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Run Multiple Operating Systems Concurrently Using VMware

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Running multiple Operating Systems usually costs too much, and needs to keep rebooting each time, which makes installing two or three different Operating Systems a complicated and unlikely process. Multiple commercial and free applications could be used to run multiple OS's, like Microsoft Virtual PC, Apple Boot Camp, and there is free software like VMware server, which we will use in this How-to.

Edit Steps

  1. 1
    Download VMware Server, you can find a free version on their website.
  2. 2
    Install VMware, as simple as installing any program.
  3. 3
    Give your program its first run.
    • On the first run, the program usually asks for a license number, which you could get by request from the website.
  4. 4
    Choose a host. Each time VMware runs, it will ask you to which Host you want to connect, this is very useful if you have a server and you connect to it by entering the IP, in the simple case use the Local Host.

  5. 5
    To add a new operating system, you should make a new image, each image contain one operating system, which is refereed to as "Virtual Machine" in VMware.
    • Example: want to add a Linux Ubuntu image (Virtual machine)
  6. 6
    Click New Virtual machine button

  7. 7
    Choose Typical as the configuration (it has less options, but better for new users)

  8. 8
    In this screen you should select the Guest operating system you want to add, in this example - Linux - Ubuntu

  9. 9
    Choose an appropriate name for the new and its location on the drive

    • Make sure you have enough free space, some OS's like Vista need at least 15 GB.

  10. 10
    Here you choose the network type, if your PC has an IP like 192.168.20.12 on the local network, you can give the new Guest OS a new IP like 192.168.20.11.

    • An easier choice is to use Bridged Networking.

  11. 11
    Next you will specify how much capacity you want to give to the new OS.
  12. 12
    If you think about copying the image to another PC, or laptop for example, you can split the image into 2 GB each, which makes file transfer easier.

    • After done you should see something like this:
      • Note: that there are multiple images running
  13. 13
    Next just Start the new Virtual machine. It will start booting as usual boot, waiting for the OS CD.
  14. 14
    Insert the Ubuntu or your chosen OS and start the install.

  15. 15
    After done with the new OS install, you can run the Guest OS anytime you want, just open the VMware and click the Start Virtual machine.

    • Ubuntu running under Windows XP


Edit Tips

  • You could open the Guest OS in full screen by clicking Ctrl+Alt+Enter, to return to the Host OS click Ctrl+Alt
  • You can add as much images as you want, if you have enough memory (RAM) you can run multiple images concurrently, and switch between them easily.

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Categories: Pictures | VMware Workstation

Recent edits by: Isaaclee99, Mark14, MuthuB

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