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https://github.com/FydeOS/chromium_os-vm-vmware

Build and run your Chromium OS on VMWare virtual machine client
https://github.com/FydeOS/chromium_os-vm-vmware

chromeos chromium-os cros-sdk gentoo overlay vmware vmware-virtual-machine

Last synced: about 2 months ago
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Build and run your Chromium OS on VMWare virtual machine client

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README 

        
### Public archive



This project will no longer be maintained and will be turned into public archive as of 2024. Development of Chromium OS for VMware will continue on openFyde: https://github.com/openFyde/overlay-amd64-openfyde_vmware













# Chromium OS VM for VMWare



## TL:DR;

If you aren't bothered with the detailed technicality and are only after the pre-built "click-to-play" image, check out the [release](https://github.com/FydeOS/overlay-variant-amd64-generic-vmware/releases) tab.



## What's this repository

This repository contains necessary files that work with the [Chromium OS SDK](https://www.chromium.org/chromium-os/build) (cros_sdk) to build Chromium OS image that works with VMWare virtual machine client. 



## Why do I need this

VMWare virtual machine clients work on more OS platforms than kvm-qemu, which is the "official VM support for Chromium OS" shipped with cros-sdk. If you are interested in working / testing / tinkering Chromium OS on your favourite OS platform that does not support kvm-qemu natively, this may help. Otherwise, you don't need this.



## How do I build Chromium OS VM for VMWare using this repository



The following is a quick overview guide to get you started. This guide assumes you are comfortable with operations under Linux shell environment and have basic familiarity with the [bible](https://chromium.googlesource.com/chromiumos/docs/+/master/developer_guide.md). 



### 0. Read the [bible](https://chromium.googlesource.com/chromiumos/docs/+/master/developer_guide.md), if you have not yet done so.

It's best if could give the entire process a go and check if you could produce a working Chromium OS image.



### 1. Sync the repo from the correct branch

This overlay was only tested under [release-R75-12105.B](https://chromium.googlesource.com/chromiumos/platform/crosutils/+/refs/heads/release-R75-12105.B) branch of the Chromium OS manifest, per [Get the source code](https://chromium.googlesource.com/chromiumos/docs/+/master/developer_guide.md#get-the-source-code) in the bible, you would need to do the following to get the code:



```

(outside)

cd ${HOME}/chromiumos

repo init -u https://chromium.googlesource.com/chromiumos/manifest.git --repo-url https://chromium.googlesource.com/external/repo.git -b release-R75-12105.B

repo sync -j4

```



### 2. Clone this overlay and make it known to cros_sdk

 - At this point, you should be in your chroot. 

 - Clone this repository to `~/trunk/src/overlays` under your cros_sdk chroot.

   - Or you can clone to somewhere else and symlink to `~/trunk/src/overlays` for better management

   - This requires a `.local_mounts` file in your `~/trunk/src/scripts` per [here](https://www.chromium.org/chromium-os/tips-and-tricks-for-chromium-os-developers#TOC-How-to-share-files-for-inside-and-outside-chroot).

 - Edit `~/trunk/src/third_party/chromiumos-overlay/eclass/cros-board.eclass` and add `amd64-generic_vmware` to the list. Pay attention to the dash and underscore in the board name, try not to mis-spell.



### 3. Setup board, prepare the host environment and start building

 - Per the bible, now you can do:

   ```

   (inside) export BOARD=amd64-generic_vmware

   (inside) setup_board --board=${BOARD}

   (inside) ./build_packages --board=${BOARD} --nousepkg

   (inside) ./build_image --board=${BOARD} --noenable_rootfs_verification test

   ```

 - Note that the `--nousepkg` flag is required to combat `./build_packages` being lazy to pull pre-built binaries and cause build error.



### 4. Convert the Chromium OS image to VMDK

Assuming the build went well and now you have the `chromiumos_test_image.bin` file. There is this `convert_to_vmware.sh` script in this repository that does the conversion for you. Execute the script to see help.



### 5. Additional notes on using the VMDK file to create VMWare virtual machine

 - We have only tested VMWare Workstation 15 & Fusion 11, lower versions of VMWare clients may not work.

 - You need to create a "Custom VM" and choose "Other Linux kernel 4.x (64 bits)", choose the VMDK file you've just built when prompted.

 - In the Settings of this VM, under "Hard drive" you need to convert bus type from SCSI to either NVMe or SSD.

 - In the Settings of this VM, under "Display", you need to turn on 3D acceleration and ideally allocate 768MB shared memory.

 



## Additional notes and help

 - This Chromium OS VM is only meant for development purposes.

 - To get help, please report any issue in this repo or join our [telegram group](https://t.me/hi_fydeos).