Does anyone have any resources, perhaps a walk-thru, for VMWare? I have both VMware Server installed, as well as VMware Server. But I cannot create a Virtual Machine (grayed out), and I cannot connect to Localhost (error: 511 vmware-serverd service is not running).

All the VMware services are started, so I'm not sure what the error is, or what I possibly messed up. So if anyone can point me in the right direction, I would greatly appreciate it.

In the highlighted areas above, you stated the same product in both cases. Which version of VMware Server did you install?

If you're certain the service is running, and if the VMware client can't connect, perhaps your local firewall is blocking connectivity. If so, disable all firewalls and see if that permits your client to connect. Once connected, it's fairly straightfoward to create a virtual machine.

Diggler

Whoops. I have Server and Player installed. Server version 1.04, Player version 2.02

It's all installed on my local box (same as the one I am using right now), so I can't imagine that it's a connection issue. Using services.msc, all 4 vmware services are started and running. However, through some google searches, one of the services mentioned is VMware Registration Service, which I don't have. But I have VMware Authorization Service, which kind of feels like the same thing.

I just logged into a client's environment where VMware Server 1.03 is in use (free version). There are five (5) VMware services registered and running on the primary host machine:

1) VMware Authorization Service


Authorization and authentication service for starting and accessing virtual machines


2) VMware DHCP Service


DHCP service for virtual networks


3) VMware NAT Service


Network address translation for virtual networks


4) VMware Registration Service


Remote access service for registration and management of virtual machines


5) VMware Virtual Mount Manager Extended


(no description listed)

Try uninstalling and re-installing VMware Server.

(BTW, I'm sure you already know this, but if not, VMware Player doesn't let you create VM's. It only plays back previously created ones).

Hmm, I will try reinstalling it then, as I definitely don't have the registration service running.

I was going to try linux, since I have never used it before, and thought that this was better than partitioning my system and dual booting. There's a lot of nice ubuntu distros out there that run nicely.

And no, I didn't know that you couldn't create one, and that's good to know when I do end up wanting to create one.

I left out the word "Player" in my last post (which I've now edited). VMware Server absolutely lets you create virtual machines. Sorry for the confusion. :/

Doesn't MS also have a free virtual machine? That may also be an option to try.

definitely worth looking at.... thanks for the link, I had forgotten that they made VirtualPC free after VMWare did.

Personally I find VMware to be a much better product than Virtual PC. Plus, VMware, I believe, has better support for running non-Windows OSes inside of Virtual Machines. The "VMware Tools" package, which provides virtual video, mouse, keyboard, etc. drivers for Windows virtual machines like also exists for Linux too (although I'm not 100% sure of that).