How to Install Ubuntu in VMware Workstation (Step-by-Step)

This guide shows how to install Ubuntu VMware Workstation step by step, with every setting in the order you will use it. Running Ubuntu in VMware Workstation is the quickest way to learn Linux on a Windows PC: the VM is disposable, snapshots undo every mistake, and you can run Linux and Windows side by side. This guide installs Ubuntu Desktop; Server differs only in having no GUI after install.

install Ubuntu VMware Workstation in a home lab

UBUNTU LINUXINSTALL UBUNTU VMWARE WORK…ENTERPRISE LABtimer 45 MIN LAB
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Nurul Huda AUTHORInfrastructure & Cloud Architect · Verified 2026

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● VALID ON THE CONFIG BELOW

dns LAB TOPOLOGY & PREREQUISITES

# example values used while writing and testing this guide

LAB VM

HypervisorVMware / ESXi
vCPU2
RAM2-4 GB
Disk40 GB

UBUNTU BUILD

Version24.04 LTS
Accesssudo user
IPstatic or DHCP
SSHenabled in lab

VALIDATION

Statussystemctl
Firewallufw lab rules
Snapshotbefore changes

01constructionStep 1: Download the ISO

From Ubuntu’s site, grab the current Desktop ISO (or Server, for a no-GUI lab machine closer to production).

02downloadStep 2: Create the VM

In VMware Workstation: Create a New Virtual Machine → Typical:

  • Install the operating system from the downloaded ISO (Workstation detects Ubuntu automatically)
  • Set a name like ubuntu-lab and a location with plenty of free space
  • Disk: 25-40 GB (Workstation keeps it thin on disk anyway); memory: 2-4 GB; 2 processors
  • Network: NAT is easiest for internet access; a host-only LAN segment is better for isolated multi-VM labs like the Security+ environment

03usbStep 3: Run the Installer

Power on the VM. The Ubuntu graphical installer boots:

  1. Choose the language and Install Ubuntu
  2. Pick the keyboard layout; normal installation includes a browser and utilities
  3. Erase disk and install Ubuntu is correct — it only “erases” the VM’s virtual disk
  4. Create your user account, a hostname you will recognize, and a strong password
  5. Let it copy files and reboot; remove the ISO when prompted

04terminalStep 4: Post-Install Essentials

  1. Update everything: open a terminal, sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade -y
  2. Install open-vm-tools for proper graphics, shared folders and time sync: sudo apt install open-vm-tools open-vm-tools-desktop -y
  3. Take a snapshot of the clean install before you customize anything

From there, build on it: the Ubuntu web server, database server, or user management guides all start from this machine. The same workflow also works in ESXi per the ESXi OS installation guide.

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▶ UP NEXT IN THE UBUNTU TRACK

How to Create and Manage Users and Groups in Ubuntu

Finish this lab, then continue down the track. Each guide builds on the one before it.

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