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Installing SuSE Linux 6.3, 6.4 into a Virtual Machine

The easiest method of installing SuSE Linux 6.3 or 6.4 in a virtual machine is to use the standard SuSE distribution CDs. Be sure that you boot from CD No. 2 (the expert install CD), not CD No. 1. (The installer on CD No. 1 is designed for SVGA. Until you install VMware Tools, as described below, the virtual machine supports only VGA graphics. This makes it impossible for you to see some of the choices you must make during the installation.)

The notes below describe an installation using the standard distribution CD; however, installing SuSE Linux 6.3 or 6.4 via the boot floppy/network method is supported as well.

Before installing the operating system, be sure that you have already created a directory for the new virtual machine and configured it.

Note: During the SuSE Linux 6.3 or 6.4 installation, a standard VGA16 X server (without support for the VMware Workstation X server) should be installed. To get an accelerated SVGA X server running inside the virtual machine, install the VMware Tools package immediately after installing SuSE Linux 6.3 or 6.4.

Use the VMware Workstation Configuration Editor to verify the virtual machine's devices are set up as you expect before starting the installation. For example, if you would like networking software to be installed during the SuSE Linux 6.3 or 6.4 installation process, be sure the virtual machine's Ethernet adapter is enabled and configured.

To install SuSE linux 6.3 or 6.4 in a virtual machine:

  1. Insert SuSE Linux 6.3 or 6.4 CD No. 2 in the CD-ROM drive and click the Power On button.
  2. Follow the installation steps as you would for a physical PC, until you get to the selection screens described in the next step.

    Note: Part way through the process, the installer asks you to insert CD No. 1, even if you initially booted from CD No. 2. You should, indeed, insert CD No. 1 at that point. When the installer asks, Which type of install do you prefer: Text or Graphical, be sure to choose Text.

  3. If you have Ethernet configured, a pop-up message appears, stating that the pcnet32 driver loads automatically. The driver's long name is displayed as AMD PCI PCnet32 (PCI bus NE2100).
  4. From the Installation -- YaST screen select the packages you want to install and select the Start Installation option to continue.
  5. Finish installing SuSE Linux 6.3 or 6.4 as you would on a physical PC.
  6. At this point SuSE Linux 6.3 or 6.4 boots and a login screen appears.
  7. Install VMware Tools in your guest operating system.

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