How to Install VMware Workstation Player on Ubuntu Linux
Installing VMware Workstation Player on Ubuntu Linux involves downloading the installer and running it from the command line.
VMware Workstation Player is a free tool that lets you run other operating systems, like Windows, on your Ubuntu computer as if they were separate machines. This is called a virtual machine.
You’ll need a 64-bit processor and at least 2 GB of RAM to install it, though 4 GB or more will make your virtual machines run much smoother.
The installation uses a special installer file that you run with a single command in your Ubuntu terminal. This gets your virtual setup working quickly.
Install VMware Workstation Player on Ubuntu by first updating packages and installing dependencies with `sudo apt update && sudo apt install wget gcc build-essential linux-headers-generic linux-headers-$(uname -r)`. Then download the installer, make it executable with `chmod +x `, and run it using `./`.
How to install packages on Ubuntu Linux
To do that, run the commands below.
sudo apt update sudo apt install wget gcc build-essential linux-headers-generic linux-headers-$(uname -r)
How to download and install VMware Player
To install VMware Player on Ubuntu, you’ll need to download the installer file from VMware’s website first. Then, open your terminal and use a simple command to complete the VMware Player Ubuntu installation. You can find the download link on VMware’s site, or use commands in the terminal to get the latest version.
https://my.vmware.com/web/vmware/downloads
Alternatively, run the commands below to download the latest version of VMware Workstation Player on the terminal console.
cd /tmp wget --user-agent="Mozilla/5.0 (X11; Ubuntu; Linux x86_64; rv:91.0) Gecko/20100101 Firefox/91.0" https://www.vmware.com/go/getplayer-linux
After downloading the above, run the commands below to make the package executable and install VMware Workstation Player.
chmod +x getplayer-linux sudo ./getplayer-linux
In Ubuntu, the installation will be run non-interactively. This means you won’t have to complete an installation wizard.
After a brief moment, the installation should complete with a success message similar to the one below. Once you see the message below, you’re done.
Extracting VMware Installer...done.
Installing VMware Player 16.1.2
Configuring...
[######################################################################] 100%
Installation was successful.
After the installation above, launch VMware Workstation Player from the Activities Dashboard. Click the Show Application button at the bottom left.
On the app’s dashboard, search for and select VMware Player.
Once you click on the app, it will open its Welcome wizard. Accept the license terms to continue.
Accept to check for product updates on startup and continue
For personal use, choose “Use VMWare Player free for non-commercial use.” If you use it commercially, you should purchase a license key and enter it here or do it after installing the program.
Click Finish
After that, the VMware Player console should open, ready to create guest machines.
The first thing you’ll want to do is update VMware Player components. To do that, click File and select Player Preferences.
That should do it!
Conclusion:
This article explains how to install and use VMware Workstation Player on Ubuntu Linux. Readers can report errors or suggest additions using the comment form on the website, which is part of the Ubuntu Linux installation guide.
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About the Author
Richard
Tech Writer, IT Professional
Richard, a writer for Geek Rewind, is a tech enthusiast who loves breaking down complex IT topics into simple, easy-to-understand ideas. With years of hands-on experience in system administration and enterprise IT operations, he’s developed a knack for offering practical tips and solutions. Richard aims to make technology more accessible and actionable. He's deeply committed to the Geek Rewind community, always ready to answer questions and engage in discussions.
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