How to Install VMware Workstation Player on Debian 11 (Bullseye)

VMware Workstation Player is a virtualization software that allows users to run multiple operating systems on a single physical machine. It provides a user-friendly interface for creating and managing virtual machines, enabling users to run different operating systems on the same computer, including Windows, Linux, and others.

Installing VMware Workstation Player on Debian 11 can be daunting for those unfamiliar with the process. However, it can be straightforward with proper guidance and steps.

This guide will take you through the steps to install VMware Workstation Player on Debian 11, including the necessary dependencies and configurations to ensure a smooth installation. By the end of this tutorial, you will have a working VMware Workstation Player on your Debian machine.

Prerequisites

VMware Workstation Player runs on standard x86-based hardware with 64-bit Intel or AMD processors. The system requirements are:

• A compatible 64-bit x86/AMD64 CPU
• 1.3 GHz or faster CPU speed
• 2 GB RAM minimum (4GB RAM or more recommended)
• Windows or Linux host operating system

Before proceeding with the VMware Workstation Player installation, the first step is to install some build dependencies required to build the VMware kernel modules. So open the terminal app on your Debian system and run the following command:

sudo apt install build-essential linux-headers-$(uname -r)Code language: JavaScript (javascript)

In addition, you can boost your APT command-line skills by checking out our specialized guide with examples on the matter.

Step 1: Download VMware Workstation Player

Point your browser to https://www.vmware.com/go/downloadplayer to download the latest version of VMware Workstation Player. When the page loads, click the “GO TO DOWNLOADS” link.

Because we will install VMware Workstation Player on Debian, click the “DOWNLOAD NOW” button on the “VMware Workstation Player for Linux 64-bit” section on the following page.

Wait for the download to complete, then you can close the browser window if you no longer require it.

Bonus Tip: If you prefer to use the command line, you can skip downloading VMware Workstation Player through the browser and instead do it in the terminal using the following wget command:

wget -O VMware-Player-Full.bundle --user-agent="Mozilla/5.0 (X11; Linux x86_64; rv:109.0) Gecko/20100101 Firefox/109.0" https://www.vmware.com/go/getplayer-linuxCode language: JavaScript (javascript)

Step 2: Make the File Executable

The downloaded file needs to be made executable. You have two options. If you prefer the command line, type chmod +x followed by the file’s full path:

chmod +x Downloads/VMware-Player-Full-17.0.1-21139696.x86_64.bundle

The second approach is to use the File Manager application. Go to the directory where you downloaded the VMware Player installation file, then right-click on it and select “Properties” from the context menu.

Choose the “Permissions” tab, mark the “Allow executing file as program” checkbox, then close the window.

Step 3: Install VMware Workstation Player on Debian 11

Run the installer specifying the full path to the file:

sudo Downloads/VMware-Player-Full-17.0.1-21139696.x86_64.bundle

The progress of the VMware Workstation Player installation on your Debian 11 (Bullseye) system will be shown in the terminal. So, wait for the operation to complete, which takes around a minute.

Step 4: Start Initial VMware Workstation Player Initialization

You can start VMware Workstation Player by launching it from the GNOME dash. But first, search for “vmware” and click to run the same when its icon appears.

VMware Workstation Player will start. All that is left is to complete the initial setup, but don’t worry. It happens in seconds on a next-next-finish basis. First, accept the End User License Agreement and hit “Next.”

Another End User License Agreement will greet you. Accept it and confirm with the “Next” button.

On the following screen, you will be asked if you want the application to check for available updates automatically when you start it. Make your choice and then press the “Next” button.

Choose whether to participate in the VMWare Customer Experience Program (CEIP) and click “Next.”

From the next screen, select that you want to use VMWare Player on your Debian 11 system with a free license for non-commercial use unless you already have a paid one. If this is the case, enter it in the box provided. Finally, press the “Finish” button.

You will be prompted for your user password to apply the settings. Enter it and click the “Authenticate” button to confirm.

That’s all! You can start creating your new virtual machines with VMware Player and explore the virtualization world with all its possibilities.

Install Open VM Tools

After installing each Linux guest on the VMware Workstation Player host, install Open VM Tools inside it. These are a set of open-source virtualization utilities designed to enhance the performance and functionality of virtual machines running on VMware platforms.

Open VM Tools provide a range of features, such as better graphics performance, improved network connectivity, file transfer between a host and guest, improved memory management, enhanced support for virtualized hardware devices, etc. They are available for various operating systems and are designed to work seamlessly with VMware Workstation Player.

For Debian-based (Ubuntu, Linux Mint, etc.) guest VMs, the command will be:

sudo apt install open-vm-tools

For RPM-based Linux guest VMs such as Fedora, Red Hat, AlamLinux, Rocky Linux, Oracle Linux, etc.:

sudo yum install open-vm-tools

The Arch-based guest VMs, such as Manjaro, EndeavourOS, Garuda Linux, etc., need to run the following:

sudo pacman -S open-vm-tools

openSUSE users need to run the following:

sudo zypper install open-vm-tools

After the installation, reboot your guest virtual machine so the system may apply the changes made by installing the Open VM Tools to its kernel.

How to Uninstall VMWare Workstation Player

If you uninstall VMware Workstation Player from your Debian system for any reason, you can do it easily by running the command below.

sudo vmware-installer -u vmware-player

Conclusion

Installing VMware Workstation Player on Debian 11 (Bullseye) is a straightforward process that can be accomplished by following a few simple steps. After successfully installing the software, users can explore the application options and create their first virtual machine.

Users can visit their official documentation page for more information about VMware Workstation Player. If you have any questions or concerns, please leave a comment below.