Ubuntu is one of the most popular Linux distributions for desktop and server computers. Installing Ubuntu on a virtual machine is a great way to test out the operating system without having to install it on your physical machine. VMware Workstation is a virtualization software that can be used to create virtual machines on Windows and Linux. This article will guide you through the steps to install Ubuntu on VMware Workstation.

Step 1: Download Ubuntu ISO

The first step in installing Ubuntu on VMware Workstation is to download the Ubuntu ISO file. Go to the official Ubuntu website and download the ISO file for the version of Ubuntu you want to install. Once downloaded, save the ISO file to your computer.

Step 2: Create a New Virtual Machine

Open VMware Workstation and select File > New Virtual Machine. In the New Virtual Machine Wizard, select Typical and click Next. Select Installer disc image file (iso) and browse to the location of the Ubuntu ISO file you downloaded in Step 1. Click Next.

Enter a name and location for your virtual machine and click Next. Set the disk capacity and select Store virtual disk as a single file. Click Next. Review the settings for your virtual machine and click Finish.

Step 3: Install Ubuntu

With your virtual machine created, click on the new virtual machine in the left pane of VMware Workstation and select Play virtual machine. This will start the virtual machine and initiate the Ubuntu installation process.

Select your language and click Install Ubuntu. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation. When prompted, select Erase disk and install Ubuntu.

After the installation is complete, select Restart Now. Remove the installation media (the ISO file) from your virtual machine and press Enter to start Ubuntu.

Step 4: Install VMware Tools

VMware Tools is a set of utilities that enhance the performance and functionality of your virtual machine. To install VMware Tools on Ubuntu, go to the Virtual Machine menu and select Install VMware Tools.

In Ubuntu, open a terminal window and navigate to the mounted VMware Tools ISO file. Extract the VMware Tools tar file by running the command:

tar -xvf /media/username/VMware\ Tools/VMwareTools-*.tar.gz -C /tmp/

Navigate to the extracted VMware Tools directory and run the installation script by running the command:

sudo ./vmware-install.pl

Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation.