Run Multiple Operating Systems Concurrently Using VMware
Running multiple operating systems usually costs too much, and requires rebooting your machine each time, which makes installing two or three different operating systems a complicated and unlikely process. However, multiple commercial and free applications can be used to run multiple operating systems, like Microsoft Virtual PC, Apple Boot Camp, and free software like VMware Server.
Steps
- Download VMware Server. It's possible to find a free version on their website. Install it and run the program. It will usually ask for a license number, which you can receive by request from the website.
- Choose a host. Each time VMware runs, it will ask you to which host you want to connect. This is useful if you have a server and you connect to it by entering the IP. In the simple case, use the Local Host.
- Add a new operating system. To add a new operating system, you should make a new image, each image contain one operating system, which is referred to as "Virtual Machine" in VMware.
- Click "New Virtual Machine".
- Choose Typical as the configuration. It has less options, but it's better for new users.
- Select the Guest operating system you want to add.
- Name the new operating system and pick its location on the drive.
- Make sure you have enough free space. Some systems, like Windows Vista, need at least 15 GB.
- Choose the network type. If your PC has an IP like 192.168.20.12 on the local network, you can give the new Guest OS a new IP like 192.168.20.11.
- An easier choice is to use Bridged Networking.
- Specify how much capacity you want to give to the new OS. If you think about copying the image to another PC or laptop, for example, you can split the image into 2 GB each, which makes file transferring easier.
- Start the new Virtual machine. It will start booting as usual boot, waiting for the operating system's CD.
- Insert your chosen OS and start the install.
- Finished. After you're done with the new system install, you can run the guest OS anytime you want; just open the VMware and click "Start Virtual Machine".
Tips
- You could open the Guest OS in full screen by clicking Ctrl+Alt+Enter, to return to the Host OS click Ctrl+Alt.
- You can add as many images as you want. If you have enough memory (RAM) you can run multiple images concurrently, and switch between them easily.
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