Ubuntu 8.04 VM Woes
It turns out that some changes to the Linux kernel — Ubuntu 8.04 uses Linux 2.6.24 — have introduced some issues that make running Ubuntu in a VMWare virtual machine difficult. Ubuntu will install just fine, but you won’t have access to VMWare Tools, which provides some nice features like shared folders and clipboard syncing.
[From Ubuntu 8.04 Causes Problems With VMWare Tools, Open Source to the Rescue | Compiler from Wired.com]
It isn’t just VMWare. Mac Parallels has likewise bitten me and many others judging by the considerable forum angst. My peeps have been telling me to cutover to Fusion. I’d say if VMWare fixes their tools issues before Parallels, I’ll consider it.