Installing VMware Workstation 8

What is VMware Workstation 8?

VMware Workstation 8 is a software application that allows users to create virtual machines and install other operating systems like Linux, UNIX, Windows, Solaris, etc. inside those virtual machines. Virtual machines are the virtual computers which reside inside the physical computers and work as real computers with almost identical features and flexibilities. VMware Workstation 8 is mostly used in production environments where organizations use one physical computer with higher configuration and have an operating system installed on it. Several other operating systems are then installed inside the virtual machines that are created using VMware Workstation 8. This eliminates the requirement of having several physical PCs to perform different tasks which are otherwise required in case virtual machines are not used. In other words, multiple virtual computers in one physical computer are quite easy to manage and maintain while saving decent amount of funds at the same time.

Another advantage that organizations and/or administrators may get while using virtual machines created in VMware Workstation 8 is that they can install guest operating systems of different platforms, for example Linux, Windows and Solaris, on a single physical computer. All these guest operating systems of different platforms can be mapped to the host operating system to establish a full-fledged small-scale network infrastructure inside a single computer.

Operating systems installed on virtual machines are technically known as Guest Operating Systems whereas in respect with these guest operating systems, operating system that the physical computer has is known as Host Operating System. In the same way physical computer is known as Host Machine or Host Computer whereas virtual machines created inside the Host Computer are known as Guest Machines or Guest Computers.

Who is VMware Workstation 8 for?

VMware Workstation 8 is used in production environments where organizations want to use single physical computer to create and run multiple virtual machines in order to save time and money. VMware Workstation 8 is also used by IT students who cannot afford to create a lab of 8 – 10 computers for their practices. With the help of VMware Workstation 8 they can create and run multiple virtual machines and can prepare a virtual lab right inside their physical computers.

Before Installing VMware Workstation 8

Minimum requirement to install VMware Workstation 8 on any host computer is that the host computer must have 64-bit processor. It is strongly recommended that a 64-bit host operating system must be installed in order to experience optimum results from VMware Workstation 8.

When users create a virtual machine in VMware Workstation 8.0 and any guest operating system is installed on it, RAM provided to the virtual machine shares the physical memory or physical RAM that is installed on the host computer. Therefore it is recommended that the host machine must have sufficient amount of RAM (4 GB or more) to allow administrators to create and run multiple guest machines simultaneously.

How to Install VMware Workstation 8?

Following are the steps that can be followed to install VMware Workstation 8 on a running 64-bit Windows 7 host operating system on a 64-bit computer:

1. Log on to Windows 7 computer with the account that has administrative privileges.
2. Double-click on VMware Workstation 8 executable file to initiate the installation process.
3. On User Account Control confirmation box click Yes to continue.
4. On Welcome to the installation wizard of VMware Workstation page click Next to proceed.
5. On Setup Type page click Typical option on the screen. Alternatively Custom option can be clicked if administrators have prior experience with earlier versions of VMware Workstation.
   

   Typical Option for New Users

6. On Destination Folder page leave everything as default and click Next to continue.
7. On Software Updates page make sure that Check for product updates on startup checkbox is checked and click Next button.
8. On User Experience Improvement Program page check or uncheck Help improve VMware Workstation as required and click Next to continue. This checkbox, when checked, sends anonymous usage statics to VMware which helps them to improve the quality of the product gradually.
9. On Shortcuts page choose the appropriate checkboxes to create shortcut icons at the desired locations and click Next to continue.
10. On Ready to Perform the Requested Operations page click Continue button to start the installation.
11. On Enter License Key page enter the product key to avail full features of VMware Workstation 8 for unlimited amount of time. Optionally Skip button can be clicked if the product is downloaded for testing purpose and its key is not available. Clicking Skip will install VMware Workstation 8 as a trial version for limited time period.
12. On Setup Wizard Complete page click Finish button and click Yesbutton on the appeared box to restart computer.
    

    Installing VMware Workstation 8

Related Information

Follow the link below to know more about VMware Workstation 8

http://www.vmware.com/products/workstation/new.html

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