Here’s a draft for a blog or forum post tailored to users looking to download VMware Workstation 16 for Linux.
Title: VMware Workstation 16 on Linux: Where to Download and What to Know First
Intro
If you’re running a Linux host (Ubuntu, Fedora, Debian, etc.) and need to spin up virtual machines for development, testing, or just sandboxing, VMware Workstation 16 remains a solid choice. While version 17 is now the latest, many users stick with 16 for compatibility or licensing reasons. Here’s a straight-to-the-point guide on downloading VMware Workstation 16 for Linux and getting started.
Official Download Source
The only safe place to download VMware Workstation 16 for Linux is from VMware’s Broadcom support portal (formerly VMware Customer Connect).
https://support.broadcom.com (you’ll need a free account)VMware-Workstation-Full-16.x.x-xxxxxx.x86_64.bundleImportant: Avoid third-party or torrent sites. The .bundle file is signed, and getting it from unofficial sources risks malware.
Quick Linux Installation
Once downloaded:
chmod +x VMware-Workstation-Full-16.*.bundle
sudo ./VMware-Workstation-Full-16.*.bundle
After install, run vmware to start the setup wizard. You’ll likely need to install kernel modules – allow it to compile them (requires gcc, make, and kernel headers installed).
Note on License Keys
Workstation 16 requires a license. Free 30-day trial keys are available during install. If you have a paid key for version 16, it works. Version 17 keys do not work with 16.
Linux Host Compatibility
VMware Workstation 16 works best with:
Known issues with newer kernels (6.x+) – you may need to apply community patches or switch to Workstation 17.
Why Still Use Version 16?
Final Tip
Before downloading, double-check if your CPU supports VT-x / AMD-V. Run:
egrep -c '(vmx|svm)' /proc/cpuinfo
If it returns 0, virtualization won’t work.
Downloading and Installing VMware Workstation 16 on Linux VMware Workstation 16 Pro remains a popular choice for developers and sysadmins who need to run multiple operating systems on a single Linux machine. While version 17 is the current release, many users still seek version 16 for specific hardware compatibility or stability. Where to Download
Since Broadcom acquired VMware, the download process has shifted to the Broadcom Support Portal Official Portal : Register for a free account at the Broadcom Support Portal to access downloads. Direct Link (Search) Vmware Workstation 16 Download Linux
: If the portal is difficult to navigate, searching for the specific filename VMware-Workstation-Full-16.x.x.x.bundle can often lead to direct download mirrors. Personal Use : VMware Workstation Pro is now free for personal use Installation Steps for Linux Once you have the
file, follow these steps to install it on distributions like Ubuntu, Debian, or Linux Mint: Install Dependencies
: Open your terminal and install the required build tools and kernel headers.
sudo apt update && sudo apt install build-essential linux-headers-$(uname -r) Use code with caution. Copied to clipboard Make the File Executable
: Navigate to your downloads folder and grant execution permissions to the bundle file. chmod +x VMware-Workstation-Full- Use code with caution. Copied to clipboard Run the Installer
: Execute the bundle with root privileges to start the graphical installation wizard. sudo ./VMware-Workstation-Full- Use code with caution. Copied to clipboard Follow the Wizard
: Accept the license agreement and follow the on-screen prompts to complete the setup. Troubleshooting Kernel Modules On newer Linux kernels, VMware 16 may fail to compile the
modules. If you see a "Could not open /dev/vmmon" error, you can use community-maintained patches: easy guide to download vmware pro workstation
Since Broadcom acquired VMware, the download process for VMware Workstation 16 Pro for Linux has shifted. Notably, VMware Workstation Pro and Fusion Pro are now free for personal use. 1. Official Download Access
You can no longer find direct downloads on the old VMware site. Access is now managed through the Broadcom Support Portal:
Sign In: You will need to create a free Broadcom account to access the download files.
Select Product: Look for "VMware Workstation Pro" in the product downloads list.
Linux Version: Download the .bundle file specifically for Linux (usually labeled for 64-bit systems). 2. Installation Steps
Once you have the .bundle file, follow these terminal commands to install it on your Linux distribution (Ubuntu, Fedora, etc.): Here’s a draft for a blog or forum
Grant Permissions: Open your terminal and navigate to your downloads folder. Make the file executable:chmod +x VMware-Workstation-Full-16.x.x.x.bundle
Run with Sudo: Execute the installer with administrative privileges:sudo ./VMware-Workstation-Full-16.x.x.x.bundle
GUI Setup: An installation wizard will pop up. Follow the prompts to accept the license agreements and complete the setup. 3. Post-Installation Tips
Free License: When prompted for a license key, select the option for Personal Use to use it for free.
Kernel Modules: If the application fails to start, you may need to install build essentials to compile the necessary kernel modules:sudo apt install build-essential linux-headers-$(uname -r)
VMware Tools: After installing a guest OS (like Windows or another Linux distro), ensure you click Virtual Machine > Install VMware Tools to enable features like screen resizing and shared folders.
Installing VMware Tools in VMware Player - Broadcom support portal
Resolution * Power on the virtual machine. * Log in to the virtual machine using an account with Administrator or root privileges. Broadcom support portal VMware Fusion and Workstation are Now Free for All Users
To download and install VMware Workstation 16 Pro for Linux, you must navigate the Broadcom Support Portal, which now hosts all VMware products. Download Instructions
Since Broadcom's acquisition of VMware, official downloads require a registered account and identity verification.
Register/Login: Go to the Broadcom Support Portal and sign in. If you don't have an account, you must register with a valid email. Navigate to Downloads:
Select the VMware Cloud Foundation division from the top-left dropdown. Click My Downloads on the left-hand sidebar.
Search for Workstation: Use the search bar to find "VMware Workstation Pro". Select Version 16: Locate the specific "VMware Workstation Pro 16.x" entry. Choose the Linux version (often listed as a .bundle file).
Verification: You may need to click "I agree to terms" and complete a one-time "Trade Compliance" verification (address and details) before the download icon becomes active. Installation Steps for Linux Title: VMware Workstation 16 on Linux: Where to
VMware Workstation for Linux is distributed as a .bundle file. Follow these steps to install it via terminal: Downloading Free Software from the Broadcom Support Portal
Declaring identified domains: VMware Workstation 16 Pro and Player for Linux are high-performance hypervisors that allow you to run multiple virtual machines on a single Linux host. While newer versions like Workstation 17 are now available, version 16 remains a stable choice for many users. Broadcom support portal 1. Download and System Requirements
You can download the VMware Workstation 16 bundle for Linux from the official Broadcom Support Portal VMware Blogs Minimum Requirements: 64-bit x86 processor (2GHz or faster).
2GB RAM minimum, though 4GB+ is highly recommended for smooth performance.
Additional disk space is required for each virtual machine you create.
Supports various 64-bit distros, including Ubuntu (16.04 to 20.04), RHEL, and CentOS. Broadcom support portal 2. Installation Steps (Terminal) The Linux installer is provided as a file. Follow these steps to install it: Desktop Hypervisor Solutions | VMware
Enter License Key (optional for free use):
For personal use, select “I want to try VMware Workstation 16 for 30 days” or enter a valid Pro license.
Disable Auto-Update Checks (Highly recommended for Linux):
Edit → Preferences → Updates → “Check for product updates” → Never.
Reason: Updates often break kernel module compatibility.
Create Shared Folders Directory:
By default, /mnt/hgfs is used. Ensure it exists:
sudo mkdir -p /mnt/hgfs
Add User to vmware Group (for USB access):
sudo groupadd vmware
sudo usermod -aG vmware $USER
# Log out and back in
| Requirement | Details |
|-------------|---------|
| Processor | 64-bit x86 CPU with VT-x (Intel) or AMD-V (AMD) |
| RAM | Minimum 4 GB (8 GB+ recommended for guest VMs) |
| Disk Space | ~2 GB for installation + space for VMs |
| Linux Kernel | Tested up to 5.14 (may fail on 6.x kernels without patches) |
| Supported distros | Ubuntu 20.04/22.04, RHEL 8.x, CentOS 8, Debian 10/11, Fedora 35/36 |
| Dependencies | gcc, make, kernel-headers, kernel-devel, elfutils-libelf-devel |
chmod +x VMware-Workstation-Full-16*.bundle
sudo ./VMware-Workstation-Full-16*.bundle
sudo ./VMware-Workstation-Full-16*.bundle --console
.vmdk) on an NVMe drive for dramatic I/O improvement.Edit > Preferences > Memory, select "Fit all virtual machine memory into reserved RAM" for dedicated servers; disable it for desktop use.Do not skip this section. Many download issues stem from incompatible kernels or missing build tools.
| Requirement | Minimum | Recommended |
| --- | --- | --- |
| CPU | 1.3 GHz+ (64-bit) with VT-x/AMD-V | 2.0 GHz+ multi-core |
| RAM | 4 GB (2 GB for host + 2 GB for guest) | 16 GB+ |
| Disk Space | 1.5 GB for installer + space for VMs | 256 GB SSD+ |
| Linux Kernel | 3.10+ | 5.4+ (or newer LTS) |
| Architectures | x86_64 only (no ARM support in v16) | |
| Dependencies | gcc, make, kernel-headers, dkms | |