The easiest method of installing Linux-Mandrake 8.0 in a virtual machine is to use the standard Linux-Mandrake distribution CD. The notes below describe an installation using the standard distribution CD; however, installing Linux-Mandrake 8.0 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 Linux-Mandrake 8.0 installation, you are offered a choice of XFree86 X servers. You may choose either one, but do not run that X server. Instead, to get an accelerated SVGA X server running inside the virtual machine, you should install the VMware Tools package immediately after installing Linux-Mandrake 8.0 and create one symbolic link as described in the steps that follow.
Use the 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 Linux-Mandrake 8.0 installation process, be sure the virtual machine's Ethernet adapter is enabled and configured. You may also want to increase the virtual machine's memory to 64MB.
To install Linux-Mandrake 8.0 in a virtual machine:
Note: With a Linux-Mandrake 8.0 guest, you should install VMware Tools from the Linux console. Do not start X until you have installed VMware Tools and carried out the final step.
Installation sometimes hangs for no apparent reason. Because of a bug in early versions of the 2.4 Linux kernel, installation of the guest operating system may hang for no apparent reason. The bug has been fixed in kernel 2.4.5. Distributions based on this kernel should install without problems.
For earlier 2.4-series kernels, a workaround is available. Although the Linux kernel bug that causes the installation to hang is not related to CD-ROM drives, the workaround involves changing a VMware configuration setting for the virtual DVD/CD-ROM drive:
You should now be able to install the guest operating system.
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