Ready to go linux for vmware workstation?

m_cozzy · 1 Jan 2017 at 21:35

I want to replace my virtual pron pc currently running windows7. I cannot be bothered to fool around trying to make it work, so am looking for a ready to use linux with vmware tools & all the flash etc working, a live version maybe?
Everything I have tried fails to play pron, no sound, no video etc.
The closest I got was using neverware/cloundready chromeos, which is brilliant, except the screen resolution is stuck in the 90's with no way to change it.
Any suggestions?

KIA · 2 Jan 2017 at 17:27

Linux Mint > Menu > Sound & Video > Install Multimedia Codecs

Rainmaker · 2 Jan 2017 at 19:12

Manjaro will also work for flash/video/etc out of the box and is a fair bit faster, lighter and more customisable than Mint. Many (most?) distros don't ship with codecs installed by default due to patents and licensing, as a lot of them are connected with or based in the US where software patents are a thing. Ubuntu based distros allow you to install all the codec goodies during install, and Manjaro also has them OOTB as I said. Other than that mostly you have to do it yourself, even if it is a single click exercise in simplicity (eg openSUSE).

m_cozzy · 3 Jan 2017 at 12:44

Thanks for the replies.
Tried mint, downloaded latest version.
The option Menu > Sound & Video > Install Multimedia Codecs doesnt exist in this version.
Vmware tools wouldnt install via the gui, did it manually. Not sure if it actually worked though. Desktop resolution is poor with no obvious way to change it.
Will try the other distro mentioned.

m_cozzy · 3 Jan 2017 at 13:03

Crikey manjaro looks promising, not heard of that before.
Selected the non free driver version I think?
Boots into full screen under vmware at a proper resolution, sound and video work!!
vmware tools appear to be installed be default.

thanks

Rainmaker · 3 Jan 2017 at 13:07

m_cozzy said:
Crikey manjaro looks promising, not heard of that before.
Selected the non free driver version I think?
Boots into full screen under vmware at a proper resolution, sound and video work!!
vmware tools appear to be installed be default.

thanks

You only really need the non-free boot option for Nvidia graphics cards, but yes it's a decent distro. They're basically Arch Linux with a dam on updates (Arch can break things because they're a rolling distro), so everything gets tested for compatibility and released a couple of days later to ensure the system stays stable. I love the KDE version, but I run half a dozen distros for various roles, from burner-desktop to headless server.

Play around with it and have fun. Don't miss the Manjaro settings manager (inside the regular settings/control panel), it lets you change the kernel and easily add language packs and drivers etc. You won't need extra drivers as you're running inside a VM, but their kernel tool is a handy one-click option to upgrade to the latest 4.9 kernel release.