Where can I find the free VMware Player?

I was looking for the free VMware Player, which was available for quite some time.
Turned out, the free Player still exists - but is now called "VMware Workstation Player (formerly known as Player Pro)".
If you got to this website: http://www.vmware.com/products/player/ - you will find a lot of text about some paid version - but if you look up closely to the last paragraph "VMware Workstation 12 Player Free for Personal Use" - you will find the text "environment you may use Workstation 12 Player at no cost.
Download Workstation 12 Player for personal use." - and the "Download" writen in faint blue color - yep - that is a somehow hidden link. Click it! ( Hint: https://my.vmware.com/en/web/vmware/free#desktop_end_user_computing/vmware_workstation_player/12_0 ) - And there you will be able to download the latest version for free.

Bonus: The compatible VIX 1.15.2 API can be found here: https://my.vmware.com/web/vmware/free#desktop_end_user_computing/vmware_workstation_player/12_0|PLAYER-1210|drivers_tools

Update: For VMware Player 14, the link changed to: https://my.vmware.com/en/web/vmware/free#desktop_end_user_computing/vmware_workstation_player/14_0

 

[Player 3.0] VMware Player Network Config

To configure network you need the "Virtual Network Editor" Tool. It IS integrated within the Installer - but isn't unpacked (sadly). To get the vmnetcfg.exe you need to do following: Launch the installer with /e parameter: VMware-player-3.0.0-197124.exe /e .\extract. With this command, the complete install gets "unzipped" into the "extract" folder. Within this folder you will find the network.cab. And in this file, you find the vmnetcfg.exe. Copy it to the Program Files\VMware\VMware Player Folder.  Run the Program as Administrator.

And to add multiple bridged interfaces, do configure an interface in the VMware File vmx with following:

ethernet0.present = "TRUE"
ethernet0.virtualDev = "vmxnet"
ethernet0.startConnected = "TRUE"
ethernet0.connectionType = "custom"
ethernet0.vnet = "/dev/vmnet0"

Create a virtual machine from an ISO with VMWare Player

copyed from another Blog:

Posted on December 28, 2008 in: how to, software, tools|Jump To Comments

Yeah, you heard me no CD/DVD burning in here. VMWare player lacks the ability to create new virtual machines by it self, this problem can be overcomed by using third party solutions or a blank virtual machine. However one small feature found on VMWare Workstation still missing which is the ability to install the operating system from ISO without having to burn in it into a CD/DVD first. Mostly it’s about reducing recordable media waste.

You can download a blank virtual machine ready for installation from this link.

You might also find this article interesting : How to Create a virtual machine with VMWare Player
Install from ISO

In order to make the virtual machine boot from the ISO you need to first edit the configuration ending with .vmx in this case named virtualmachine.vmx.

Add the following line to the configuration file.

ide1:0.fileName = "locationofiso.iso"

Locate and change the following line.

ide1:0.deviceType = "cdrom-raw"

To.

ide1:0.deviceType = "cdrom-image"

Close and save the configuration file. Now start the virtual machine and proceed with the regular installation.

After the installation is done change the values back to.

ide1:0.fileName = "auto detect"

ide1:0.deviceType = "cdrom-raw"

Save and enjoy your virtual machine.

Last revised on 02/04/2009