Creating a VMware Image of Linux Mint for Virtualization Introduction

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Virtualizing operating systems has become increasingly popular due to its convenience and efficiency when testing different environments without affecting physical hardware. One such operating system that many users are interested in virtualizing is Linux Mint, particularly the latest version – 20.04.

In this article, we will guide you through creating a VMware image of Linux Mint using an existing installation as a base. This process involves downloading and preparing the necessary files, setting up a new virtual machine within your preferred hypervisor (in our case, VMware), and finally deploying the operating system onto it.

Prerequisites

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Before starting this tutorial, ensure you have:

1. A computer running a compatible version of Linux or another Unix-like OS.

2. Virtualization software installed on your host system (we recommend using either VMWare Player or ESXi).

If not already done so, download the relevant VMware Workstation/Player ISO from their official website and follow instructions to install it.

Step 1: Downloading Linux Mint 20.04

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To create a virtual image of Linux Mint for use within your hypervisor environment (such as VMWare), you'll need access to either an existing installation media or else the ability to download one yourself from the official website located at . Once there, click on 'Download' next below 'Linux Mint 20.04 LTS'. Select your desired architecture type (32-bit x86_64 being suitable for most modern systems) then choose whether you want a .iso or `.torrent` file depending upon how much space is available locally.

Step 2: Creating A New Virtual Machine

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1. Launch VMware Workstation/Player and select 'New' from the top menu bar.

2. Choose your desired virtual machine type (in this case, 'Linux' since we're creating a Linux Mint VM).

3. Select the operating system you want to install on your new virtual machine ('Other 64-bit version').

4. Enter an appropriate name for your virtual machine and select the location where it will be stored.

5. Choose how much RAM (memory) is allocated to this particular guest OS instance - we recommend at least 8GB but can always increase later if needed.

Step 3: Deploying Linux Mint onto Your Virtual Machine

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1. Once you have created your new virtual machine, navigate back into VMware Workstation/Player's main window by clicking on the 'Virtual Machines' tab located near top left corner of main application window.

2. Double-click on the newly created VM to launch its settings dialogue box:

- Clicking on 'Hard Disk' > '+' should automatically add a new hard drive with default size set at 20GB; you may wish to increase this depending upon your specific requirements later down line.

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In conclusion, creating a VMware image of Linux Mint for virtualization is an easy process that requires minimal technical knowledge and can be completed within minutes. By following these simple steps outlined above, users will have a fully functional version of their chosen operating system running on any compatible hardware platform without ever having to physically touch the underlying infrastructure.

References

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1. FOG Project - A Free Open-Source Ghost Solution for Deploying Windows, Mac OSX and Various Linux Distributions

Linux mint vmware image