http://www.thoughtpolice.co.uk/vmware/
VMware lets you run another computer in your computer. Try out another operating system, test a different platform, preview a new distro. Hopefully this page of VMware images, or “Virtual Appliances” is useful.
These images will work in:
- VMware Player free!
- VMware Server free!
- VMware Workstation 5.5+
- VMware ESX 3+/VMware Virtual Infrastructure
- Get the free VMware Player (or VMware Server, ESX 3, or VMware Workstation)
- Download the image you want to use (see the list below)
- Unzip it
- Load the image in VMware
All of these VMware images are straight installs of the distribution, with all the default options chosen. This means you will be using and American English with an American keyboard. No tinkering was done – this means that no security updates have been applied – so be careful! See the 1 minute HOWTO guide for instructions on changing the language and keyboard, and on applying security updates.
There is also a step-by-step walkthrough on how to create your own VMware image using VMware Workstation.
The torrent downloads here are much, much faster than your net connection. If you want the image quickly, definitely use the torrent.
- Get a BitTorrent downloader, like uTorrent (free!)
- Click one of the fast torrent download! links below
- There will be a short pause before, and then your high speed download will begin
CentOS 4.6, server install. Long Term Support (until 2012!) permalink
centos-4.6-i386-server.zip, 471M
Download using: fast torrent download!, web download
md5sum: a23b88a9db64e3dce27b8b11b02c0cc5
Notes: root password is “thoughtpolice”.
Quick start HOWTO: CentOS 4 in 1 minute
CentOS 4.7, server install. Long Term Support (until 2012!) permalink
centos-4.7-i386-server.zip, 428M
Download using: fast torrent download!, web download
md5sum: 81eeeb86168a971aed6092b0c041b467
Notes: root password is “thoughtpolice”.
Quick start HOWTO: CentOS 4 in 1 minute
CentOS 4.8, server install. Long Term Support (until 2014!) permalink
Notes: Login as user “root”, password is “thoughtpolice”
Quick start HOWTO: CentOS 4 in 1 minute
32-bit: centos-4.8-i386-server.zip, 469M
fast torrent download!, web download
md5sum: 25dd0d9838cde9840d862c53fd92cd15
64-bit: centos-4.8-x86_64-server.zip, 471M
fast torrent download!, web download
md5sum: 3e8627d0b36b2a37db105606b65848ea
CentOS 5.0, server install. Long Term Support (until 2014!) permalink
centos-5.0-i386-server.zip, 400M
Download using: fast torrent download!, web download
md5sum: 0cbe6c9551d32483e4e84ed0f87f69ee
Notes: root password is “thoughtpolice”.
Quick start HOWTO: CentOS 5 in 1 minute
Install VMware Tools
CentOS 5.1, server install. Long Term Support (until 2014!) permalink
centos-5.1-i386-server.zip, 909M
Download using: fast torrent download!, web download
md5sum: b082495b1a01a854c88723967e614cd6
Notes: root password is “thoughtpolice”.
Quick start HOWTO: CentOS 5 in 1 minute
Install VMware Tools
CentOS 5.2, server install. Long Term Support (until 2014!) permalink
centos-5.2-i386-server.zip, 908M
Download using: fast torrent download!, web download
md5sum: 4c31ce20e97de313647a809219788a77
Notes: root password is “thoughtpolice”.
Quick start HOWTO: CentOS 5 in 1 minute
Install VMware Tools
CentOS 5.3, server install. Long Term Support (until 2014!) permalink
Notes: Login as user “root”, password is “thoughtpolice”
Quick start HOWTO: CentOS 5 in 1 minute
32-bit: centos-5.3-i386-server.zip, 963M
fast torrent download!, web download
md5sum: aa9972661a1f6e42b4056a38f0a18854
64-bit: centos-5.3-x86_64-server.zip, 1039M
fast torrent download!, web download
md5sum: e3253bcd4c47fe8dc5bbdb4442c08971
CentOS 5.4, server install. new! Long Term Support (until 2014!) permalink
Notes: Login as user “root”, password is “thoughtpolice”
Quick start HOWTO: CentOS 5 in 1 minute
32-bit: centos-5.4-i386-server.zip, 965M
fast torrent download!, web download
md5sum: 67cae177842ef0533c6ca604cddeec53
64-bit: centos-5.4-x86_64-server.zip, 1038M
fast torrent download!, web download
md5sum: d82cbced59652025dc9e51078dd0e39e
Debian Sarge (Debian 3.1), minimal (netinstall) version. permalink
debian-31r0a-i386-netinst-kernel2.6.zip, 115M
Download using: fast torrent download!, web download
md5sum: a2f41713f9f7407a9a3e43fb27fd2e24
Notes: root password is set at first boot.
Quick start HOWTO: Debian 3.1 (Sarge) in 1 minute
Install VMware Tools
Note: 2.6 kernel chosen, not the default 2.4 kernel.
Debian Etch (Debian 4.0), minimal (netinstall) version. permalink
debian-40r0-i386-netinst.zip, 299M
Download using: fast torrent download!, web download
md5sum: 2a1cb887f658701c0b1ff095600ee6f9 (old: 0782efdb31751e6dbbff3d9775064943)
Notes: There are two accounts: “root” and “notroot”. Password for both is “thoughtpolice”.
Networking not working? rm /etc/udev/rules.d/z25_persistent-net.rules && reboot (fixed in new image).
Quick start HOWTO: Debian 4.0 (Etch) in 1 minute
Install VMware Tools
Debian Lenny (Debian 5.0), minimal (netinstall) version. permalink
Notes: There are two accounts: “root” and “notroot”. Password for both is “thoughtpolice”.
Quick start HOWTO: soon! For now… Debian 4.0 (Etch) in 1 minute
32-bit: debian-500-i386-netinst.zip, 150M
fast torrent download!, web download
md5sum: 35a21a670c680f7fd40da0fd8bb5f3b7 old: 0560ec47daead10420ae2c75357cbe08
64-bit: debian-500-amd64-netinst.zip, 147M
fast torrent download!, web download
md5sum: 4d6d05196d38bc3eb0b47063918fd067 old: a7146e6df4d5acf35b523c7831ad3b57
Fedora Core 4 (Stentz), minimal install. permalink
fedora-fc4-i386.zip, 283M
Download using: fast torrent download!, web download
md5sum: 8e46e5ac5fe813cf83454febed2cfdef
Notes: root password is “thoughtpolice”. Remember that a standard install means selinux enabled, firewall on.
Quick start HOWTO: Fedora Core 4 in 1 minute
Fedora Core 5 (Bordeaux), standard install permalink
fedora-fc5-i386.zip, 977M
Download using: fast torrent download!, web download
md5sum: 16642a65686a6fb5b283d34e1c359662
Notes: root password is “thoughtpolice”
Quick start HOWTO: Fedora Core 5 in 1 minute
Install VMware Tools
Fedora Core 6 (Zod), standard install permalink
fedora-fc6-i386.zip, 875M
Download using: fast torrent download!, web download
md5sum: 4e0037f18d4a43b04df33a920c5f751b
Notes: root password is “thoughtpolice”
Quick start HOWTO: Fedora Core 6 in 1 minute
Install VMware Tools
Getting Kernel panic - not syncing: Attempted to kill init! after an LVM error? See here.
Fedora 7 (Moonshine), standard install permalink
fedora-7-i386.zip, 972M
Download using: fast torrent download!, web download
md5sum: 8e94dd615280c8aa82129c325c6c8add
Notes: root password is “thoughtpolice”
Quick start HOWTO: Fedora 7 in 1 minute
Install VMware Tools
Note: Uses the BusLogic SCSI adaptor.
Getting Kernel panic - not syncing: Attempted to kill init! after an LVM error? See here.
Fedora 8 (Werewolf), standard install permalink
fedora-8-i386.zip, 1149M
Download using: fast torrent download!, web download
md5sum: 102fe7c3b01a22a462f718a3fbc81068
Notes: root password is “thoughtpolice”
Quick start HOWTO: Fedora 8 in 1 minute
Install VMware Tools – soon!
Note: Uses the BusLogic SCSI adaptor.
Fedora 9 (Sulphur), standard install permalink
fedora-9-i386.zip, 1199M
Download using: fast torrent download!, web download
md5sum: aad622763be3508a33aa90ea316d49ae
Notes: root password is “thoughtpolice”
Quick start HOWTO: Fedora 9 in 1 minute
Install VMware Tools
Note: Uses the BusLogic SCSI adaptor.
Fedora 10 (Cambridge), standard install permalink
fedora-10-i386.zip, 696M
Download using: fast torrent download!, web download
md5sum: f417a4e0317cfdc0778bfaa484eda38b
Notes: root password is “thoughtpolice”
Quick start HOWTO: soon, for now see Fedora 9 in 1 minute
Fedora 11 (Leonidas), standard install. permalink
Notes: Login as user “root”, password is “thoughtpolice”
Quick start HOWTO: Fedora 11 1 minute
32-bit: fedora-11-i386.zip, 1219M
fast torrent download!, web download
md5sum: 5fd954f77a4bd5d752b49438f51630a9
64-bit: fedora-11-x86_64.zip.zip, 1229M
fast torrent download!, web download
md5sum: 33396a7b703ed2db8c05e5ca6080a8d6
Fedora 12 (Constantine), standard install. new! permalink
Notes: Login as user “root”, password is “thoughtpolice”
Quick start HOWTO: Fedora 12 1 minute
32-bit: fedora-12-i386.zip, 1051M
fast torrent download!, web download
md5sum: 4a959a99cbac08a10fd12d445664cbae
64-bit: fedora-12-x86_64.zip.zip, 1121M
fast torrent download!, web download
md5sum: a0285962e9c444e7c0ff5a20c2a83037
FreeBSD 6.0, minimal install. permalink
freebsd-6.0-i386.zip, 129M
Download using: fast torrent download!, web download
md5sum: 505718f94ae67c4c8db22784b27a91f2
Notes: root password is “thoughtpolice”
Quick start HOWTO: FreeBSD 6.0 in 1 minute
FreeBSD 6.1, user install. permalink
freebsd-6.1-i386.zip, 173M
Download using: fast torrent download!, web download
md5sum: 9a591ab3447e8781a27a4b5151acc121
Notes: root password is “thoughtpolice”
Quick start HOWTO: FreeBSD 6.1 in 1 minute
Install VMware Tools
FreeBSD 6.2, user install. permalink
freebsd-6.2-i386.zip, 235M
Download using: fast torrent download!, web download
md5sum: 5a78b8c7074f9ccd755d43e177e14b39
Notes: root password is “thoughtpolice”
Quick start HOWTO: FreeBSD 6.2 in 1 minute
FreeBSD 6.3, user install. permalink
freebsd-6.3-i386.zip, 221M
Download using: fast torrent download!, web download
md5sum: 5b05a4218799db57eebe6b0dd88f2fa0
Notes: root password is “thoughtpolice”
Quick start HOWTO: FreeBSD 6.3 in 1 minute
FreeBSD 6.4, user install. permalink
freebsd-6.4-i386.zip, 224M
Download using: fast torrent download!, web download
md5sum: d5d99356b840d34c22d44744281f678f
Notes: root password is “thoughtpolice”
Quick start HOWTO: FreeBSD 6.4 in 1 minute
Install VMware Tools
Note: SCSI disk (unlike the other 6.x releases)!
FreeBSD 7.0, user install. permalink
freebsd-7.0-i386.zip, 305M
Download using: fast torrent download!, http web download
md5sum: 76edfb287ce8b66c7c404d9488427321
Notes: root password is “thoughtpolice”
Quick start HOWTO: FreeBSD 7.0 in 1 minute
FreeBSD 7.2, user install. permalink
Notes: Root password is “thoughtpolice”
Quick start HOWTO: soon! For now see FreeBSD 7.0 in 1 minute
32-bit: freebsd-7.2-i386.zip, 348M
fast torrent download!, web download
md5sum: 449dc7ef6ee3770c2a79a69399258fc4
64-bit: freebsd-7.2-amd64.zip, 286M
fast torrent download!, web download
md5sum: 1ad9fbe9a885e8fe7fc24036a37a090f
FreeBSD 8.0, standard install. new! permalink
Notes: Root password is “thoughtpolice”
Quick start HOWTO: soon! For now see FreeBSD 7.0 in 1 minute
32-bit: freebsd-8.0-i386.zip, 125M
fast torrent download!, web download
md5sum: 7636347fb546bf66b19bc9267c992bb8
64-bit: freebsd-8.0-amd64.zip, 137M
fast torrent download!, web download
md5sum: 5c9487fc19f4112f673915b350979e19
OpenSUSE 11.2 (Fichte) new! permalink
Notes: There are two accounts, “root” and “notroot”; the password for both is “thoughtpolice”
Quick start HOWTO: soon!
32-bit: opensuse-11.2-i586.zip, 1104M
fast torrent download!, web download
md5sum: 0fcf1df17ecc251cc28b52caa80f1e71
64-bit: opensuse-11.2-x86_64.zip, 1138M
fast torrent download!, web download
md5sum: d9d8c3662b1e973e4cc3bbbe89398b06
Ubuntu Server 6.06.2 LTS (Dapper Drake) Long Term Support (until 2011!) permalink
ubuntu-server-6.06.2-i386.zip, 184M
Download using: fast torrent download!, web download
md5sum: 63e61c40a51a14f88bd4a6435226a1a5
Notes: There is no root account. Login as user “notroot”, password is “thoughtpolice”
Quick start HOWTO: Ubuntu 6.06 in 1 minute
Install VMware Tools
Note: if you get stuck at “uncompressing kernel”, see Ubuntu forums.
Ubuntu Server 6.10 (Edgy Eft) permalink
ubuntu-server-6.10-i386.zip, 171M
Download using: fast torrent download!, web download
md5sum: 457ad56694948a110058445fad271b36
Notes: There is no root account. Login as user “notroot”, password is “thoughtpolice” (the README contains the wrong username).
Quick start HOWTO: Ubuntu 6.10 in 1 minute
Install VMware Tools
Note: This image will not run on the Pentium M (or CPUs that do not support PAE) – you will get the error Unknown Interrupt or fault at EIP
Ubuntu Server 7.04 (Feisty Fawn) permalink
ubuntu-server-7.04-i386.zip, 189M
Download using: fast torrent download!, web download
md5sum: 078020bab05ce5e0555870e4c15b1b60 (old: 208aee98417c6067a0e7d46f1f3a5df3)
Notes: There is no root account. Login as user “notroot”, password is “thoughtpolice”
Quick start HOWTO: Ubuntu 7.04 in 1 minute
Ubuntu Server 7.10 (Gutsy Gibbon) permalink
ubuntu-server-7.10-i386.zip, 189M
Download using: fast torrent download!, web download
md5sum: 91f35468f9548e3710269e404d9b2ec9
Notes: There is no root account. Login as user “notroot”, password is “thoughtpolice”
Quick start HOWTO: Ubuntu 7.10 in 1 minute
Get the messages PANIC: CPU too old for this kernel.? See launchpad.
Ubuntu Server 8.04.1 LTS (Hardy Heron) Long Term Support (until 2013!) permalink
ubuntu-server-8.04.1-i386.zip, 181M
Download using: fast torrent download!, web download
md5sum: 734f3d9a7da4d431c5c241af258b5cd7
Notes: There is no root account. Login as user “notroot”, password is “thoughtpolice”
Quick start HOWTO: Ubuntu 8.04 in 1 minute
Ubuntu Server 8.10 (Intrepid Ibex) permalink
ubuntu-server-8.10-i386.zip, 190M
Download using: fast torrent download!, web download
md5sum: 5b4b7383713c4feab285f5ba0aab7fe2
Notes: There is no root account. Login as user “notroot”, password is “thoughtpolice”
Quick start HOWTO: See Ubuntu 8.10 in 1 minute
Install VMware Tools
Ubuntu Server 9.04 (Jaunty Jackalope) permalink
Notes: There is no root account. Login as user “notroot”, password is “thoughtpolice”
Quick start HOWTO: soon! For now see Ubuntu 8.04 in 1 minute
32-bit: ubuntu-server-9.04-i386.zip, 226M
fast torrent download!, web download
md5sum: f79dc878cb42fb0bfa57409fb88d99f0
64-bit: ubuntu-server-9.04-amd64.zip, 224M
fast torrent download!, web download
md5sum: 030fccb55299857ecf945620b8461c45
Ubuntu Server 9.10 (Karmic Koala) new! permalink
Notes: There is no root account. Login as user “notroot”, password is “thoughtpolice”
Quick start HOWTO: soon! For now see Ubuntu 8.04 in 1 minute
32-bit: ubuntu-server-9.10-i386.zip, 240M
fast torrent download!, web download
md5sum: 42667147822d874ffbacedf14c8539ae
64-bit: ubuntu-server-9.10-amd64.zip, 239M
fast torrent download!, web download
md5sum: bc3fd9ec4b80362fd5947d5031268eab
Looking for (more) test releases? See Archived releases, below.
More to follow!
You can get an e-mail whenever a new VM is released! tip!
The mailing list is low traffic (~1 e-mail per month), and you can unsubscribe whenever you like.
Members also get access to new VMs before the public do!
Fedora Core 5 Test 1, standard install. Show details
fedora-fc5t1-i386.zip, 872M
Download using: fast torrent download!
md5sum: 0e47df2e66e79a5e9c706f26fa3beab2
Notes: root password is “thoughtpolice”
Fedora Core 5 Test 2, standard install. Show details
fedora-fc5t2-i386.zip, 902M
Download using: fast torrent download!
md5sum: 896799d744341a7d9bf4020778499905
Notes: root password is “thoughtpolice”
Fedora Core 5 Test 3, standard install. Show details
fedora-fc5t3-i386.zip, 956M
Download using: fast torrent download!
md5sum: 7cf61dd42a7fb4ff828ad96a688616e2
Notes: root password is “thoughtpolice”
Fedora Core 6 Test 1, standard install. Show details
fedora-fc6t1-i386.zip, 823M
Download using: fast torrent download!
md5sum: a90a45b7560a84454e763a63ed669938
Notes: root password is “thoughtpolice”
Quick start HOWTO: Fedora Core 6 in 1 minute
Install VMware Tools
Fedora Core 6 Test 2, standard install. Show details
fedora-fc6t2-i386.zip, 838M
Download using: fast torrent download!
md5sum: 441b9aca42f3594726d457f0e2c56f85
Notes: root password is “thoughtpolice”
Quick start HOWTO: Fedora Core 6 in 1 minute
Install VMware Tools
Fedora Core 6 Test 3, standard install. Show details
fedora-fc6t3-i386.zip, 847M
Download using: fast torrent download!
md5sum: de9f249a86a2c1580cc2d3574f7b9e84
Notes: root password is “thoughtpolice”
Quick start HOWTO: Fedora Core 6 in 1 minute
Install VMware Tools
Fedora Desktop 7 Test 1, standard install. Show details
fedora-desktop-f7t1-i386.zip, 891M
Download using: fast torrent download!
md5sum: 67e94e94d2f16846fbb99364fac12194
Notes: root password is “thoughtpolice”
Quick start HOWTO: Fedora 7 in 1 minute
Install VMware Tools
Note: There are problems with more recent kernels and the LSI Logic SCSI adaptor. Use the shipped kernel for now.
Fedora Desktop 7 Test 2, standard install. Show details
fedora-desktop-f7t2-i386.zip, 899M
Download using: fast torrent download!
md5sum: 37065b4e023a8cef1399433794872006
Notes: root password is “thoughtpolice”
Quick start HOWTO: Fedora 7 in 1 minute
Install VMware Tools
Note: Uses the BusLogic SCSI adaptor unlike the F7T1 image.
Fedora Desktop 7 Test 3, standard install. Show details
fedora-desktop-f7t3-i386.zip, 993M
Download using: fast torrent download!
md5sum: e66703b47985be1dc4f40bfb781da943
Notes: root password is “thoughtpolice”
Quick start HOWTO: Fedora 7 in 1 minute
Install VMware Tools
Note: Uses the BusLogic SCSI adaptor unlike the F7T1 image.
Fedora Desktop 7 Test 4, standard install. Show details
fedora-desktop-f7t4-i386.zip, 988M
Download using: fast torrent download!
md5sum: 1df9b3caa729b5a794df5b9428ec40da
Notes: root password is “thoughtpolice”
Quick start HOWTO: Fedora 7 in 1 minute
Install VMware Tools
Note: Uses the BusLogic SCSI adaptor unlike the F7T1 image.
Fedora 8 Test 1, standard install. Show details
fedora-8t1-i386.zip, 1021M
Download using: fast torrent download!
md5sum: 90cb09fd2eee2564f1428ad27e9cda15
Notes: root password is “thoughtpolice”
Quick start HOWTO: Fedora 8 in 1 minute
Note: Uses the BusLogic SCSI adaptor.
Fedora 8 Test 2, standard install. Show details
fedora-8t2-i386.zip, 1070M
Download using: fast torrent download!
md5sum: 23ff771b1a6c62499b9d9a9e8cf50a34
Notes: root password is “thoughtpolice”
Quick start HOWTO: Fedora 8 in 1 minute
Note: Uses the BusLogic SCSI adaptor.
Fedora 8 Test 3, standard install. Show details
fedora-8t3-i386.zip, 1135M
Download using: fast torrent download!
md5sum: 0d465038489594f2d6856ac692c2743f
Notes: root password is “thoughtpolice”
Quick start HOWTO: Fedora 8 in 1 minute
Note: Uses the BusLogic SCSI adaptor.
Fedora 9 beta, standard install. Show details
fedora-9beta-i386.zip, 1236M
Download using: fast torrent download!
md5sum: 5f847b63917859128e83638ef286b36e
Notes: root password is “thoughtpolice”
Quick start HOWTO: Fedora 9 in 1 minute
Install VMware Tools
Note: Uses the BusLogic SCSI adaptor. Does not use volume encryption.
Fedora 9 preview, standard install. Show details
fedora-9preview-i386.zip, 1284M
Download using: fast torrent download!
md5sum: 6140bfcb6a45acee1c739d3b7053c2ae
Notes: root password is “thoughtpolice”
Quick start HOWTO: Fedora 9 in 1 minute
Install VMware Tools
Note: Uses the BusLogic SCSI adaptor.
Fedora 10 beta, standard install. Show details
fedora-10beta-i386.zip, 1268M
Download using: fast torrent download!
md5sum: c2aff911c7d8b8f34ee55091cfd0892d
Notes: root password is “thoughtpolice”
Quick start HOWTO: beta! See Fedora 9 in 1 minute
Important: to login to X, create a user in firstboot.
Ubuntu Server 6.06 (Dapper Drake) Server. Show details
ubuntu-server-6.06-i386.zip, 170M
Download using: fast torrent download!
md5sum: ad482c4f31462989f8853cf057fed2ba
Notes: There is no root account. Login as user “notroot”, password is “thoughtpolice”
Quick start HOWTO: Ubuntu 6.06 in 1 minute
Important: Networking problem?
Note: if you get stuck at “uncompressing kernel”, see Ubuntu forums.
ubuntu-server-6.06.1-i386.zip, 172M
Download using: fast torrent download!, web download
md5sum: 28fc5b4990802c2bd4af1d7dd01f8985 (old: 9869ae189277b3d6b8303d666c12bb5bfg)
Notes: There is no root account. Login as user “notroot”, password is “thoughtpolice”
Quick start HOWTO: Ubuntu 6.06 in 1 minute
Install VMware Tools
Note: if you get stuck at “uncompressing kernel”, see Ubuntu forums.
Ubuntu Server 8.04 LTS (Hardy Heron). Show details
ubuntu-server-8.04-i386.zip, 187M
Download using: fast torrent download!, web download
md5sum: 5ef14660be5320cee95adcc546fd740f
Notes: There is no root account. Login as user “notroot”, password is “thoughtpolice”
Quick start HOWTO: Ubuntu 8.04 in 1 minute
Some off-site VMware images:
These mainly VMware links are good:
- Make your own VMware images, without VMware: Hack a day, laportestyle
- An online .vmx file builder (you could use this boot from an .iso file)
- Alessandro Perilli’s excellent virtualisation blog
- Debian Administration – an excellent sys admin resource
- A VMware developer’s blog
- Der Standard, an Austrian newspaper, features this site (in German).
Really good work about this website was done. Keep trying more – thanks!