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You can use Photon OS as a virtual machine within VMware Workstation. You can download Photon OS, as an OVA or ISO file, and install the Photon OS distribution on vSphere. After you install Photon OS, you can deploy a containerized application in Docker with a single command.
Note: If you want to upgrade an existing Photon 1.0 VM, refer to the instructions in the Upgrading to Photon OS 4.0 section.
Before you use Photon OS within Workstation, perform the following prerequisite tasks:
Verify that you have the following resources:
| Resource | Description |
| VMware Workstation | VMware Workstation must be installed (Workstation 10 or higher). The latest version is recommended. |
| Memory | 2GB of free RAM (recommended) |
| Storage | Minimal Photon install: 512MB of free space (minimum); Full Photon install: 4GB of free space (minimum); 8GB is recommended. |
| Distribution File | Photon OS ISO or OVA file downloaded from VMware (https://packages.vmware.com/photon/4.0/GA/). |
Resource requirements and recommendations vary depending on several factors, including the host environment (for example, VMware Workstation and VMware vSphere), the distribution file used (ISO or OVA), and the selected installation settings (for example, full or basic installation).
Note: The setup instructions in this guide use VMware Workstation Professional version 12.5.7.
Decide whether to use the OVA or ISO distribution to set up Photon OS.
OVA import : Because of the nature of an OVA, you’re getting a pre-installed version of Photon OS. You can choose the hardware version you want (OVA with hardware version 13 or 11). The OVA benefits from a simple import process and some kernel tuning for VMware environments. However, because it’s a pre-installed version, the set of packages that are installed are predetermined. Any additional packages that you need can be installed using tdnf.
ISO install : The ISO, on the other hand, allows for a more complete installation or automated installation via kickstart.
To get Photon OS up and running quickly, use the OVA.
Download Photon OS. Go to the following URL and download the latest release of Photon OS:
https://packages.vmware.com/photon/4.0/GA/
For instructions, see Downloading Photon OS.
Using the OVA is the easiest way to create a Photon OS VM on VMware Workstation.
After you have downloaded the the OVA file (OVA with Hardware Version 11), perform the following steps:
Start the Import Process
Specify the Name and Storage Location
Change the name and storage location, if you want.
Choose Import.
Review the License Agreement and choose Accept.
Configure VM Settings
Once the OVA is imported, Workstation displays a summary of the settings for your Photon OS VM.
Choose Edit virtual machine settings. Workstation displays the Virtual Machine settings. You can either accept the defaults or change settings as needed.
Select the Options tab.
Under Guest operating system, select Linux.
For Version, click the list and select VMWare Photon 64-bit.
Note: If you want to configure a secure boot for the Photon OS VM, select Advanced and select (check) Boot with EFI instead of BIOS. The EFI boot ensures that the ISO content is signed by VMware and that the entire stack is secure.
Choose OK.
Power on the VM
From the tab, choose Power on this virtual machine.
After the splash screen, Workstation will prompt you to log in.
Update Login Credentials
Note : Because of limitations within OVA support on Workstation, it was necessary to specify a default password for the OVA option. However, all Photon OS instances that are created by importing the OVA will require an immediate password change upon login. The default account credentials are:
rootchangemeAfter you provide these credentials, Workstation prompts you to create a new password and type it a second time to verify it. For security, Photon OS forbids common dictionary words for the root password. Once logged in, you will see the shell prompt.
Once complete, proceed to Deploying a Containerized Application in Photon OS.
After you have downloaded the latest Photon OS ISO image into a folder of your choice, open VMware Workstation.
Start the Installation Process
From the File menu, choose New Virtual Machine to create a new virtual machine.
Select Typical or Custom, and then choose Next. These instructions refer to a Typical installation.
Select the ISO Image
Select Installer disc image file (iso), choose Browse and select the Photon OS ISO file.
Select the Operating System
Choose Next. Select the Guest operating system.
For the Guest operating system, select Linux.
Click the Version dropdown and select VMware Photon 64-bit from the list.
Specify the VM Name and Location
Choose Next. Specify a virtual machine name and location.
Specify Disk Options
Choose Next. Specify the maximum disk size and whether you want to split the virtual disk into multiple files or store it as a single file.
Configure VM Settings
Choose Next. Workstation displays a summary of your selections.
Important : Before you finish creating the Photon OS Virtual Machine, we strongly recommend that you customize the virtual machine and remove any unwanted devices that are not needed for a container run-time environment. To remove unnecessary devices, choose Customize hardware.
Consider removing the following components, which are not used by Photon OS:
In Workstation, choose Edit virtual machine settings, select CD/DVD (IDE), and verify that Connect at power on is selected.
Configure a Secure Boot (Optional)
Note: If you want to configure a secure boot for the Photon OS VM, in Workstation, choose Edit virtual machine settings, select Options, choose Advanced, and select Boot with EFI instead of BIOS.
The EFI boot ensures that the ISO content is signed by VMware and that the entire stack is secure.
Choose OK.
Power On the VM
Choose Power on this virtual machine.
When you see the Photon Installer boot menu, press Enter on your keyboard to start installing.
Review the license agreement.
Choose Accept and press Enter.
Configure the Partition
The installer will detect one disk, which should be the 8GB volume configured as part of the virtual machine creation. Choose Auto to have the installer automatically allocate the partition, or choose Custom if you want to configure individual partitions, and then press the Enter key.
Note: If you choose Custom, the installer displays the following screen.
For each custom partition, choose Create New and specify the following information:
Size - Preallocated size of this partition, in MB.
Type - One of the following options:
Mountpoint - Mount point for this partition.
Choose OK and press the Enter key. When you are done defining custom partitions, choose Next and press the Enter key.
The installer prompts you to confirm that you want to erase the entire disk. Choose Yes and press the Enter key.
Select an Installation Option
After partitioning the disk, the installer will prompt you to select an installation option.
Each installation option provides a different run-time environment, depending on your requirements.
| Option | Description |
| Photon Minimal | Photon Minimum is a very lightweight version of the container host runtime that is best suited for container management and hosting. There is sufficient packaging and functionality to allow most common operations around modifying existing containers, as well as being a highly performant and full-featured runtime. |
| Photon Full | Photon Full includes several additional packages to enhance the authoring and packaging of containerized applications and/or system customization. For simply running containers, Photon Full will be overkill. Use Photon Full for developing and packaging the application that will be run as a container, as well as authoring the container, itself. For testing and validation purposes, Photon Full will include all components necessary to run containers. |
| Photon OSTree Server | This installation profile will create the server instance that will host the filesystem tree and managed definitions for rpm-ostree managed hosts created with the "Photon OSTree Host" installation profile. Most environments should need only one Photon OSTree Server instance to manage the state of the Photon OSTree Hosts. Use Photon OSTree Server when you are establishing a new repository and management node for Photon OS hosts. |
Note: The option you choose determines the disk and memory resources required for your installation.
Select the option you want and press the Enter key.
The Network Configuration screen appears, select one of the four options to configure your network.
Choose Configure network automatically and select Next to configure the network automatically.
To configure network automatically with the DHCP hostname, select Configure network automatically with a DHCP hostname and select Next. Enter the DHCP Hostname and select Next.
To configure the network manually, select Configure Network manually. In the window that appears, enter the IP Address, Netmask, Gateway and Nameserver and select OK.
If your network interface is directly connected to the VLAN trunk port, choose YES on the Configure the network screen. Enter the VLAN ID and select Next.
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Select the Linux Kernel
Select a Linux kernel to install.
Choose Next and press the Enter key.
Specify the Hostname
The installer prompts you for a hostname and suggest a randomly generated, unique hostname that you can change if you want.
Press the Enter key.
Specify the System root Password
Note : Photon OS will not permit commonly used dictionary words to be set as a root password.
The installer prompts you to enter the system root password. Type the password and press the Enter key.
The installer prompts you to confirm the root password by typing it a second time.
Press the Enter key. The installer proceeds to install the software. Installation times will vary based on the system hardware and installation options you selected. Most installations complete in less than one minute.
Reboot the VM and Log In
Once finished, the installer displays a confirmation message (which includes how long it took to install Photon OS) and prompts you to press a key on your keyboard to boot the new VM.
Press any key on the keyboard and the virtual machine will reboot into Photon OS.
As the initial boot process begins, the installer displays the Photon splash screen, and then a login prompt.
At the login prompt, type root as the username and provide the password chosen during the installation.
You can now use your container runtime environment and deploy a containerized application.