ThoughtPolice VMware Images

Create your own VMware image using VMware Workstation

This is the procedure I use to create VMware images for this site.

You need:

  • VMware Workstation 5.5.x
  • An iso of the install DVD/CD for your distribution

1. Create the hardware

Note: Workstation will choose defaults based on the guest operating system you select. The default below are the defaults for Linux "Other 2.6 kernel".

  1. Start VMware Workstation
  2. Go to New> Virtual Machine.
  3. Click Next.
  4. For "Virtual Machine Configuration", choose "Custom". Click Next.
  5. For "Virtual Machine Format", accept the default: "New . Workstation 5". Click Next.
  6. For "Guest Operating System", choose "Linux", and for "Version" choose "Other 2.6 kernel". Click Next.
    (Obviously, change this if it's not a 2.6 Linux image you are making)
  7. For "Name", enter a sensible name. "Location" will autofill.
  8. For "Number of processors", accept the default: "One". Click Next.
  9. For "Memory", accept the default: "256 MB". Click Next.
  10. For "Network Connection", choose "Network address translation (NAT)". Click Next.
  11. For "I/O Adapter Types", accept the default "LSI Logic". Click Next.
    (If you find this does not work in your installer, start again, and choose BusLogic.)
  12. For "Disk", accept the default "Create a new virtual disk". Click Next.
  13. For "Virtual Disk Type", choose "SCSI". Click Next.
    (If you find this does not work for you in your installer, and you have tried both SCSI adaptor types, start again, and choose IDE here.)
  14. For "Disk Size", accept the default size of "8.0 GB", and accept the default option "Split disk into 2 GB files". Click Next.
  15. For "Disk File", accept the default pre-filled name. Click Finish.

2. Install the Operating System

  1. Go to File> Open and find the VM you just created.
  2. For that VM, choose "Edit virtual machine settings".
  3. For the CD-ROM drive, tick "Connected", and "Use ISO image:", browse to the ISO image of the operating system you wish to install. Click OK.
  4. Power on the virtual machine using the "Power On" button.
  5. Your VM will boot from the ISO you selected.
  6. You must run through the installer as usual. Remember: if it has problems with finding a disk to install on, follow the notes above (try a different SCSI controller, and as a last resort try IDE).

Important: For images on this site, I accept all the default install options if possible, and power off the VM before firstboot configuration.

3. Tidying up

  1. Shut down the VM by typing poweroff, or pressing the "Power off" button when you see the BIOS boot screen.
  2. Edit your VM properties to change the CD-ROM back to "auto-detect". Check the other hardware options, they should read "auto-detect" wherever possible.
  3. For the hard drive, click the "Defragment" button.
  4. Close the VMware Workstation application.

4. Compress the VM

  1. Change to the directory above your VM folder, e.g. cd /home/USERNAME/vmware
  2. Delete the log file, i.e. rm VMWARE-IMAGE/*log
  3. Create a zip archive of the directory, i.e. zip -r VMWARE-IMAGE.zip VMWARE-IMAGE/
  4. You're done!

5. Test

The test will make sure that no hardcoded MAC addresses, etc. will interfere with the VM

  1. Uncompress the VM to two new directories
    unzip -d finaltest1 VMWARE-IMAGE.zip
    unzip -d finaltest2 VMWARE-IMAGE.zip
  2. Load BOTH VMs - at the same time - in Workstation
  3. Test networking and basic functionality

Important: I can't host a VMware image that you create since I can't audit it. Sorry.

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