安装好VMware Workstation，只能算是万里长征走完了第一步。在第一次运行VMware Workstation之前，还需要对其进行网络配置，安装必须的网络组件。这一步可以说是关键中的关键。
安装好tar安装包，系统会提示是否需要自动运行vmware-config.pl配置脚本，选择“yes”，然后接受最终用户许可协议（EULA：End User License Agreement）。
接下来系统会提示需要把vmmon模块编译进系统内核。由于Fedora Core 1.0所使用的usr/bin/gcc版本（3.2.3）和所需的GCC版本（3.2.2）不符合，配置程序警告说可能导致VMware Workstation崩溃，不要理会VMware的警告，键入“yes”，并回车开始强行编译。
接下来会出现以下提问：
What is the location of the directory of C header files
that match your running kernel?
[/lib/modules/2.4.22-1.2115.nptl/build/include]
这是系统询问匹配当前内核的C头文件的存放路径，按回车键接受默认路径/lib/modules/2.4.22-1.2115.nptl/build/include。
然后系统开始编译。如果最后出现以下提示信息，则说明编译成功，模块已经加载到系统内核：
The module loads perfectly in the running kernel.
接下来会询问一些配置过程所必须回答的问题，这是一个关键。很多朋友抱怨他们的VMware Workstation老是不听使唤，无法使用其网络功能，究其原因是因为没有正确地回答这些问题。下面就详细解释这些重要问题。
1．Do you want networking for your virtual machines? (yes/no/help)
这是询问是否需要进行虚拟机的网络配置，回答“yes”。如果回答“no”，则中止配置过程。键入“help”即可查看详细帮助信息：
Networking will allow your virtual machines to use a virtual network.
There are primarily two types of networking available: bridged and host-only.
A bridged network is a virtual network that is connected to an existing
ethernet device. With a bridged network, your virtual machines will be able to
communicate with other machines on the network to which the ethernet
card is attached. A host-only network is a private network between your
virtual machines and host. Virtual machines connected to a host-only
network may only communicate directly with other virtual machines or the host.
A virtual machine may be configured with more than one bridged or host-only
network.
配置程序允许虚拟机使用虚拟网络，有两种类型的网络配置：Bridge（网桥）模式和Host-only（仅宿主机模式）。网桥网络是连接到物理网卡上的虚拟网络，虚拟机可以通过网桥网络连接外部网络──通过物理网卡连接的外部网络。
仅宿主机网络是仅供宿主机、虚拟机通信的虚拟网络，Host-only网络上的虚拟机只能和宿主机、或其它虚拟机直接通信。一个虚拟机可以同时配置多个Bridged网络或Host-only网络。
回答“yes”后，将会出现以下提示信息，表示系统正在配置桥接网络组件（vmnet0）和NAT网络组件（vmnet8）：
Configuring a bridged network for vmnet0.
Configuring a NAT network for vmnet8.
2．Do you want this program to probe for an unused private subnet? (yes/no/help)
这是询问是否需要配置程序搜索未使用的专用子网地址，这里可以回答“yes”。如果不明白这个问题的具体含义，只要键入“help”即可查看详细帮助信息：
Virtual machines configured to use NAT networking are placed on a
virtual network that is confined to this host. Virtual machines on
this network can communicate with the network through the NAT process,
with each other, and with the host.
虚拟专用网络上的虚拟机是通过NAT进程来和宿主机、其它虚拟机进行通信。
To setup NAT networking you need to select a network number that is
normally unreachable from the host. We can automatically select this
number for you, or you can specify a network number that you want.
要正确设置NAT网络，必须选择一个从宿主机无法访问的网络地址。配置程序可以为我们自动选择一个合适的网络地址，或者也可以自己指定一个网络地址。
The automatic selection process works by testing a series of Class
C subnet numbers to see if they are reachable from the host.
The first one that is unreachable is used. The subnet numbers are
chosen from the private network numbers specified by the Internet
Engineering Task Force (IETF) in RFC 1918
(
http://www.isi.edu/in-notes/rfc1918.txt).配置程序可以自动测试一组C类网络地址来查看是否可以从宿主机访问，配置程序会自动选择第一个无法访问的网络地址。
Virtual machines residing on the NAT network will appear as the
host when accessing the network. These virtual machines on the
NAT network will not be accessible from outside the host machine.
This means that it is OK to use the same number on different systems
so long as you do not enable IP forwarding on the host.
NAT网络上的虚拟机可以像宿主机一样访问外部网络，但是外部网络的计算机无法访问NAT网络上的虚拟机。这意味着只要不启用宿主机的IP转发功能，不同的虚拟机就可以采用同一个IP地址。
回答“yes”之后，系统将出现以下提示信息，表示已经搜索到一个合适的网络地址（192.168.120.0，子网掩码255.255.255.0）。
Probing for an unused private subnet (this can take some time)...
The subnet 192.168.120.0/255.255.255.0 appears to be unused.
……
3．Do you want this program to automatically configure your system to allow your virtual machines to access the host's filesystem? (yes/no/help)
这是询问是否需要配置程序自动配置系统，使得虚拟机可以访问宿主机的文件系统。按“help”查看帮助信息：
To configure your system for host filesystem access,
the program will install VMware's networking software
to allow your virtual machines to use the network.
It will also install a private Samba server to export
your host's filesystem on a virtual network that is private
to the physical machine and your virtual machines.
If you already have a Samba server running on your host,
it is highly recommended to answer "no" to this option.
要配置系统允许宿主机访问，配置程序将会安装VMware的网络软件，来允许虚拟机使用虚拟网络。同时也会安装一个专用的Samba服务器，该Samba服务器仅向虚拟网络提供宿主机文件系统的访问。如果宿主机里已经安装了Samba服务器，建议回答“no”，以防两者产生冲突。
这里我们假设宿主机里没有Samba服务器，所以回答“yes”。
4．You have successfully configured VMware Workstation to allow your virtual machines to access the host's filesystem. Would you like to add a username and password for accessing your host's filesystem via network interface vmnet1 at this time? (yes/no/help)
这个问题的主要意思是现在已经成功配置宿主机访问功能，询问是否添加通过网络接口vmnet1访问宿主机网络的用户名、密码。这里可以回答“yes”，然后输入合适的账号、密码即可。接下来系统会提示以下信息，表示配置工作已经成功完成，今后可以使用“/usr/bin/vmware”命令来运行VMware Workstation：
The configuration of VMware Workstation 4.0.5 build-6030
for Linux for this running kernel completed successfully.
You can now run VMware Workstation by invoking
the following command: "/usr/bin/vmware".
Enjoy,
--the VMware team
请注意，如果采用RPM安装包安装VMware Workstation，则不会提示是否运行vmware-config.pl配置脚本，必须手动运行该脚本文件。如果升级了Linux系统内核版本，则必须重新运行vmware-config.pl配置脚本。
我们还可以使用vmware-config.pl配置脚本重新配置VMware Workstation的网络组件，例如添加或删除Host-only网络组件。
