Install on VMware as a Guest OS // DOCS

This guide provides step-by-step instructions for installing Berserk Arch Linux as a guest operating system in VMware Player using the Calamares graphical installer, optimized for penetration testing and security research.

You can use whatever you like or have access to either:

- VMware Player
- Vmware Workstation

the process of creating the VM is more or less same.

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Prerequisites

Host System Requirements

• VirtualBox Version: 7.0+ (latest recommended)
• Host RAM: 8GB minimum (16GB+ recommended)
• Available Storage: 60GB+ free space
• CPU: Intel VT-x or AMD-V virtualization support
• Host OS: Windows 10/11, macOS 10.15+, or Linux kernel 4.0+

Download Requirements

• Berserk Arch ISO file (with Calamares installer)
• VirtualBox Extension Pack (for enhanced features)

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Virtual Machine Creation

Step 1: Create New VM

1. Launch VMware Player
   • Click “Create a New Virtual Machine” button
   • click next

Step 2: Virtual Machine Configuration

2. Choose the downloaded ISO
   • Click on ‘Use ISO Image’ and select the download ISO
   • then click next

3. Machine Type
   • Choose ‘Linux’ for ‘Guest Operating System’
   • For version:
     • If Arch Linux is listed choose that
     • If not choose ‘Other Linux 6.x kernel 64-bit’
   • then click next

4. Name the Virtual Machine

   Name: berserkarch # use whatever you like
   Location: <this section would be pre-filled>

   now click on next

4. Hard Disk

   Size: 60 GB # atleast give it this much

   • Select Store virtual disk as a single file
   • now click on Next

5. Customize VM Options

   • Now click on ‘Customize Hardware’

6. Specify the RAM

   Memory: 4096 MB # minimum -- at-least try 8192 MB

   • now click on Close

7. Create the VM
   • now click on Finish to create VM.

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Step 3: Start the VM

Click on close and the VM will be started, manually start the VM.

Installation Process

Step 1: Boot from ISO

1. Boot Menu Selection
   • Select “Boot Berserk Arch (x86_64)” and hit enter.
   • Wait for live environment to load

Step 2: Live Environment

The system will boot into XFCE DE, for the password use liveuser:liveuser

Pre-Installation Checks

1. Display Resolution For setting up the correct display resolution,
   • Right click on the desktop
   • choose Settings > Display

2. Set the resolution
   • Now choose the correct resolution
   • Click on Apply
   • Then click keep the configuration

Installation

Now everything is out-of-way, we can move straight to installation.

Here’s the installation guide, move on and install the system.