Part Two of vmware server install... because without a guest OS virtualisation doesn't do anything. (Note you can't install VMWare Tools until the GuestOS is installed...)
Get yourself an installation file for of windows server 2003 (or your choice of Guest OS) http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2003/R2/trial/installinstruct.mspx
Note that you will need all of the installation files, serials, and a lot of patience... hmmm.... If you get them in iso/img format VMware can load them in the "Edit This virtual machine's settings" Pretend that the virtual cd/dvd (iso/img image) is in the virtual cdrom (weird enough?).
(You may have to edit the virtual bios settings to boot from the CDRom when your VM starts) On boot you'll get the same install process as a PC with the install cd in the cdrom.
Just like a real install you might choose to create multiple partitions (system & data).
You might even want to take a snapshot after the install files are "copied" to the virtual partition as you can then practice reconfiguring the server. - BEWARE, taking a snapshot takes a long time! (5 mins) and makes a multi GB file.
win2k3 trial - FDPCK-6VQY7-XRJH2-XVCP3-77336 DX3KM-PYBXT-9KTP3-CFB9Q-XTWH8 FJ4RT-9HJBY-F6Q6C-RRXWP-X2RWJ
computername: vm-win2k3 pwd: -Networking
Waiting for Networking to install can take awhile (just like a real installation)
Ctrl-alt-insert will do ctrl-alt-del for the virtual machine (because ctrl-alt-del will do it for both real & vm)
Update your windows server with critical patches - but please ignore IE7 (it takes forever!)
You can then install VMware Tools (VM -> Install VMware Tools)
How can I hide the Vmware tools icon in the system tray? Edit the registry key "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\VMware, Inc.\VMware Tools" and set ShowTray equal to 0