Install VMware on Ubuntu 8.04 Hardy Heron

Since Automatix is no longer active, I can't install VMware on my Ubuntu laptop by just a few clicks anymore. I am really sad about the discontinue of such a nice piece of software. This is how I installed VMware Server 1.06 manually. It may also work with VMware Workstation and VMware Player.

1. Prepare the environment

sudo apt-get install build-essential linux-headers-`uname -r` xinetd ia32-libs

2. Download VMware

• VMWare server : http://www.vmware.com/download/server/
• VMware player: http://www.vmware.com/download/player/
• VMware workstation: http://www.vmware.com/products/ws/
• VMWare serial number : http://register.vmware.com/content/registration.html

3. Decompress the downloaded tar.gz file

cd /usr/src
sudo tar xzf /tmp/VMware-server-1.0.6-91891.tar.gz

cd vmware-server-distrib
sudo ./vmware-install.pl

4. Enter the serial number during installation.

5. Copy the lib files

sudo cp /lib/libgcc_s.so.1 /usr/lib/vmware/lib/libgcc_s.so.1
sudo cp /usr/lib/libpng12.so.0 /usr/lib/vmware/lib/libpng12.so.0

6. 64-bit system only (You don't need this step if you are doing it on an i386 computer)

sudo ln -s /usr/lib32 /usr/l32
sudo sed -i -e 's:usr/lib/:usr/l32/:g'  /usr/lib32/gtk-2.0/2.10.0/loader-files.d/libgtk2.0-0.loaders
sudo sed -i -e 's:usr/lib/:usr/l32/:g' /usr/lib32/libgdk_pixbuf-2.0.so.0.1200.9

Now Vmware is ready. Enjoy!!