How to Install VMware Workstation Pro 17 on Ubuntu 24.04

VMware Workstation Pro 17 is a powerful and widely used virtualization tool that allows you to run multiple operating systems simultaneously on a single physical machine. This capability is invaluable for developers, IT professionals, and system administrators who need to test software, manage virtual environments, or work with different operating systems without needing multiple physical machines.

VMware by Broadcom has discontinued the VMware Workstation Player product line and released VMware Workstation Pro 17 (and later versions) for free for personal use. In this article, I will guide you through installing the free VMware Workstation Pro 17 desktop virtualization software on Ubuntu 24.04 LTS.

Enabling Hardware Virtualization from the BIOS/UEFI Firmware

To ensure VMware Workstation Pro functions correctly on Ubuntu 24.04 LTS, you must enable hardware virtualization in your BIOS/UEFI firmware. Here’s how you can do it:

1. Access BIOS/UEFI: Restart your computer and press the appropriate key (usually F2, F10, DEL, or ESC) to enter the BIOS/UEFI settings.
2. Enable Virtualization: Look for settings like “Intel VT-x,” “Intel Virtualization Technology,” or “AMD-V” and enable them.
3. Save and Exit: Save your changes and exit the BIOS/UEFI settings.

To verify that hardware virtualization is enabled on your Ubuntu 24.04 LTS system, run the following command:

egrep -c '(vmx|svm)' /proc/cpuinfo

If the output is greater than 0, hardware virtualization is enabled.

Downloading Free VMware Workstation Pro 17 for Linux Installer

To download the free version of VMware Workstation Pro 17 for Ubuntu 24.04 LTS, follow these steps:

1. Visit the Broadcom Support Website: Go to the official Broadcom support website and navigate to the VMware Workstation Pro download section.
2. Download the Installer: Download the VMware Workstation Pro 17 installer for Linux.

Assuming you have downloaded the installer, it should be located in your ~/Downloads directory.

Installing Free VMware Workstation Pro 17 on Ubuntu 24.04 LTS

To install VMware Workstation Pro 17 on your Ubuntu system, follow these steps:

1. Navigate to the Downloads Directory:

cd ~/Downloads

2. Make the Installer Executable:

chmod +x VMware-Workstation-Full-17.5.2-23775571.x86_64.bundle

3. Run the Installer:

sudo ./VMware-Workstation-Full-17.5.2-23775571.x86_64.bundle

The installation process will take a few moments to complete. Once done, VMware Workstation Pro 17 should be installed on your system.

Compiling the VMware Workstation Pro 17 Kernel Module

After installing VMware Workstation Pro 17, you need to compile the kernel modules for it to function properly. Here’s how:

1. Start VMware Workstation: Attempt to start VMware Workstation Pro. If kernel modules need to be compiled, a prompt will appear.
2. Follow the Prompts: Follow the on-screen instructions to compile the necessary kernel modules.

For detailed instructions on compiling the VMware Workstation Pro kernel modules, you can refer to the official VMware documentation or community forums.

Starting VMware Workstation Pro 17 for the First Time

Once VMware Workstation Pro 17 is installed and the kernel modules are compiled, you can start it from the Application Menu. Follow these steps to complete the initial setup:

1. Launch VMware Workstation Pro: Open VMware Workstation Pro from the Application Menu.
2. Accept the License Agreement: Read and accept the terms of the license agreement.
3. Check for Updates: Choose whether to check for updates on startup.
4. Join the Customer Experience Improvement Program: Decide whether to join the VMware Customer Experience Improvement Program (CEIP).
5. Enter License Key: Select “I want to license VMware Workstation 17 for Personal Use” to use it for free.

Authenticate with your Ubuntu login password if prompted. VMware Workstation Pro 17 should now be ready for use.

Creating and Managing Snapshots in VMware Workstation Pro 17

Snapshots are an essential feature of VMware Workstation Pro, allowing you to save the state of a virtual machine at a particular point in time. This is useful for testing, development, and backup purposes. Here’s how to create and manage snapshots in VMware Workstation Pro 17:

1. Create a Snapshot:
   • Start your virtual machine and ensure it is in the desired state.
   • Navigate to VM > Snapshot > Take Snapshot.
2. Name the Snapshot:
   • Provide a meaningful name and description for the snapshot. This helps identify the snapshot later.
3. Save the Snapshot:
   • Click Take Snapshot. VMware will save the current state of the VM, including the memory state, disk state, and settings.
4. Revert to a Snapshot:
   • To revert a VM to a previous state, navigate to VM > Snapshot > Snapshot Manager.
   • Select the desired snapshot and click Go To. Confirm the action if prompted.
5. Delete a Snapshot:
   • In the Snapshot Manager, select the snapshot you wish to delete and click Delete. Confirm the action. Deleting snapshots frees up disk space but cannot be undone.
6. Manage Snapshots:
   • Use the Snapshot Manager to view, rename, and manage all snapshots associated with a VM. It provides a visual representation of the snapshot hierarchy, making it easy to navigate between different states of the VM.

Snapshots provide a powerful way to manage changes and updates in your virtual machines, offering a safety net for testing and development activities. Regularly creating and managing snapshots can help you quickly recover from any unintended changes or issues.

Conclusion

In this article, I have shown you how to install the free (for personal use) version of VMware Workstation Pro 17 on Ubuntu 24.04 LTS. We covered enabling hardware virtualization, downloading the installer, installing the software, compiling the kernel modules, and running VMware Workstation Pro for the first time. By following these steps, you can take advantage of VMware Workstation Pro’s powerful virtualization capabilities on your Ubuntu system.

Refer to the official VMware documentation and user forums for additional resources, best practices, and real-world examples. Regular updates and maintenance will ensure a smooth virtualization experience.

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