VMware ESXi and vSphere Cluster Management

Install VMware Player on Linux

Learn how to install VMware Player on a Linux host using the graphical installer or a terminal-based console wizard.

This lesson explains how to install VMware Player on a Linux host from VMware's Linux bundle installer. You can use a graphical installation wizard on a desktop system or a text-based wizard from a terminal.

Windows users: This procedure is for Linux hosts only. Use the separate VMware Player installation procedure for Windows if Windows is the host operating system.

What You Are Installing

VMware Player is a desktop virtualization application. It runs virtual machines—software-defined computers that can run an operating system and applications—inside your physical computer.

The operating system on the physical computer is the host operating system. VMware Player must be installed on the host before you can create or open virtual machines.

Obtain the Linux Bundle Installer

The Linux distribution of VMware Player is commonly supplied as a self-contained bundle installer with a .bundle extension. Installer filenames and product branding can vary between releases, so do not assume that the example filename in this lesson exactly matches your download.

Before starting, identify the directory where your browser saved the installer. A common location is ~/Downloads, but your system may use another directory.

Prepare the Installer

Open a terminal in the download directory

Change to the directory containing the downloaded file. Replace the example path if your installer is elsewhere.

cd ~/Downloads

Confirm the exact filename

List bundle files in the current directory:

ls -l *.bundle

Read the output carefully and use the exact filename in the following commands. The placeholder <version> represents the release-specific part of the filename.

Add execute permission if necessary

Linux uses file permissions to control whether a file can be executed as a program. If the bundle is not executable, add execute permission with:

chmod +x VMware-Player-<version>.bundle

Substitute the exact filename shown by ls. If the file already has execute permission, running this command is harmless.

Install with Administrator Privileges

Installing host virtualization software changes system-wide files and may install or build host components. These operations require root privileges, meaning administrative permissions.

sudo runs one command with authorized administrative privileges. When prompted, enter the password for your Linux account or another account authorized to perform administrative actions. The password is normally not displayed while you type it.

Choose an Installation Mode

Option 1: Install with the Graphical Wizard

1. Open a terminal and change to the directory containing the bundle.
2. Verify the filename with ls -l *.bundle.
3. Make the file executable if needed with chmod +x.
4. Start the installer using the exact filename:

sudo ./VMware-Player-<version>.bundle

On many Linux desktop environments, this command opens the GUI wizard. Follow its prompts and make the choices described below.

Installer choices

The wizard may request additional configuration appropriate to the installed release. Do not close the wizard while it is copying files or configuring host components.

Option 2: Install in Console Mode

Console mode is a text-based installation workflow that runs in a terminal. It is useful on a server, on a desktop without a working graphical session, or whenever you prefer shell-based interaction.

From the directory containing the bundle, run:

sudo ./VMware-Player-<version>.bundle --console

Answer the text prompts. The console wizard presents the same important decisions: accept the license agreement, choose update-check behavior, choose whether to send anonymous usage data, provide a valid license key when applicable or continue without one, and confirm the installation.

1. Accept the license agreement to proceed.
2. Select whether VMware Player should check for updates at startup.
3. Select whether to send anonymous product and system usage data.
4. At the license-key prompt, enter a valid applicable key or choose the option to continue without one.
5. Confirm the installation and wait for the installer to finish.

Verify the Installation

After the installer reports completion, launch VMware Player from your desktop application's menu. You can also try the terminal launcher:

vmplayer

The launcher command can differ by VMware release, package, or product branding, so the desktop application menu is a valid alternative.

Successful verification means that VMware Player opens without an installation error and displays its main interface. The next logical task is to learn what a virtual machine is, then create a new virtual machine or open an existing one.

Troubleshooting

“Permission denied” when starting the bundle

First confirm that you are in the correct directory and that the filename is exact. Then add execute permission and run the installer with administrative privileges:

ls -l *.bundle
chmod +x VMware-Player-<version>.bundle
sudo ./VMware-Player-<version>.bundle

The problem may be caused by missing execute permission or by starting the installer without the required privileges.

The installer file cannot be found

The terminal may be in the wrong directory, or the downloaded file may have a different name. Locate the downloaded .bundle file, change to its directory, and run ls -l *.bundle. Substitute the exact filename shown by that command.

The graphical wizard does not appear

Your system may not have an active graphical desktop session, or the release may select a terminal workflow by default. Continue with the command-line prompts, or explicitly request console mode:

sudo ./VMware-Player-<version>.bundle --console

Uncertainty about the license-key prompt

If you do not have an applicable key and are using the free Player option, choose the option to continue without a key. If you own a licensed VMware edition, enter its valid applicable key. Do not assume that a key for a different VMware product or edition will work.

VMware Player does not launch

Review the installer completion output first. Then try both the desktop application menu and the documented launcher command:

vmplayer

If installation did not complete, run it again and note any error messages. Some VMware releases also need host modules to be built or loaded for the currently running Linux kernel. Check the compatibility and kernel-module requirements for your installed VMware release and Linux kernel.

Key Terms

• Linux bundle installer: A self-contained VMware installer file, commonly ending in .bundle.
• GUI wizard: A graphical installation interface using windows, buttons, and dialogs.
• Console mode: A text-based installation workflow operated from a terminal.
• Terminal: A Linux command-line interface for navigating directories and running commands.
• Root privileges: Administrative permissions needed for system-wide installation tasks.
• License agreement: Terms that must be accepted before installation can continue.
• License key: An activation or entitlement code used by editions that require or support licensing.
• Anonymous usage data: Optional diagnostic or product-usage information sent to the vendor.