Install a CentOS8 Guest on a VMWare workstation pro 15.5 running on CentOS 8 host

[bsinou]

Hello,

I have tried to launch a new VM starting from the official CentOS 8 DVD1 iso (see for instance [1], with md5 sum 3ee3f4ea1538e026fff763e2b284a6f20b259d91d1ad5688f5783a67d279423b 😞

In first step, I choose "typical (recomended)" installation, then next. 

I then select Use ISO Image and browse to the correct location on my drive.
The wizard says then:
- CentOS version 5 and earlier 64-bit detected.

- This operating system will use Easy install

=> If I go on so, the install will fail and I get errors that come from the ks.config saying that the package section is not correctly closed by a %end tag (I assume the easy install uses an old kickstart file that was OK for CentOS 5 but not for CentOS 8, but I did not dig further)

=> I could workaround the issue and install the VM using the "Custom (advanced)" installation, defining the OS as Other linux with 4.x+ kernel, but I am not totally happy with this.

Has anyone insight on the subject?

Is CentOS 8 supported, both as host and guest? 

I am using VMware® Workstation 15 Pro, 15.5.1 build-15018445 with the 30 days trial to evaluate the application.

Thanks

Bruno

[1]: http://linux.darkpenguin.net/distros/CentOS/8.1.1911/isos/x86_64/CentOS-8.1.1911-x86_64-dvd1.iso

[Alex_Romeo]

Hi,

Centos 8 is compatible with VMware Workstation 15.5

https://www.vmware.com/resources/compatibility/pdf/VMware_GOS_Compatibility_Guide.pdf  (pag.52)

It is not compatible as a Host installation:

VMware Knowledge Base

As installation Host supports up to CentOS 7.6

ARomeo

[scott28tt]

This may help: https://forums.centos.org/viewtopic.php?t=72037

[Alex_Romeo]

Hi,

... contrary to what I wrote before, read this link:

https://linuxhint.com/install_vmware_workstation_pro_15_centos8/

ARomeo

[bsinou]

Hello,

And thanks for your prompt answers.

> https://linuxhint.com/install_vmware_workstation_pro_15_centos8/

This is the precisely the procedure I have followed to install the VMWare application.

> This may help: https://forums.centos.org/viewtopic.php?t=72037

As explained in my first post, that is what I ended up doing, and I could successfully start a CentOS8 guest.
But I still find it a little bit too "hackish" and that is what made me wonder if CentOS 8 was really the correct way to go for my template machines: I am preparing pre-packaged appliances to be deployed in one click in various environment and I want to image to be lean and clean.
Furthermore, integration with hashicorp/packer is kind of broken and the simple configuration I use for VirtualBox (for both CentOS 7 & 😎 or for VMWare (CentOS7) still hangs before reaching the kickstart automated installation.

Do you have any idea when the CentOS8 platform will be added to the recognised OS during installation?

Regards,

Bruno

[Alex_Romeo]

Hi,

you're certainly right, but at the moment there is no official news on when this could be possible.

ARomeo