What this guide assumes:
1. You have the skills to competently install Linux.
2. You have a computer capable of running Linux and VMWare.
3. You have an Ubuntu Linux install CD that actually works. MD5SUM is your friend!
The guide:
1. Install Ubuntu Server Linux using the default options. Go for the minimal install, we\ufffdll be adding essential features later.
2. Log in locally.
3. Now, cut \ufffdn paste this massive package fest into your command buffer, and execute it. Note that the quotes are not normal quotes. It's much easier to cut and paste that line than to generate the slanted quotes.
sudo apt-get install build-essential xinetd x-window-system-core linux-headers-`uname -r`
4. Get the VMWare binaries on to your computer. At the time of writing this document, typing the following worked:
wget [link|http://download3.vmware.com/software/vmserver/VMware-server-e.x.p-23869.tar.gz|http://download3.vmware.com/software/vmserver/VMware-server-e.x.p-23869.tar.gz]
That link may change without warning, and may not work later. You will have to reconstruct it from however VMWare is running their servers this morning. Alternatively, you can install the openssh server on your machine, and scp the file to your computer.
5. Unzip the binaries using
tar xvzf <VMFILENAME>, where VMFILENAME is the name of the file you just downloaded. The files will unzip, and a directory called \ufffdvmware-server-distrib\ufffd should be created.
6. Change to the directory created in step 6, using the cd command.
cd vmware-server-distribshould do the trick.
7. Type
sudo ./vmware-install.plto start the install process
8. Accept defaults as given. They are sane, and default for a reason.
9. Don't forget to enter your product key. Once that has entered, your system is go for launch!
Note: I can't trim the fat down much more than that - VMWare insists on having the x-window-system-core package installed.