Download VMware

To download VMware Workstation, you need to create an Broadcom account and then have fun hunting down the download file. Broadcom makes it so difficult to download. I don't think they want you to use VMware software.

  • Step-by-step instructions: https://knowledge.broadcom.com/external/article/397417/
  • Direct link: https://support.broadcom.com/group/ecx/productdownloads?subfamily=VMware%20Workstation%20Pro&freeDownloads=true
  • Forum: https://community.broadcom.com/vmware-cloud-foundation/discussion/downloading-vmware-pro

Copy and paste text

To enable copy and paste text between host and guest OS in VMware Workstation, you need to install VMware Tools in the guest OS.

  • Reference: https://kb.vmware.com/s/article/1014294

Here is how to install VMware Tools in Debian Linux guest OS.

  1. Power on the Debian VM.
  2. In the Debian guest OS:
    1. Ensure that VMware Tools are installed: apt-get -y install open-vm-tools open-vm-tools-desktop.
    2. Reboot the VM: reboot
    3. Start the VMware user process: /usr/bin/vmware-user
    4. You should now be able to copy and paste text between the host and guest OS.

Shared folder

How to setup shared folder in VMware Workstation between MS Windows host and Debian Linux guest OS.

  1. On the MS Windows host OS, create a folder to be shared, e.g., C:\shared.

  2. In VMware Workstation, with the Debian VM powered off, go to VM > Settings > Options tab > Shared Folders.

  3. Select Always enabled and click Add... to add the folder you created on the host.

  4. Follow the wizard to specify the folder path and name (e.g., shared).

  5. Power on the Debian VM.

  6. In the Debian guest OS:

    1. Install VMware Tools if not already installed: apt-get install open-vm-tools.
    2. Mount the shared folder using the command: 
      mkdir -p /media/shared
vmhgfs-fuse .host:/shared /media/shared
  • Reference: https://gcore.com/learning/what-is-shared-folder-vmware-linux