This post demonstrates the basic concepts of virtualization, we have chosen to install VMware server on minimum installation of Linux (CentOS). This solution provides a reduced host O/S overhead, this will allow more disk and memory resources to be allocated for our virtual machines.

VMware recommends that Server should only host between two and four virtual servers. This provides a more than adequate solution for small and medium business looking to consolidate their server infrastructure.
CentOS is a Linux distribution that is based on Red Hat Enterprise Linux.

Before contining, you will need to download CentOS ISOs, which is available as a free down from: http://www.centos.org

To install CentOS 5 in text mode, type linux text at the command line and press enter.

linux text

Use the tab and enter keys to navigate around the wizard.
Install the following packages:

• Base
• Developement Libraries
• Developement Tools
• Server Configuration Tools

Remember to make a note of root’s password.

After the installation is complete and the server has rebooted, log on as root and update the server using the following commands:

yum list updates
yum update

Install the xinetd package using the following command:

yum install xinetd

Check the kernel version, type the following command and make a note of the version:

uname –r

The output will look similar to this 2.6.18.92.el5

Check that the installed kernel –devel package corresponds to your current kernel version.

yum list installed kernel-devel*

Using a computer with an Internet connection, download the Linux version of VMware server 2 from: http://www.vmware.com/download/server/

Burn downloaded .tar.gz file to CD.

Create a CD mount point:

cd mnt
mkdir cdrom

Insert the CD and mount it using the following command

mount /dev/hdc /mnt/cdrom

Unzip the file on server the CD to the tmp directory. Then un-mount the CD.

cd /tmp
tar zxf /mnt/cdrom/VMware-console-<version>.tar.gz
umount /mnt/cdrom

Run the installation script.

cd vmware-console-distrib
./vmware-install.pl

Accept the defaults.

Enable the firewall and disable SELinux.

System-config-securitylevel

Add exceptions for the following ports by using the Customize button:

• 902:tcp
• 8222:tcp
• 8333:tcp

Choose OK, and OK again.

Restart the server:

Shutdown –r now

You can now connect to your VMware server using a web browser, replace <server> with the hostname or IP address of your server.

http://<server>:8222

https://<server>:8333