Windows 2000 Installation Guidelines

VMware ESX Server 1.5
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Windows 2000 server versions can be installed in a virtual machine using the corresponding Windows 2000 distribution CD. Before installing the operating system, be sure that you have already created a new virtual machine and configured it using the ESX Server Virtual Machine Wizard.

Note: Some Microsoft Windows 2000 disks included with new computers are customized for those computers and include device drivers and other utilities specific to the hardware system. Even if you can install this Windows 2000 operating system on your actual computer, you may not be able to install it in a VMware ESX Server virtual machine. You may need to purchase a new copy of Windows to install in a virtual machine.

Windows 2000 Installation Steps

Before starting the installation, use the VMware Management Interface to verify the virtual machine's devices are set up as you expect. For example, if you would like networking software to be installed during the Windows 2000 installation, be sure the virtual machine's Ethernet adapter is configured and enabled.
If you plan to install the guest operating system from a physical CD-ROM disc, be sure the CD-ROM drive is connected to the virtual machine.
Insert the Windows 2000 CD in the CD-ROM drive.
Power on the virtual machine to start installing Windows 2000.
If you enabled the virtual machine's Ethernet adapter and selected the vlance driver, a VMware PCI Ethernet Adapter is detected and set up automatically.
If you enabled the virtual machine's Ethernet adapter and selected the vmxnet driver, you need to configure the guest operating system's network adapter when you install VMware Tools.

VMware Tools

Be sure to install VMware Tools in your guest operating system. For details, see Installing VMware Tools and the Network Driver in the Guest Operating System.

Note: After you install VMware Tools, you need to change your Windows 2000 screen area to be greater than 640x480 pixels; otherwise, Windows 2000 uses the standard VGA driver and your performance suffers.

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