11.188-Guidelines for installing VMWare (By Duncan Kincaid)

 VMware Installation

1. Download VMWare Fusion from MIT by clicking here
2. Allow kernel extension: After downloading VMWare Fusion, go to Apple Menu> System Preferences>Security & Privacy>General. If there's a kernel extension that needs to be approved it'll be at the lower half of the window. Click the allow button.
3. Start VMWare Fusion. It may inform you that an update exists. If so, agree to download and install it.
4. Use the Windows VM provided by cron:
1. Download the ready-made Windows 10 VM (which includes Office 2019 and ArcGIS) by clicking here (certificates required)
2. Create a folder named 'Virtual Machines' inside your home directory
3. Move the unzipped WindowsVM from step a) into the 'Virtual Machines' folder

VMware VM Configuration

Now that you installed VMware Fusion, downloaded cron's VM it is time to configure various aspects related to the VM. Our general strategy is to make the VM itself easily replaceable. Doing so proves a huge benefit if anything were to go wrong with the VM as we can replace it wholesale without losing any documents. Please follow the steps below carefully.

• VM Backup:

• Omit the VM from your current Macintosh backups (Time Machine, CrashPlan etc). Follow instructions for your specific backup solution to *omit* the ~/Virtual Machines directory from the backup set.
• If you do not do this, the backup software will attempt to backup your VM every time-- leaving all your other files on computer without backup (as well as filling up your backup devince in no time). As we shall see later, the files you create when using the VM will be saved outside the VM to either the Desktop or Documents folder on your Mac. As a result, they *will* be backed up even thought the VM itself is not.

• Add VM to VMware Fusion Library:

• start VMware Fusion then select 'Virtual Machine Library' from 'Window' menu.
• Drag the VM in ~/Virtual Machines to the Library window. When successful, you will find the VM listed in left hand pane of Virtual Machine Library window

• VM Hardware Configuration:

• we need assign (virtual) hardware properties to the VM before using it. We will set these to not more than 50% of your computer's physical resources.
• To check your computer's hardware specs: Apple Menu > About this Mac > System Report. Take note of amount of 'Memory' and 'Total Number of Cores'.
• Now with your VM selected in the left hand panel of the Virtual Machine Library window, click once on the VM to select it, then click on the wrench icon in the upper right corner of window.
• Click 'Processors & Memory' and set 'Processors' and 'Memory' to 1/2 that of your computer's physical hardware (it is possible that the VM is already properly set).
• Close window. Consult 'Help' menu for more important details

• VM Document Sharing Configuration:

• though the VM is a completely self-contained Windows environment with its own storage (C: drive, Desktop etc.), we do not want to use this storage for documents created/edited within our VM. Rather we want to use your Macintosh's Desktop and Documents folder for saving files created/edited within your VM.
• There are 2 reasons for this:
  • these folders are already being backed up using your Macintosh backup software of choice
  •  you would then have access to the files form both Macintosh and Windows VM environments.
• To share your Macintosh Desktop and Documents folder with the VM, click once on your VM in the Library left panel to select it, then click on wrench icon in upper right corner of window.
• Click on 'Sharing' then > Enable Shared Folders. Beneath 'Mirrored Folders', click 'Desktop' and 'Documents' (and any others you wish to mirror).
• You can share any folder on your Macintosh by clicking '+' and specifying the folder. We strongly suggest you share any network folders as well, such as Dropbox or OneDrive, GoogleDrive etc. This way you have access to all these files from within the VM without having to install/configure Dropbox etc inside the VM.
• Close window when done. Consult 'Help' menu for more important details

• VM Snapshot:

• an extraordinarily powerful feature of VMs is the ability to 'snapshot' them. A snapshot captures the VM's exact state at time of capture. You can store multiple snapshots and restore to any snapshot in seconds. This is particularly useful if you are about to install new software, Windows updates or just have your VM in a state you would like to be able to return to if anything were to go wrong.
• To create a snapshot: select your VM in the 'Virtual Machine Library' window, then click on the camera icon. You can figure out the rest form there.
• We recommend you create a snapshot now to preserve the customisations we've made above. Consult 'Help' menu for more important details

• VM Run:

• We are now ready to run the VM.
• Start your Mac's VPN.
• Double-click the VM in the 'Virtual Machine Library' window or click on the 'play' button in upper right of window. Windows will boot and run like a regular PC.
• Click to open the 'File Explorer' icon in the tray along the bottom of Windows screen
• Right-click 'This PC' in left panel, select 'Properties'
• After a few seconds you should see 'Windows is activated'
•  Note that we already installed Office 2019 and ArcGIS for you, so you are ready to get to work immediately. Consult 'Help' menu for more important details

• Viewing the VM:

• The VM can be viewed in full-screen mode (control+left-arrow/control+right-arrow to toggle between the VM and your Mac), or as resizebale single window.
• Select your preference from the 'View' menu.
• Note: if the VMware Fusion menu is hidden, then simply move your mouse to top of your screen, remove your hand from mouse so cursor remains perfectly still for couple seconds, then menu will appear

• Quitting VMware Fusion:

• when you are through using your VM, you do not need to shutdown Windows within the VM.
• Simply select 'Quit VMware Fusion' from the Vmware Fusion menu (or command+q). This will suspend your VM. When you next start the VM it will resume exactly where you left off. Consult 'Help' menu for more important details

• Printing, Networking, VPN:

• by default, all networking, VPN connections, printers on the Mac are passed through to the VM without any further configuration.
• So if you need a VPN connection (ArcGIS requires it), simply start the VPN on your mac and then start your VM
• Ensure your VPN is running by going to going to https://whatsmyip.com and verify the IP address begins with 18.

• Performance Tips:

• quit all non-essential applications before starting VMware Fusion.
• Keep from launching inessential Macintosh apps for the time your are running VMware Fusion. Fusion/Windows need a lot of resources to run. So do not cripple it by running Chrome with 20 tabs open (for instance).
• Similarly, when you no longer need to use your VM, quit VMware Fusion! This will free up resources for your other apps. Consult 'Help' menu for more important details 

Once done with setup you are ready to download ArcMap

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