Installing Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) on VMware

Introduction to VMware

VMware is a powerful virtualization software that allows you to create and run multiple virtual machines (VMs) on a single physical computer. Each virtual machine operates as a fully functional computer, complete with its own operating system, applications, and resources. This makes VMware an ideal tool for testing, development, and learning environments.

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Key Features of VMware:

• Cross-Platform Support: Run multiple operating systems (Linux, Windows, macOS) on the same machine.
• Resource Allocation: Easily allocate CPU, memory, and storage to VMs.
• Snapshot Functionality: Save the state of a VM and revert to it later if needed.
• Networking Capabilities: Create isolated or shared networks for VMs.
• Ease of Use: User-friendly interface for creating and managing virtual machines.

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This guide will help you install Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) in a VMware virtual machine.

Prerequisites

• VMware Software: Install VMware Workstation Pro or VMware Player on your host machine.
• RHEL ISO File: Obtain the RHEL installation ISO file (e.g., RHEL-9.4-x86_64-dvd.iso).
  • Download it from Red Hat's official website.
  • You may need an active Red Hat subscription to access the ISO.
• System Requirements:
  • Minimum 2 GB RAM (4 GB recommended)
  • At least 20 GB of disk space for the VM
  • 2 CPU cores

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Step-by-Step Installation

1. Open VMware
   

2. Click on "Create a New Virtual Machine"

3. Choose the type of configuration:

   • Select Typical and click Next.

4. Select "I will install the operating system later" and click Next.
   

5. Select the Guest Operating System:

   • Choose Linux.
   • Select the appropriate version (e.g., RHEL).
   • Click Next.

6. Name your virtual machine:

   • Enter a name for the virtual machine and click Next

7. Choose specific disk capacity:

   • Set a disk size (e.g., 20 GB) and click Next.

8. Finish VM creation:

   • Once the VM is created, go to Edit Virtual Machine Settings.

9. Configure the CD/DVD drive:

   • Select CD/DVD (SATA).
   • Choose the ISO image of RHEL from your computer.

10. Configure the network adapter:

    • Set the network connection to Bridged.

11. Turn on the virtual machine:

    • Start the VM and begin the RHEL installation.
    • Select Install Red Hat Enterprise Linux. If you want to test the ISO, select the second option.
      

12. Select language:

    • Choose your preferred language and click Continue.

13. Configure installation destination:

    • In the new screen, select Installation Destination.
      
    • Choose VMware Virtual NVMe Disk and click Done.
      

14. Set up users:

    • Root Password: Create a strong password for the root user.
      

• User Creation: Create a regular user for daily use.

15. Begin installation:

    • Once all configurations are complete, click Begin Installation.
    • The installation will take some time.

16. After installation:

    • A login screen will appear.
    • To log in as the root user, click Not Listed, type root, and enter the password.