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Installing Mandrake Linux 8.0 into a virtual machine

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:

  1. Insert the Linux-Mandrake 8.0 CD in the CD-ROM drive and click the Power On button.
  2. Follow the installation steps as you would for a physical machine. Be sure to make the choices outlined in the following steps.
  3. Use the Expert installer.
  4. In the partitioning step, unless you have special requirements, let Linux-Mandrake auto-allocate the space.
  5. When selecting a boot loader, use LILO with text menu. Do not use the graphical version of LILO. It causes the virtual machine to hang.
  6. On the "Select a Graphic Card" screen, choose Other > Generic VGA compatible.
  7. Near the end of the installation, after files have been copied, you reach the monitor setup screen. Choose Super VGA, 800x600 @ 56 Hz.
  8. When the installer asks whether to start X when you reboot, answer No.
  9. Install VMware Tools in your guest operating system.

    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.

  10. Be sure you are logged in as root (su), then enter the following commands to set up a symbolic link to the correct XFree86 configuration file.
    cd /etc
    ln -s /etc/X11/XF86Config.vm XF86Config
  11. Use the startx command to start your X server.

Known Issues

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:

  1. Power off the virtual machine and close the VMware Workstation window. Open the virtual machine's configuration file in a text editor and add the following line:
    cdrom.minvirtualtime=100
  2. Save the file.

You should now be able to install the guest operating system.

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