Ubuntu install
Those who've been following my del.icio.us bookmarks know that I've been recently looking at laptops and desktops with Linux pre-installed. My interest in a new computer coincided with my old computer starting to fail. But wouldn't you know it! Turns out a new power supply and keyboard solved my problems, and I was still left with a serious case of Linux envy.
Once I got my computer running again, I decided to look at installing an Ubuntu image under VMPlayer for Windows XP. (This is the free virtualization software from VMWare that allows you to run one operating system under another one.) I was surprised how well it worked, although there were some issues that I had to look up on various newsgroups. Here's the process I used:
If you want, you can also uninstall the eval version of VMWare Workstation, and then download and install the smaller (and free) VMPlayer. Your image (with the VMTools install) will remain intact. This is also perfectly legal.
Having this image has satisfied my Ubuntu lust for the moment. I spent some time downloading lots of cool Python libraries using the Package Manager (even easier than using easy_install!). I'll still probably get a Linux friendly laptop at a later point, but Doris' VAIO is still chugging along, and it's hard to justify a new computer when we're still furnishing our basement.
Once I got my computer running again, I decided to look at installing an Ubuntu image under VMPlayer for Windows XP. (This is the free virtualization software from VMWare that allows you to run one operating system under another one.) I was surprised how well it worked, although there were some issues that I had to look up on various newsgroups. Here's the process I used:
- Download the latest Ubuntu 6.10 image.
- Download and install the evaluation version of VMWare Workstation. (This includes VMPlayer plus VMTools, which you need for getting screen resolutions above 800x600.)
- Run Workstation, start the Ubuntu image, and "install" the VMTools (located in Workstation's menu). Confusingly, this just drops a virtual VMTools DVD image on your Ubuntu desktop; you have to then open up the image and run its installer.
If you want, you can also uninstall the eval version of VMWare Workstation, and then download and install the smaller (and free) VMPlayer. Your image (with the VMTools install) will remain intact. This is also perfectly legal.
Having this image has satisfied my Ubuntu lust for the moment. I spent some time downloading lots of cool Python libraries using the Package Manager (even easier than using easy_install!). I'll still probably get a Linux friendly laptop at a later point, but Doris' VAIO is still chugging along, and it's hard to justify a new computer when we're still furnishing our basement.
posted by Brandon Corfman at
10:12 PM
8 Comments:
Why not just use vmware server?
By
Brian Zhou, At
1:46 PM
I didn't know about it. Is it a better experience than what I described?
By
Brandon Corfman, At
4:09 PM
You can do what I did and just buy a vista job from toshiba and the satellite a135-s2276 works great with ubuntu. I put feisty fawn on it because it has the atheros built in wireless card. And it works great... a whole lot cheaper than most of the preinstalls you can get.
By
Tonetheman, At
10:50 PM
Thanks for the tip ... at a glance the Toshiba looks pretty good.
By
Brandon Corfman, At
9:31 AM
Duh! Been running Ubuntu now for the last year and half and it continues to get better with every release.
As for VMWare stuff. The way to get the tools installed without using VMWare server or workstation is just to get the .iso for workstation that has the tools on it. Then configure player to use that .iso as the CD/DVD image when you boot. The advantage to Server is that it's got most all of that and has the nice GUI stuff for manipulating images.
On my Dapper box at home, I run VMWare player since I don't have to worry about re-making vmware server everytime the kernal changes... I get an updated vmware player with each new kernel release thanks to the maintainers. But on Windows or other places, I'd probably choose vmware server.
By
ScW, At
11:48 AM
Looks like I'm getting berated by all the Linux fanboys for not doing it the right way ... duh!
I'll tough out the criticism, I guess. :)
By
Brandon Corfman, At
2:11 PM
Well congrats people on installing the O/S. I have Ubuntu 7. something running in VM Server. I have had to uninstall and reinstall 4 times. First Mozilla stopped working. I reinstalled the OS. Then the apt-get command and all installation programs stopped working,, couldn't even update... reinstalled,, now i reinstall and all networking halted... This is a test box so i don't give a rats butt however can anyone tell me what the problem may be,,, I'm voting on either the VM or it seems that everyone is still using 6. something is it more stable? I'm a windows guy so please don't kill me with evil comments
By
Anonymous, At
1:43 PM
You got me, although each problem sounds networking related so maybe the VM underlying network service is dying on you. You'll probably get better results if you post your problem on ubuntuforums.org or vmware.com/community rather than here ... this is an old post so it's unlikely anyone other than me will read it anytime soon. :)
By
Brandon Corfman, At
1:52 PM
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