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 SuSE Linux 7.1 Installation Guidelines

SuSE Linux 7.1 Installation Guidelines

The easiest method of installing SuSE Linux 7.1 in a virtual machine is to use the standard SuSE distribution CDs. The notes below describe an installation using the standard distribution CD; however, installing SuSE Linux 7.1 via the boot floppy/network method is supported as well.

Before installing the operating system, be sure that you have already created a new virtual machine and configured it using the New Virtual Machine Wizard (on Windows hosts) or Configuration Wizard (on Linux hosts).

Note: During the SuSE Linux 7.1 installation, a standard VGA16 X server (without support for the GSX Server X server) is installed. To get an accelerated SVGA X server running inside the virtual machine, install the VMware Tools package immediately after installing SuSE Linux 7.1.

Installation Steps

Installation Steps

  1. Use the GSX Server 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 SuSE Linux 7.1 installation process, be sure the virtual machine's Ethernet adapter is enabled and configured. VMware also recommends that you disable the screen saver on the host system before starting the installation process.

  2. Insert the SuSE Linux 7.1 installation CD in the CD-ROM drive on your GSX Server host and click the Power On button.

  3. Use the graphical installer and follow the installation steps as you would for a physical machine, until you get to the selection screens described in the next step.

  4. You are offered a choice of Linux kernels to install. Kernel 2.2.18 is selected by default. Be sure to leave it selected. If you want to use kernel 2.4 in your virtual machine, select both.

  5. Part way through the installation, the installer reboots the virtual machine. At the LILO screen, let the boot proceed using the default selection of linux to use the 2.2.18 kernel.

  6. At the Desktop Settings screen, select 640x480 256 colors.

  7. Finish installing SuSE Linux 7.1 as you would on a physical machine.

VMware Tools

VMware Tools

At the end of the installation, boot again using the default LILO selection of linux, then install VMware Tools in your guest operating system. For details, see Installing VMware Tools. Do not start the X server in the guest operating system until you install VMware Tools.

After you have installed VMware Tools, you may boot your SuSE Linux 7.1 virtual machine with any of the selections offered in LILO.

Caution: If you selected No X11 during the installation, you must create a link to the X server before you can start it. After you finish installing VMware Tools, in the guest operating system, open a terminal and type the following commands:

cd /
su -
mv /var/X11R6/bin/X /usr/X11R6/bin/XF86-Xserver
ln -s /usr/X11R6/bin/XF86-Xserver /var/X11R6/bin/X
ln -s /etc/XF86Config-4 /etc/XF86Config

Enabling Sound After Installing SuSE Linux 7.1

Enabling Sound After Installing SuSE Linux 7.1

The GSX Server sound device is disabled by default and must be enabled with the Configuration Editor (Settings > Configuration Editor) after the operating system has been installed. To set up the virtual machine to play sound, see Configuring Sound in GSX Server.

Known Issues

Known Issues

  • On a Linux host with an XFree86 3.x X server, it is best not to run a screen saver in the guest operating system. Guest screen savers that demand a lot of processing power can cause the X server on the host to freeze.

  • When you are installing SuSE Linux 7.1 in text mode and the guest operating system reboots for the first time, the display turns completely black and the guest appears to be hung.

    Despite its appearance, the guest operating system actually is not hung; instead, the screen is not being displayed. To see the screen and continue with the installation, in the guest operating system, switch to Linux virtual console 2. Press Ctrl-Alt, press and release the spacebar, then press F2.

    Then return to virtual console 1. Press Ctrl-Alt, press and release the spacebar, then press F1. You should be able to see the screen and continue installing the guest operating system.

    Note: If you are using a different hot-key combination, use that in place of Ctrl-Alt above.

    Note: This problem appears only when you install the guest operating system in text mode.

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