How To Install VMware on Rocky Linux 10
Installing VMware on Rocky Linux 10 provides an exceptional virtualization platform for developers, system administrators, and IT professionals seeking reliable virtual machine management. This comprehensive guide walks you through every step of the installation process, ensuring successful deployment of VMware Workstation on your Rocky Linux 10 system.
Introduction to VMware and Rocky Linux 10
VMware Workstation stands as the industry-leading desktop virtualization solution, enabling users to run multiple operating systems simultaneously on a single physical machine. This powerful virtualization technology offers robust features including snapshot management, virtual networking capabilities, and seamless integration between host and guest systems.
Rocky Linux 10 represents the latest iteration of the enterprise-grade Linux distribution that serves as a downstream rebuild of Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL). As a community-driven project, Rocky Linux maintains binary compatibility with RHEL while providing a stable, secure foundation for enterprise workloads. The distribution offers enhanced security features, improved container support, and modernized system management tools.
The combination of VMware and Rocky Linux 10 creates an ideal environment for development testing, system administration training, and production virtualization scenarios. This pairing delivers exceptional performance, reliability, and compatibility for organizations requiring enterprise-grade virtualization capabilities without licensing costs associated with commercial RHEL deployments.
Prerequisites for Installing VMware on Rocky Linux 10
System Requirements
Before beginning the VMware installation process, ensure your Rocky Linux 10 system meets the minimum hardware specifications. Your system requires a 64-bit x86 processor with virtualization technology (Intel VT-x or AMD-V) enabled in the BIOS/UEFI firmware settings. The minimum RAM requirement is 4GB, though 8GB or more is recommended for optimal performance when running multiple virtual machines simultaneously.
Storage requirements include at least 1.5GB of available disk space for VMware Workstation installation, plus additional space for virtual machine files. Each virtual machine typically requires 20GB to 40GB of storage depending on the guest operating system and intended use case.
Required Downloads
Download the latest VMware Workstation Pro installer bundle from the official VMware website. The installer file follows the naming convention VMware-Workstation-Full-[version].[build].x86_64.bundle and requires approximately 500MB of download bandwidth.
Simultaneously, obtain the Rocky Linux 10 ISO image from the official Rocky Linux download portal. Choose the appropriate variant (minimal, DVD, or boot) based on your installation requirements. The minimal ISO provides a lightweight base system, while the DVD variant includes a comprehensive software repository.
Dependency Packages and Kernel Headers
Rocky Linux 10 requires specific development tools and kernel components for successful VMware installation. The system needs kernel headers, development tools, and build utilities to compile VMware kernel modules during installation. These dependencies ensure proper integration between VMware and the Linux kernel, enabling optimal virtualization performance and stability.
Step-by-Step Guide to Install VMware Workstation on Rocky Linux 10
Installing Build Dependencies
Begin the installation process by updating your Rocky Linux 10 system and installing essential development packages. Open a terminal and execute the following commands with administrative privileges:
sudo dnf update -y
sudo dnf groupinstall "Development Tools" -y
sudo dnf install kernel-devel kernel-headers gcc make -y These commands install the GNU Compiler Collection (GCC), kernel development files, and build utilities necessary for compiling VMware kernel modules. The Development Tools group provides a comprehensive set of development libraries and tools required for the installation process.
Verify the kernel headers installation by checking that the headers match your running kernel version:
uname -r ls /usr/src/kernels/ The output should display matching kernel versions, ensuring compatibility between the running kernel and available development headers.
Preparing the VMware Installer
Navigate to your downloads directory and locate the VMware Workstation installer bundle. Make the installer file executable using the chmod command:
cd ~/Downloads
chmod +x VMware-Workstation-Full-*.x86_64.bundle This step grants execution permissions to the installer bundle, allowing it to run with the necessary privileges for system-level installation. The asterisk (*) wildcard accommodates different VMware version numbers in the filename.
Running the VMware Installation
Execute the VMware installer with root privileges to begin the installation process:
sudo ./VMware-Workstation-Full-*.x86_64.bundle The graphical installer launches, presenting a series of configuration dialogs. Accept the End User License Agreement (EULA) and proceed through the installation wizard. Choose the default installation directory (/usr/lib/vmware) unless specific organizational requirements dictate an alternative location.
When prompted for system service scripts directory, select the default path /etc/init.d for compatibility with Rocky Linux 10’s systemd initialization system. The installer automatically configures necessary system services and creates required directory structures.
Post-Installation Configuration
After successful installation, configure VMware kernel modules by running the module configuration utility:
sudo vmware-modconfig --console --install-all This command compiles and installs VMware kernel modules specific to your Rocky Linux 10 system. The process may take several minutes depending on system performance and should complete without errors if all dependencies are properly installed.
Start VMware services and enable them for automatic startup:
sudo systemctl enable vmware
sudo systemctl start vmware First Launch and License Configuration
Launch VMware Workstation from the applications menu or by executing vmware in the terminal. The initial startup presents a license configuration dialog where you can either enter a VMware Workstation Pro license key for full functionality or select the free evaluation option for testing purposes.
Complete the initial setup wizard by accepting improvement program participation (optional) and configuring automatic update preferences according to your organizational policies.
Creating and Configuring a New Virtual Machine in VMware
Launching VMware Workstation
Access VMware Workstation through the applications menu under System Tools or Virtualization. The main interface displays a clean workspace with options for creating new virtual machines, opening existing ones, and accessing configuration settings.
The VMware Workstation interface provides a comprehensive view of virtual machine inventory, hardware monitoring capabilities, and quick access to essential virtualization tools. Familiarize yourself with the toolbar buttons for common operations including power management, snapshot creation, and settings modification.
New Virtual Machine Creation
Initiate virtual machine creation by selecting File > New Virtual Machine or using the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+N. The New Virtual Machine Wizard presents two configuration options: Typical (recommended) for standard setups and Custom (advanced) for specialized requirements.
Choose Typical (recommended) for most Rocky Linux 10 installations, as this option provides optimal default settings for Linux guest systems. Select “I will install the operating system later” to create an empty virtual machine that you’ll configure manually.
Virtual Machine Configuration
Configure the guest operating system settings by selecting Linux as the operating system type and Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 as the version. This selection ensures proper hardware emulation and driver compatibility for Rocky Linux 10, which maintains binary compatibility with RHEL 8.
Specify a descriptive virtual machine name such as “Rocky Linux 10 Server” and choose an appropriate storage location. Consider using a dedicated directory structure for organized virtual machine management, especially in multi-VM environments.
Hardware Customization
Allocate virtual machine resources based on intended use cases and available system resources. Set memory allocation to a minimum of 4GB for desktop installations or 2GB for server-only deployments. Increase memory allocation for development environments or resource-intensive applications.
Configure disk capacity with a recommended minimum of 20GB for basic installations. Choose “Store virtual disk as a single file” for better performance on modern file systems, or select “Split virtual disk into multiple files” for easier backup management on older systems.
Customize network adapter settings based on your networking requirements. NAT provides internet access through the host system, Bridged connects directly to the physical network, and Host-only creates an isolated network for testing purposes.
Installing Rocky Linux 10 on VMware Virtual Machine
Starting the Installation Process
Power on the newly created virtual machine and immediately mount the Rocky Linux 10 ISO image to the virtual CD/DVD drive. The virtual machine boots from the ISO, presenting the Rocky Linux 10 installation menu with several boot options.
Select “Install Rocky Linux 10” using the arrow keys and press Enter to begin the installation process. The installer performs initial hardware detection and loads necessary drivers for the virtualized environment.
Initial Configuration Steps
The Rocky Linux installer presents a language selection screen where you choose your preferred installation language and keyboard layout. Select English (United States) or your preferred locale, then click Continue to proceed to the installation summary.
The Installation Summary screen provides centralized access to all installation configuration options including software selection, installation destination, network configuration, and user account creation. Configure each section according to your requirements before proceeding with the installation.
Storage and Partitioning Configuration
Click Installation Destination to configure disk partitioning and storage options. The installer automatically detects the virtual hard disk created during VM setup and presents partitioning choices.
For most installations, select Automatic partitioning to let the installer create optimal partition layouts including separate /boot, /, and swap partitions. Advanced users can choose Custom partitioning for specialized storage configurations including LVM or specific file system selections.
Review the storage configuration and click Done to confirm your choices. The installer validates the partition layout and ensures adequate space allocation for the selected software packages.
User Account and Security Setup
Navigate to User Settings and configure the Root Password with a strong, secure password meeting organizational security requirements. The root account provides administrative access to the system and requires careful password selection.
Optionally, create additional user accounts with standard privileges for day-to-day operations. This security best practice reduces the need for root access during routine system administration tasks.
Configure Network & Host Name settings to establish network connectivity and set the system hostname. Enable network interfaces and configure IP addressing based on your virtual networking setup.
Completing the Installation
Review all configuration settings in the Installation Summary screen and click Begin Installation when ready to proceed. The installation process begins, copying files, installing packages, and configuring the system according to your specifications.
Monitor the installation progress through the status indicators and log displays. The process typically completes within 15-30 minutes depending on virtual machine performance and selected software packages.
Upon completion, click Reboot System to restart the virtual machine and complete the installation process. Remove the installation ISO from the virtual CD/DVD drive to prevent accidental reinstallation during future boots.
Installing VMware Tools on Rocky Linux 10
VMware Tools Overview
VMware Tools enhances virtual machine performance and functionality by providing optimized drivers, improved graphics capabilities, and seamless integration features. These tools enable advanced functionality including shared clipboard, drag-and-drop file transfers, automatic mouse capture, and time synchronization between host and guest systems.
Modern VMware environments support open-vm-tools, an open-source implementation that provides equivalent functionality to traditional VMware Tools while maintaining better integration with Linux package management systems.
Installing open-vm-tools
Install the open-vm-tools package using Rocky Linux’s DNF package manager:
sudo dnf install open-vm-tools open-vm-tools-desktop -y The open-vm-tools package provides core functionality, while open-vm-tools-desktop adds desktop integration features for graphical environments. These packages automatically configure necessary services and drivers for optimal VMware integration.
Enable and start the VMware Tools service:
sudo systemctl enable vmtoolsd
sudo systemctl start vmtoolsd Verifying Installation and Enabling Features
Verify successful VMware Tools installation by checking service status:
sudo systemctl status vmtoolsd vmware-toolbox-cmd -v The commands confirm service operation and display version information for the installed tools.
Configure shared folders between host and guest systems by mounting VMware shared directories:
sudo mkdir /mnt/hgfs sudo mount -t fuse.vmhgfs-fuse .host:/ /mnt/hgfs -o allow_other Add the mount command to /etc/fstab for persistent shared folder access across system reboots.
Troubleshooting Common Issues During Installation
Installer-Related Problems
Permission errors during VMware installation typically result from insufficient privileges or incorrect file permissions. Ensure the installer bundle has execute permissions and run with sudo privileges. Verify file integrity by checking MD5 or SHA256 checksums against official VMware documentation.
Bundle file corruption manifests as installation failures or unexpected errors. Re-download the installer from official VMware sources and verify checksum integrity before attempting installation.
Kernel Module Compilation Issues
Missing kernel headers prevent successful module compilation during VMware installation. Install matching kernel development packages using:
sudo dnf install kernel-devel-$(uname -r) kernel-headers-$(uname -r) GCC version compatibility issues may occur with newer kernel versions. Ensure GCC version compatibility with your kernel version and consider updating development tools if compilation errors persist.
Performance and Network Issues
Network adapter configuration problems in virtual machines often relate to incorrect adapter type selection or driver issues. Verify network settings in VMware configuration and ensure proper adapter type selection for your networking requirements.
Memory allocation problems cause performance degradation or system instability. Monitor virtual machine memory usage and adjust allocation based on workload requirements and available host resources.
For additional support, consult the official VMware Knowledge Base, Rocky Linux documentation, and community forums for specialized troubleshooting guidance and solutions to complex installation challenges.
Congratulations! You have successfully installed VMware. Thanks for using this tutorial for installing VMware Workstation on your Rocky Linux 10 system. For additional help or useful information, we recommend you check the official VMware website.
