virtualization software developed by VMware that allows users to create and run multiple virtual machines on a single host computer. It supports various operating systems, including Windows, Linux, and macOS, enabling users to test, develop, and run applications in different environments without the need for multiple physical machines.
Yes, you can install CentOS Linux on VMware Workstation by following the step-by-step procedure provided in the guide. This will allow you to run CentOS Linux as a virtual machine on your host computer, enabling you to use its features and applications alongside your existing operating system.
To install CentOS Linux on VMware Workstation, you will need:
1. A compatible host computer running Windows or Linux
2. VMware Workstation 15 or later
3. At least 2 GB of RAM (4 GB recommended) for the CentOS virtual machine
4. At least 20 GB of free disk space for the CentOS virtual machine
5. A CentOS Linux ISO file or installation media
Yes, you can install CentOS Linux alongside your existing operating system using VMware Workstation. By creating a virtual machine for CentOS Linux, you can run both operating systems simultaneously without the need for partitioning or dual-booting.
Yes, you can access the internet from your CentOS Linux virtual machine on VMware Workstation. By default, VMware Workstation configures your virtual machine to use NAT (Network Address Translation), which allows your virtual machine to share your host computer’s internet connection.
To share files between your host computer and the CentOS Linux virtual machine, you can use the “Shared Folders” feature in VMware Workstation. This allows you to create a shared folder on your host computer that can be accessed from the CentOS Linux virtual machine.
Yes, you can use USB devices with your CentOS Linux virtual machine on VMware Workstation. When you connect a USB device to your host computer, VMware Workstation will prompt you to choose whether to connect the device to your host computer or the CentOS Linux virtual machine.
To update CentOS Linux on your VMware Workstation virtual machine, open a terminal window and run the following commands:sudo yum update sudo yum upgrade
This will update the packages and system components of your CentOS Linux virtual machine to the latest versions.
Yes, you can install various Linux distributions, such as Ubuntu, Fedora, and Debian, on VMware Workstation. You can create multiple virtual machines, each running a different Linux distribution, and switch between them as needed.
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Installing CentOS Linux on VMware Workstation is a straightforward process. Here's a step-by-step guide:
**Step 1: Download CentOS ISO Image**
1. Visit the official CentOS website (https://www.centos.org/download/) and download the CentOS ISO image that corresponds to your desired version (e.g., CentOS 7 or CentOS 8).
**Step 2: Create a New Virtual Machine**
1. Open VMware Workstation.
2. Click on "Create a New Virtual Machine" or go to File > New > Virtual Machine.
**Step 3: Virtual Machine Configuration**
1. Choose "Custom (advanced)" configuration and click "Next."
2. Select the "Installer disc image file (iso)" option.
3. Browse and locate the CentOS ISO image you downloaded earlier.
4. Click "Next."
**Step 4: Guest Operating System**
1. Select "Linux" as the guest operating system.
2. Choose the appropriate version for CentOS (e.g., "CentOS 7" or "CentOS 8").
3. Click "Next."
**Step 5: Virtual Machine Name**
1. Enter a name for your virtual machine.
2. Choose a location to store the virtual machine files.
3. Click "Next."
**Step 6: Processor Configuration**
1. Set the number of processors and cores per processor for your virtual machine.
2. Click "Next."
**Step 7: Memory Configuration**
1. Set the amount of memory (RAM) for your virtual machine.
2. It's recommended to allocate at least 1 GB for CentOS.
3. Click "Next."
**Step 8: Network Type**
1. Choose the appropriate network type for your needs (e.g., Bridged, NAT, etc.).
2. Click "Next."
**Step 9: I/O Controller Types**
1. Accept the default SCSI controller type.
2. Click "Next."
**Step 10: Disk Configuration**
1. Choose "Create a new virtual disk" and click "Next."
2. Specify the disk size (GB) and choose whether to store it as a single file or split into multiple files.
3. Click "Next."
**Step 11: Disk File**
1. Choose a location to store the virtual disk file.
2. Enter a name for the disk file.
3. Click "Next."
**Step 12: Ready to Create Virtual Machine**
1. Review your virtual machine configuration settings.
2. Click "Finish" to create the virtual machine.
**Step 13: Start and Install CentOS**
1. In VMware Workstation, select your newly created virtual machine.
2. Click "Power on this virtual machine" to start it.
3. The CentOS installation process should begin. Follow the on-screen prompts to install CentOS.
**Step 14: Complete CentOS Installation**
1. Set the language, time zone, and keyboard layout.
2. Configure the installation destination (you can use the default settings).
3. Create a root password and set up user accounts.
4. Complete the installation process.
**Step 15: Install VMware Tools (Optional but Recommended)**
After CentOS is installed, it's a good idea to install VMware Tools for better integration and performance:
1. In the VMware Workstation menu, go to VM > Install VMware Tools.
2. Follow the on-screen instructions to mount the VMware Tools ISO and install it within the virtual machine.
3. Reboot the virtual machine after installing VMware Tools.
That's it! You've successfully installed CentOS Linux on VMware Workstation. Make sure to keep your CentOS installation updated and secure by applying regular updates and configuring necessary services as needed.
Excellent!
Network boot from VMware VMXNET3
Copyright (C) 2003 2012 VMware. Inc.
Copyright (C) 1997-2000 Intel Corporation
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PXE-E53: No boot filename received
PXE-M0F: Exiting Intel PXE ROM.
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Select your Virtual Machine. Click on “Edit Virtual Machine Settings” > Click “CD/DVD”. Under the Device Status make sure “connected” and “connect at power on” options are checked.