Comments on: Installing VMWare Server (and Windows XP) on Ubuntu

By: Jim Kyle

Jim Kyle — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 01:44:16 +0000

While it’s not widely publicized, the VMWare Server Version 2 includes a VNC server in itself that can be enabled by manual editing of the virtual machine’s VMX file. I’m currently using this capability to access my WinXP VM that runs in an Xubuntu 8.04.2 system. Here are the additions to make to the VMX file:

RemoteDisplay.vnc.enabled = “TRUE”
RemoteDisplay.vnc.port = 5900
RemoteDisplay.vnc.password = “password”

Of course, “password” should be replaced by your choice of passwords. Shut down the VM before making these additions, then start it up again after saving them. Now you can use any standard VNC viewer from any box that can connect to the one running VMWare Server, and go directly to your VM. I even use it on the same box, by connecting the VNC viewer to “Localhost:5900″ (and you can use any other port you want, by changing the VMX file entry accordingly).

By: Gopal

Gopal — Tue, 05 May 2009 22:18:41 +0000

Thank you for lucid instructions!

Just completed install on a Dell XPS (laptop, 3GHz, 2GB RAM), running Ubuntu 9.04. Worked just fine.

By: lucidTipster

lucidTipster — Tue, 05 May 2009 18:27:43 +0000

Hi Juan, Below is extract of Networking Basics from VMWare documentation

Bridged networking - Configures your virtual machine as a unique identity on the network, separate from and unrelated to its host. Other computers on the network can communicate directly with the virtual machine. If you are using DHCP your router will assign the guest an IP.

Network address translation (NAT) - Configures your virtual machine to share the IP and MAC addresses of the host. The virtual machine shares the host’s public network identity, and has a private identity that is not visible beyond the host. NAT can be useful when you are allowed a single IP address or MAC address by your router.

By: Juan Fermin

Juan Fermin — Mon, 04 May 2009 17:52:02 +0000

Should the network be bridged or NAT?

By: lucidTipster

lucidTipster — Mon, 04 May 2009 05:09:54 +0000

Hi Casey,

Yes this is doable. Please note that when connecting remotely VMWare automatically defaults to https so ensure you have the correct port forwarded (default is 8333). Good luck.

By: casey

casey — Sat, 02 May 2009 15:13:37 +0000

Once you have the virtual machine installed through the web interface you can continue to use the virtual machine through the web interface from any remote machine, even through the Internet if you open the port on your router. I think this would be more efficient than installing remote desktop or VNC on the the client OS.

cheers
casey

By: lucidTipster

lucidTipster — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 05:54:29 +0000

Hi Angelo,

Yes VMWare Server can be installed on Ubuntu Server. Since you do not have keyboard and monitor on your Ubuntu Server you should be able to SSH to your Ubuntu Server machine and install VMWare Server. After successful installation of VMWare Server you can access VMWare Infrastructure Web Access from any other PC by going to https://ipaddress.of.ubuntu.server:8333 Once you are logged in you can create a new virtual machine and install Windows XP. If you do not have physical access to the Ubuntu Server to insert the Windows XP CD you can copy an ISO image to the Ubuntu Server and then use it for installation. After Windows XP is installed you can enable Remote Desktop or install VNC.

Hope this helps and let me know how it goes.

Good luck!!!

By: Angelo Chen

Angelo Chen — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 06:33:51 +0000

Nice posting, I’d like to know if this possible:

Can Windows XP be installed as a virtual machine in a Ubuntu Server? and can be accessed thru a VNC or something else? the reason is, I have a ubuntu server without keyboard and monitor, and I need a build machine in Windows to do some testing, if XP can be installed there and accessible thru a VNC client, that will be great for software development.