Boot VMware Virtual Machine from USB - Step-by-Step Guide
Booting an OS from a USB Drive Within a Virtual Machine
Do you currently have an operating system installed on a USB thumb drive? Utilizing it to boot within a virtual machine (VM) is achievable, requiring only a straightforward procedure to enable functionality.
Previously, we detailed the process of placing Ubuntu onto a USB drive within a dedicated partition. We also explored the capabilities of VMware Player, our preferred VM client. However, have you attempted to initiate a boot sequence directly from a USB drive inside VMware?
Circumventing VMware's Limitations
VMware doesn't natively support booting from USB drives. However, it's possible to bypass this restriction through a technique rooted in classic computing practices.
Recall our previous guide on booting from a USB drive even when your computer's BIOS doesn't offer that option. This was accomplished using Plop Boot Manager. To replicate this within VMware, simply load the Plop ISO file within the VM, connect and enable the USB drive in VMware settings, and then select the USB boot option within Plop Boot Manager.
Downloading and Preparing Plop Boot Manager
Begin by visiting the official Plop Boot Manager download website.
Click the "Download" button to obtain the latest version. Save the file to a convenient location on your computer, then extract its contents. The file you'll need is named "plpbt.iso".
Creating a Virtual Machine for Plop
Open VMware and select the option to "Create a new Virtual machine".
In the subsequent window, choose "Installer Disc image file" and navigate to the Plop ISO file you downloaded, then select it. VMware will then prompt you to identify the operating system. Proceed by clicking "Next".
Select "Linux" as the Guest Operating System. From the available versions, choose "Ubuntu" (or the appropriate OS and version if you're using something different). Click "Next" to continue.
Specify a name for the virtual machine and choose a destination directory for its storage.
On the next screen, opt to "Store Virtual Disk as single file" and allocate 5 GB of storage space. This is sufficient as we will be booting from the USB drive, not performing a full installation.
On the final configuration screen, you'll see the automatically assigned hardware resources for the VM.
Configuring USB Support
Verify that USB support is enabled. If not, click "Customize Hardware", select the "USB Controller" device, and ensure both checkboxes are selected. Click "OK" to save the changes.
Connecting the USB Drive and Booting
Ensure your USB drive containing the bootable OS is physically connected to your computer. Start the virtual machine. It will boot into the Plop Boot Manager interface.
First, right-click the USB icon located in the bottom-right corner of the VMware Player window and select "Connect (Disconnect from Host)". Allow a few seconds for the connection to establish, then click inside the VM window and use the arrow keys to select the USB boot option.
You will now be booting into your operating system from the USB drive. This method isn't limited to Ubuntu; you can boot into any bootable OS, such as DSL, Puppy Linux, or even a Windows installation ISO, provided it's on the USB drive. While perhaps not the most convenient approach, it remains a valuable technique for those with a penchant for technical exploration.
Additional Resources
Boot From a USB Drive Even if your BIOS Won't Let You
Download Plop Boot manager