How to Install VMware on CentOS Stream 10: Step-by-Step Guide

This guide will walk you through installing VMware on CentOS Stream, step by step, from prerequisites to best practices.

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. What is VMware?
3. Why Use VMware on CentOS Stream?
4. Prerequisites
5. Preparing CentOS Stream for VMware Installation
6. Downloading VMware Workstation
7. Installing Required Packages and Dependencies
8. Installing VMware Workstation on CentOS Stream
9. Configuring VMware for First Use
10. Running Your First Virtual Machine
11. Troubleshooting Common Issues
12. Updating or Uninstalling VMware on CentOS Stream
13. Best Practices After Installation
14. Conclusion

1. Introduction

Virtualization is a cornerstone of modern IT infrastructure, enabling developers and system administrators to run multiple operating systems on a single machine. VMware Workstation is one of the most popular virtualization tools, and CentOS Stream—a rolling-release Linux distribution—is a great host environment.

2. What is VMware?

VMware is a virtualization platform that allows users to run multiple operating systems as virtual machines (VMs) on a single physical host. Popular VMware products include:

• VMware Workstation Pro: Full-featured virtualization for professionals.
• VMware Workstation Player: Free version for personal use.

3. Why Use VMware on CentOS Stream 10?

Running VMware on CentOS Stream provides:

• Stability: CentOS is trusted in enterprise environments.
• Flexibility: Test multiple operating systems on one machine.
• Productivity: Create isolated environments for development, testing, or training.

4. Prerequisites

Before installing VMware, ensure you have:

• CentOS Stream (latest release) installed.
• Root or sudo privileges.
• At least 8 GB RAM (16 GB recommended).
• At least 50 GB free storage.
• Internet access for downloading packages.

5. Preparing CentOS Stream for VMware Installation

First, update your system:

sudo dnf update -y
sudo dnf upgrade -y

Reboot if necessary:

sudo reboot

6. Downloading VMware Workstation

Head to the official VMware website:

👉 VMware Workstation Download Page

Download the latest .bundle file for Linux (e.g., VMware-Workstation-Full-*.x86_64.bundle) and place it in your ~/Downloads folder.

7. Installing Required Packages and Dependencies

VMware requires compilation of kernel modules, so we need to install development tools:

sudo dnf groupinstall "Development Tools" -y
sudo dnf install kernel-headers kernel-devel gcc make perl -y

Check that kernel headers match your running kernel:

uname -r
rpm -q kernel-devel

If mismatched, update the kernel and reboot.

8. Installing VMware Workstation on CentOS Stream

1. Navigate to the directory with the .bundle file:

cd ~/Downloads

2. Make the file executable:

chmod +x VMware-Workstation-Full-*.x86_64.bundle

3. Run the installer:

sudo ./VMware-Workstation-Full-*.x86_64.bundle

4. Follow the on-screen wizard to complete installation.

9. Configuring VMware for First Use

Start VMware:

vmware

The first time you launch, VMware will build kernel modules. Allow permissions if prompted.

10. Running Your First Virtual Machine

1. Open VMware Workstation.
2. Click Create a New Virtual Machine.
3. Select ISO or physical disk for OS installation.
4. Allocate CPU, memory, and storage resources.
5. Start the virtual machine.

11. Troubleshooting Common Issues

• Kernel headers mismatch
  Update headers:

  sudo dnf install kernel-headers-$(uname -r) kernel-devel-$(uname -r)

• Missing libraries

  sudo dnf install libaio libaio-devel -y

• VMware service not starting

  sudo systemctl restart vmware

12. Updating or Uninstalling VMware on CentOS Stream

Update

Download the latest bundle file and re-run the installer:

sudo ./VMware-Workstation-Full-*.x86_64.bundle

Uninstall

To remove VMware:

sudo vmware-installer -u vmware-workstation

13. Best Practices After Installation

• Keep CentOS Stream updated with dnf update -y.
• Assign adequate RAM and CPU to virtual machines.
• Use snapshots to save VM states before risky changes.
• Regularly check VMware for patches and updates.

14. Conclusion

Installing VMware Workstation on CentOS Stream is straightforward once dependencies are configured correctly. With VMware, you can run multiple operating systems, test environments, and build development sandboxes—all from a single machine.

This guide has covered everything from prerequisites to troubleshooting, giving you a smooth start with VMware on CentOS Stream.