Install Whonix with VMWare Workstation

install-whonix-with-vmware-workstation.md

1. Download VirtualBox version of Whonix: https://www.whonix.org/wiki/VirtualBox
2. Extract the downloaded file using 7Zip to a new folder.
   • Extraction may not work. Better to 'Open as Archive' and then copy contents out.
3. Run the following commands:

   vmware-vdiskmanager.exe -r "<path>\Whonix-Xfce-17.3.9.9.Intel_AMD64\temp-disk001.vmdk" -t 0 "<path>\Whonix-Xfce-17.3.9.9.Intel_AMD64\Whonix-GW.vmdk"
   
   vmware-vdiskmanager.exe -r "<path>\Whonix-Xfce-17.3.9.9.Intel_AMD64\temp-disk002.vmdk" -t 0 "<path>\Whonix-Xfce-17.3.9.9.Intel_AMD64\Whonix-WS.vmdk"

4. Create the new Whonix Gateway Virtual Machine in VMWare Workstation with the following options:
   1. Custom
   2. Newest Workstation version
   3. Install Operating System later
   4. Linux -> Debian X 64-bit (see: https://www.whonix.org/wiki/About#Whonix_Version)
   5. Name: Whonix-GW
   6. Default CPU and Memory options should be fine
   7. NAT network configuration
   8. Default IO Controller and Disk Type
   9. Disk selection should be 'Use an existing virtual disk' and select the 'Whonix-GW.vmdk' file created earlier.
   10. Accept the Conversion when prompted
   11. Apply the following customisations:
       • Disable CD/DVD Drive connect at power on
       • Remove the USB Controller, Sound Card, and Printer
       • Add a Network Adapter with the following properties:
         • Lan Segment: whonix
   12. Finish Virtual Machine creation
5. Create the new Whonix Workstation Virtual Machine in VMWare Workstation with the following options:
   1. Custom
   2. Newest Workstation version
   3. Install Operating System later
   4. Linux -> Debian X 64-bit (see: https://www.whonix.org/wiki/About#Whonix_Version)
   5. Name: Whonix-WS
   6. Default CPU should be fine but increase Memory to 4 GiB
   7. NAT network configuration
   8. Default IO Controller and Disk Type
   9. Disk selection should be 'Use an existing virtual disk' and select the 'Whonix-WS.vmdk' file created earlier.
   10. Accept the Conversion when prompted
   11. Apply the following customisations:
       • Disable CD/DVD Drive connect at power on
       • Remove the USB Controller, Sound Card, and Printer
       • Change the existing NAT Network Adapter to have the following properties:
         • Lan Segment: whonix
   12. Finish Virtual Machine creation
6. Start the Whonix-GW VM.
   • In Whonix 18, you need to start the VM in Maintenance mode.
   1. Cancel the Tor Connection check when it starts as it will not succeed.
   2. Open a terminal and sign in as the root account using sudo -i.
   3. Open the following file using mousepad: /etc/systemcheck.d/30_default.conf
      • In Whonix 18, this file is /etc/systemcheck.d/50_user.conf
   4. Change the NO_EXIT_ON_UNSUPPORTED_VIRTUALIZER to 1 and save the file.
      • In Whonix 18, modificatin is to add systemcheck_skip_functions+=" check_virtualizer " (spaces are important)
   5. Open the following file using mousepad: /etc/network/interfaces.d/30_non-qubes-whonix.
   6. Change the eth0 configuration to the entries found in the Virtual Network Editor for the NAT Adapter:
      • Address: Value of 'Subnet IP' with a random 4th digit.
      • Gateway: Value of 'Gateway'
   7. Save and close the file.
   8. Run the following command: ifdown eth0; ifup eth0.
   9. Run the following command: reboot.
7. Start the Whonix-WS VM.
   1. Cancel the Tor Connection check when it starts as it will not succeed.
   2. Open a terminal and sign in as the root account using sudo -i.
   3. Open the following file using mousepad: /etc/systemcheck.d/30_default.conf
   4. Change the NO_EXIT_ON_UNSUPPORTED_VIRTUALIZER to 1 and save the file.
   5. Run the following command: reboot.