In this article, I am going to show you how to install VMware Workstation Pro 16 on some common Linux distributions, such as Ubuntu 20.04 LTS, Debian 11, and Fedora 34. Now, let’s get started.
Table of Contents:
- Enabling Hardware Virtualization
- Installing Required Dependencies on Ubuntu 20.04 LTS and Debian 11
- Installing Required Dependencies on Fedora 34
- Downloading VMware Workstation Pro 16
- Installing VMware Workstation Pro 16
- Starting VMware Workstation Pro 16
- Creating a VMware Workstation Pro 16 Virtual Machine
- Activating VMware Workstation Pro 16 Later
- Conclusion
- References
Enabling Hardware Virtualization:
To create virtual machines with VMware Workstation Pro 16, you need to have hardware virtualization enabled from the BIOS of your computer.
If you’re using an Intel processor, you must enable VT-d/VT-x from the BIOS of your computer.
If you’re using an AMD processor, you must enable AMD-v/SVM from the BIOS of your computer.
Once you have enabled hardware virtualization from the BIOS of your computer, run the following command to verify whether Intel VT-x/VT-d or AMD AMD-v/SVM extension is enabled.
I am using an AMD 2400G processor. So, in my case, the CPU flag svm is available, as seen in the screenshot below. If you’re using an Intel processor, you will see the vmx CPU flag instead. If virtualization is not enabled, you will not see any of these.
Installing Required Dependencies on Ubuntu 20.04 LTS and Debian 11:
To get VMware Workstation Pro 16 to work on Ubuntu 20.04 LTS and Debian 11 Linux distributions, you will need to install the required build tools that VMware Workstation Pro 16 will need to rebuild some of its kernel modules.
First, update the APT package repository cache with the following command:
Install the required build tools with the following command:
To confirm the installation, press Y and then press <Enter>:
APT should automatically download all the required packages from the internet and install them on your computer:
At this point, all the required build tools should be installed:
Installing Required Dependencies on Fedora 34:
To get VMware Workstation Pro 16 to work on Fedora 34 Linux distribution, you will also need to install the required build tools that VMware Workstation Pro 16 will need to rebuild some of its kernel modules.
First, upgrade the kernel and the kernel-headers packages with the following command:
To confirm the upgrade, press Y, and then press <Enter>:
The kernel and kernel-headers packages should be updated to the latest version:
For the changes to take effect, reboot your computer:
Once your computer boots, install all the packages of the Development Tools group with the following command:
To confirm the installation, press Y and then press <Enter>:
All the required build tools should be downloaded from the internet. It may take a while to complete.
Once the build tools are downloaded, they will be installed one by one. It may take a while to complete, as well.
At this point, all the required build tools should be installed on your computer. You should be able to install VMware Workstation Pro 16 on Fedora 34.
Downloading VMware Workstation Pro 16:
To download VMware Workstation Pro 16, visit the official VMware Workstation Pro page from your favorite web browser.
Once the page loads, click on DOWNLOAD TRIAL to download VMware Workstation Pro 16:
To download VMware Workstation Pro 16 for Linux, click on DOWNLOAD NOW from the Workstation 16 Pro for Linux section, as marked in the following screenshot.
Your browser should prompt you to save the VMware Workstation Pro 16 installer file. Select Save File, and click on OK to save the VMware Workstation Pro 16 installer file:
Your browser should start downloading the VMware Workstation Pro 16 installer file. It may take a while to complete:
At this point, the VMware Workstation Pro 16 installer file should be downloaded:
Installing VMware Workstation Pro 16:
Once the VMware Workstation Pro 16 installed is downloaded, you should be able to find it in the ~/Downloads directory of your computer.
Navigate to the ~/Downloads directory of your computer:
As you can see, the VMware Workstation Pro 16 installer file VMware-Workstation-Full-16.1.2-17966106.x86_64.bundle is in the ~/Downloads directory:
Set execution permission for the VMware Workstation Pro 16 installer file VMware-Workstation-Full-16.1.2-17966106.x86_64.bundle, as follows:
To install VMware Workstation Pro 16, run the installer:
VMware Workstation Pro 16 is being installed. It may take a while to complete:
VMware Workstation Pro 16 is being installed:
At this point, the VMware Workstation Pro 16 should be installed:
Starting VMware Workstation Pro 16:
Once VMware Workstation Pro 16 is installed, you can start it from the Application Menu of your desired Linux Distribution.
The first time you run VMware Workstation Pro 16, you will have to go through a setup wizard.
To accept the VMware license agreement, select I accept the terms in the license agreement and click on Next:
If you want VMware Workstation Pro 16 to check for available software updates automatically when you start VMware Workstation Pro 16, select Yes. Otherwise, select No.
Once you’re done, click on Next:
If you want to send statistics, crash reports, and other diagnostics data to VMware to help VMware improve their products and fix bugs, select Yes. Otherwise, select No.
Once you’re done, click on Next:
If you have a VMware Workstation Pro 16 license key, you can register VMware Workstation Pro 16 from here using the license key. Select I have a license key for VMware Workstation 16, type in your license key, and click Finish:
If you’re using VMware Workstation Pro 16 for the first time, and you would like to try it out before you register a license key, select I want to try VMware Workstation 16 for 30 days, and click on Finish as marked in the following screenshot.
You should be able to try out VMware Workstation Pro 16 for 30 days.
NOTE: I will select this option in this article.
Type in the password of your login user and click on Authenticate:
Click on OK:
VMware Workstation Pro 16 should start. Now, you should be able to create a virtual machine with VMware Workstation Pro 16.
Creating a VMware Workstation Pro 16 Virtual Machine:
If you need any assistance creating a VMware Workstation Pro 16 virtual machine, check out the article Install Ubuntu in VMware Workstation.
Activating VMware Workstation Pro 16 Later:
If you have tried out VMware Workstation Pro 16 and liked it, you can register a license key and activate it from the VMware Workstation Pro 16 app.
To activate VMware Workstation Pro 16, start VMware Workstation Pro 16 and click on Help > Enter Serial Number… as marked in the following screenshot:
Type in your VMware Workstation Pro 16 License Key, and click on OK. VMware Workstation Pro 16 should be activated:
Conclusion:
In this article, I have shown you how to verify that virtualization is enabled from Linux. I have also shown you how to download and install VMware Workstation Pro 16 on Ubuntu 20.04 LTS, Debian 11, and Fedora 34 Linux distributions. In addition, I have shown you how to try out VMware Workstation Pro 16 for free and register it later with a license key.
