Here are the 10 how-to’s in VMware 6.5.1 you must know. This makes desktop virtualization with VMware easy and simple. Step by step methods explains with screen shot examples.
What is virtualization?
In understandable format, virtualization is like buying hardware parts from computer shop and assembling a computer where as in virtualization you are utilizing physical computer’s hardware and software to make logical (Virtual) computers in physical computer. You can create more than one virtual machine which depends on physical hardware resources, mainly processor, RAM and hard disk. Virtualization solutions for desktop virtualization or server virtualization helps to reduce the hardware costs, power consumptions, space requirements and managements expenses.
Virtualization application: VMware
VMware is the legend in virtualization applications. They have desktop virtualization and server virtualization software. Microsoft Virtual PC and Sun Virtual box are other famous and latest desktop virtualization applications. In this article you can find some useful best how to’s in VMware workstation 6.5.1 virtualization application.
1) How to install Windows 7 in VMware 6.5.1?
Windows 7 is not listed in Microsoft operating systems list in VMware 6.5.1, but still you can select the Windows Vista OS to install Windows 7 in VMware. Also you can install the Vista VMware tools on Windows 7 Virtual machine.
2) How to install Mac in VMware 6.5.1?
Check this article Mac on VMware
3) How to press Ctrl+Alt+Del in Virtual machine?
If VMware tools installed in Virtual machine, when you press Ctrl+Alt+Del first you will get the host’s (Physical computer) task manager and then guest’s (Virtual machine) task manager. To avoid this complication you can do it properly bye following methods,
a) Press Ctrl+Alt+Insert when you working on virtual machine, so it will bring virtual machine’s task manager.
b) Go to ‘VM’ in tool bar and click ‘Send Ctrl+Alt+Del’. It will bring virtual machine’s task manager.
4) How to Access USB drive in VMware virtual machine?
Click on ‘VM’ go to ‘Removal Devices’ then select the USB drive you want to connect to virtual machine.
If USB drive already connected to virtual machine, then you can see a ‘tick’ mark as shown in Sound card in front of Imation Nano Pro (USB drive). But in this example Imation Nano Pro USB drive not connected to virtual machine. There for you have select ‘Connect (Disconnect from Host)’. This will disconnect the USB drive from Host computer and connect to virtual machine. If the USB drive is busy in host operating system then you can’t connect to Guest.
To connect back to Host computer OS you can follow the same steps that time you have to select ‘Disconnect (Connect to Host)’ option.
5) How to Access Host’s Physical Hard disk in VMware virtual PC?
Check this article in Desktop virtualization- Access Physical hard disk in VMware Virtual Machine
6) How to make clone in VMware 6.5.1?
Clone, is making a virtual machine from an existing virtual machine with exact configurations, installed applications…etc. It’s like taking a photo copy of a paper. You take photo copy of a virtual machine.
Two types of Clones available in VMware 6.5.1
1) Linked Clone
2) Full Clone.
What is Linked Clone in VMware Virtualization Application?
Linked clone means, a clone settings file will be created with referring to original Virtual machine. After you created the Linked clone, all further settings and modifications will be saved in linked clone VMware file, but the original Virtual machine will be remain same. This method helps in saving disk space for clone virtual machines. At the same time linked clone virtual machines cannot be run if original virtual machine moved or deleted from the original location, because linked clones will be looking for original virtual machine.
For example,
If you have a 10GB Windows XP virtual machine and you want to create another 3 same 10 GB Windows XP virtual machines.
In full clone; you need 10GB x 3 =30GB + original 10GB Windows XP
In Linked clone; it may take approximately 300MB x 3 = 900MB + original Windows XP
But each linked clone machines file sizes will increase when you do any changes, installations.
What is Full Clone in VMware?
Full clone is making exact clone from original machine. After you have taken the clone, there will not be any referring or connections to original virtual machine. Whether if you move or delete the original virtual machine, the full clone virtual machine will work fine.
To make a clone in VMware 6.5.1, follow the steps
a) Right click on Virtual machine in side bar, select ‘Clone’ then Next.
b) Here you can select the original virtual machine’s state to take a clone. First option will take the current state of the virtual machine, second option to select from any snapshots of the virtual machine which were taken when powered off. In this example, I can take a clone of the original machine when I created snapshot after installed SP1 or current status.
c) Select the clone type linked clone or full clone, choose the location and Finish.
7) How to run VMware Virtual machine’s programs in Host’s PC desktop using unity mode in VMware?
Do you want to run VMware guest PC’ programs on Host PC desktop? It can be done by unity mode in VMware. In the below example you can see XP (Host) calculator and Vista (Guest) calculator on XP (Host) desktop.
To enable Unity in VMware, go to View in the tool bar and select Unity. Then you can access Guest machine’s programs by one extra button just top of Host’s start button.
To exit from unity, go to VMware guest PC and press Exit button.
How to change machine ID for virtual machine?
When one virtual machine created by clone from original machine by Virtualization application VMware, the operating system of cloned virtual machine keeps the same machine ID ( An unique ID for system). This same machine ID for more than one computer will create problem when doing network, domain joining. You must change the machine ID in clone virtual machine to avoid network confliction.
To change the machine ID, download the following tool from Microsoft and run in clone virtual machine.
Change Machine ID for virtual machine with New SID
9) How to share Host’s Internet (Proxy) connection in Guest Virtual machine?
If guest Virtual machine requires Host machine’s internet connection, you can do by following method,
a) Change the guest network to NAT, as shown below;
b) Set the guest machine network IP to DHCP.
c) Once guest machine connected; make sure its communicating to your physical internet proxy server by pinging. Don’t confuse by the IP scheme difference in Virtual machine and proxy server.
d) That’s it, add the proxy server in virtual machine internet browser and start using internet in virtual machine. No any additional setup required in proxy server or host machine.
10) How to run unattended installation for new virtual machine?
You can run unattended installation very easily in VMware 6.5.1 regardless you select typical or custom mode. This unattended installation called ‘Easy Install’ in VMware. Once you select the guest OS installation source either by CD/DVD or ISO image, it automatically detects the OS and prompts for product key and administrator user name and password.
Other screens are usual, and once you start the virtual machine it installs automatically without any user inputs. Easy Install really makes easy installation.
Virtualization Application VMware Download your copy
Good information about unity in VMware.
Thanks