How to Download and Install VMware Player on Ubuntu Linux

VMware Player, also known as VMware Workstation Player, is a virtualization software package that allows you to run multiple operating systems on a single host. Here, we will provide a detailed guide to downloading and installing VMware Player on Ubuntu Linux.

Step 1: Update your System

Firstly, ensure your system is updated. Open the Terminal by pressing Ctrl + Alt + T or by searching ‘Terminal’ in the system dash. Once the Terminal opens, type the following command and hit Enter:

sudo apt-get update

Enter your password when prompted and allow the process to complete.

Step 2: Install Dependencies

sudo apt install build-essential linux-headers-generic

Step 3: Download VMware Player

Use wget to download the latest version of VMware Player.

wget --user-agent="Mozilla/5.0 (X11; Linux x86_64; rv:60.0) Gecko/20100101 Firefox/60.0" https://www.vmware.com/go/getplayer-linux

Step 4: Make the Downloaded File Executable

Navigate to the directory where the file was downloaded. In most cases, this will be the Downloads directory. In the terminal, type:

cd ~/Downloads

Now, you need to give executable permissions to the file. Type the following command in the Terminal:

chmod +x getplayer-linux

Step 5: Install VMware Player

You’re now ready to install VMware Player. In the Terminal, type the following command and hit Enter:

sudo ./getplayer-linux --required --eulas-agreed

The –required option forces the installer to display only the required questions.

Step 6: Follow the Installation Wizard

The VMware Player installation wizard will open. Follow the prompts in the installation wizard:

1. Accept the terms in the License Agreement.
2. Decide whether to check for product updates on startup.
3. Decide whether to join the Customer Experience Improvement Program (CEIP).
4. Click on Install.
5. Wait for the installation process to complete. Once done, you can launch VMware Player by opening the Activities search bar (hit the Windows Command Key) and type vmware into the search box and the application will appear. Click on the icon and follow the instructions.

Step 6: Verify the Installation

You can verify that VMware Player has been successfully installed by opening the application and checking the version in the Help > About VMware Workstation menu.

That’s it! You have successfully installed VMware Player on your Ubuntu Linux system. This will now allow you to create and run guest operating systems right from your Ubuntu Linux host.