Why CentOS?
Because CentOS is one of the most popular server-side operating systems. Even if you use AWS etc, the OS inside is usually CentOS (other machines are used too, but not so often). It's free Linux OS.
Download the VMware installer
Prerequisites
- You must have a 64-bit processor.
- You must have enough memory.
1 GB is the minimum, but 3 or more is recommended. I have 8 GB. - To install Workstation on a Windows XP or Windows Server 2003 host computer, you must log on as local administrator.
You can install Vmware Workstation from here:
https://www.vmware.com/
https://www.vmware.com/
Then you will get the installer in your local.
Install the Vmware Workstation
Use the installer to install the vmware player.
Restart your PC when the installation is finished.
Restart your PC when the installation is finished.
Create development environment with CentOS
If you successfully installed vmware, you should have this shortcut on your desktop. Double-click on the icon and start it. It is free if you use it for non-commercial.
You will see the following window. Click on "Create a New virtual machine".
Choose "Linux, CentOS7 64bit" then "Next".
Write the virtual machine's name. I will use the default name, so I will leave it unchanged. If you want to change the location where the machine will be saved, click the location and change it also. After doing everything necessary, click "Next".
The recommended disk size is 20GB but I changed it to 50GB but this is not necessary I guess. I change it to store the virtual file as single file.
If you click "Customize Hardware", you can change memory, processor core etc. We don't change it, so just click "Finnish".
(If you click the "Customize Hardware" button, you will see this window)
ISO
You have a virtual CentOS now.
But you need iso file of CentOS7 to make it work. Install minimal ISO of CentOS from here: https://www.centos.org/download/
Once you have the ISO file, click on the "edit the virtual machine's setting".
Insert the ISO file as the following. Just click on the CD/DVD(IDE) > tick "Use ISO image file" > Click on Browse and set the path for the ISO file of CentOS minimal we just downloaded. Now click on "OK".
Play the virtual machine. You might be asked if you will donwload/install Linux ISO image but answer no because we already have it in CD/DVD.
The installation of CentOS7 will be started.
Others
- You might want to use shared folder to exchange files between the host windows and the guest CentOS7:https://www.vmware.com/support/ws55/doc/ws_running_shared_folders.html
- You need to put files in /var/www/html to publish the files and make them visible from browsers (if you are using Apache).
