Explore the World of VMware: A Guide for Students and Enthusiasts

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We have probably all experienced it. We stood before an exam and didn’t know where to begin. What is the best learning method? Which learning materials are relevant? And how do I access my resources?

Those challenges became especially noticeable as I prepared for my virtualization exam in my fourth semester. Although we had access to labs during that time, I wondered what would happen after the exam and how I could further enhance my skills.

For those interested in VMware products, I am pleased to introduce a practical solution for creating an efficient learning environment. In this guide, I will outline the steps and evaluate the benefits of such an environment.

Let us start with the lab environment where VMware products can be freely tested and explored. The only thing we need is a valid email address.

With VMware Hands-on Labs, we get free access to a generous catalog of labs that we can enroll in at any time. Sign up, enroll, and explore VMware products:

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Enroll; Tip: Virtualization 101

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If we want to be independent of lab templates and instead want to explore the possibilities of virtualization from scratch, VMware offers a free way to virtualize the resources of your own hardware:

VMware Workstation, or rather VMware Workstation Player, the free little brother.

VMware Workstation Pro is not free for personal use, but it can be tested over a free trial period if interested. During my studies, I had the opportunity to explore the full extent of VMware Workstation Pro through educational licenses. If you are curious about whether your organization is part of the VMware Academic Program, kindly inquire with your principal or find additional information here.

The two products distinguish themselves through their differences. For beginners in the world of virtualization and for creating and configuring virtual machines for personal use only, VMware Workstation Player is sufficient.

Let us install VMware Workstation Player and create our first virtual machine. Before we begin, let’s consider the preferred Operating System (OS). For this guide, we will use the latest version of Ubuntu.

Download VMware Workstation Player

PS C:\Downloads> Get-FileHash .\VMware-player-full-17.5.1-23298084.exe -Algorithm MD5

Algorithm       Hash                                                                   Path
---------       ----                                                                   ----
MD5             4658408192FC875AA932292F686C3B32                                       C:\Downloads\VMware...


PS C:\Downloads> Get-FileHash .\VMware-player-full-17.5.1-23298084.exe -Algorithm SHA256

Algorithm       Hash                                                                   Path
---------       ----                                                                   ----
SHA256          50F5596FBD3FD60336F368E35F9CA991A4BE1AA40D94CF5017C3ABD104B24F8B       C:\Downloads\VMware...

Get-FileHash through PowerShell; just to be save

Finish the installation setup

Download a ISO image and start the VM creation process

If preferred, adjust the resources of the VM

Configure your VM as desired

I personally use virtual machines daily for my personal use: Internet browsing, online payments, email communication, and programming. The benefits of using virtual machines are clear:

  1. Isolation:

VMs provide an isolated environment. This means that the software within the VM does not affect the host system (usually). This is particularly useful when working with potentially unsafe software or websites.

  1. Testing new software:

With VMs, new operating systems and applications can be tested without affecting the main system. If something goes wrong, the VM can simply be reset or deleted.

  1. Security:

VMs can be used to enhance security. A VM can be used for activities that pose a higher risk, such as opening email attachments.

  1. Consistency:

VMs can be saved and replicated. This means that a specific setup or configuration can be saved and restored on another computer if needed.

  1. Learning and Experimenting:

VMs are great learning tools. Various operating systems and network settings can be tested without fear of affecting the main system.

In addition to the benefits of VMs, it should be noted that additional resources on the host system - such as CPU, memory, and storage space - are needed and may not be suitable for all applications.

What can I do with this newfound knowledge? The labs offer a flexible and convenient introduction to virtualization technology and the VMware ecosystem. You can test products in a virtual environment without needing to install anything, allowing you to develop your skills at your own pace. Moreover, using virtual machines on your personal hardware at home is a valuable addition.

Note

updated on Mar 10, 2024