Installing Debian in VM - problem - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: ttp
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 11, 2013, 09:39:59 am
content: Decided to refresh and enhance my Linux skills so I'm trying this afternoon to install current Debian 7.1.0 (from DVD) in VMWare Server virtual machine. Haven't achieved much so far, I get as far as installer boot menu. If I choose Install nothing happens. By closing VM console and opening it again I have worked out that a video mode changes and VM doesn't like it, if I open the console again I get a corrupted video (like when your video card gets into resolution/refresh rate that the monitor won't support). Have tried a few options with vga parameter (vga=xxx) to try different resolutions/colour depths but no luck, either get corrupted display or non responsive text mode (black screen with cursor in top left hand corner). That brings some memories from 2-3 years back... I think I've tried to install Ubuntu into VM and run into very similar problems. Don't want to give up this time, anyone has any ideas to try? Or even better - has anyone installed Debian on VMWare?

author: PeterG
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 11, 2013, 09:51:31 am
content: After having similar issues with VMware i changed to using VirtualBox. No problems so far.

author: cyr
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 11, 2013, 10:13:26 am
content: Isn't vmware server quite old? Replaced by ESXi or vSphere or whatever it is they are calling it these days.I know I have had no problems installing various debian and ubuntu-based things using vmware workstation at work. I think version 8, possibly 9.At home I also use virtualbox for desktop virtualization, but mainly to run windows on linux rather than the opposite...

author: bitwelder
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 11, 2013, 10:15:16 am
content: I normally use VirtualBox and with that I can install all kinds of Linux distros.However I remember that e.g. recent versions of openSUSE come with vmware 'driver' already in the DVD image.If you don't need specifically a debian-based distro, you may try that and see if installation on VMWare works better.

author: ttp
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 11, 2013, 10:18:15 am
content: Quote from: PeterG on August 11, 2013, 09:51:31 amAny experience converting VMWare VM's to VirtualBox? I got a few that run ok in VMWare and would like to keep them if possible. I guess VMWare and VirtualBox can co-exist so I can have my cake and eat it too... But it would be good to have one VM standard.

author: ttp
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 11, 2013, 10:29:25 am
content: Thanks all of you, I'll look into VirtualBox as it seems to be an answer.

author: GeoffS
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 11, 2013, 10:41:00 am
content: At home, I'm running VMware workstation 9 and it has no problem with Debian, not that I use it a lot.Mostly use it for those few programs that only run under Windows (Sketchup and other CAD stuff)

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 11, 2013, 10:45:41 am
content: Download the Oracle version of Virtualbox, it has advantages over the regular version, like USB support for devices. You can mount either an ISO or a DVD as boot media, it just works.Worked for me to do the same, and it does work. At least OpenSuse did install and runs on my laptop now. Linux running Virtualbox running another Linux on top.......I use it to use my Minipro mostly, though there are other things going on it as well that do not like Wine.

author: amyk
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 11, 2013, 01:47:02 pm
content: That's unusual, even a VM should emulate a standard VGA adapter correctly enough...

author: ttp
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 12, 2013, 02:42:01 am
content: Unusual and strange, same happened on VMWare server at work so it is not just my computer. We have succesfully installed Debian in VM using network install but it's not an option at home - I got only wireless broadband with few GB for the whole month.Downloaded Virtualbox and looking through manual - I like it.

author: marshallh
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 12, 2013, 02:57:41 am
content: I just installed Debian 7, fedora, poobuntu and mint inside VMware player (it's the free version.)Each installed more or less without a problem. Debian failed inexplicably while downloading packages and I had to restart it a couple times. But it ended up being the one I kept, its VM integration actually worked after some fiddling compared to the others that I couldn't get HGFS shares working properly.Windows 7 host

author: ttp
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 12, 2013, 03:26:05 am
content: I want to run more than one VM at the same time, can't waste 16Gb RAM. I understand player is no good for that.

author: marshallh
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 12, 2013, 03:28:25 am
content: I was able to run 4 VMs at the same time with player. (Non-profit)

author: ttp
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 12, 2013, 11:01:06 am
content: Quote from: marshallh on August 12, 2013, 03:28:25 amOk, I had wrong/outdated info.

author: ttp
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 12, 2013, 11:03:12 am
content: Got Virtualbox running and quite like it. So far Debian and WinXP VMs going ok.