Can MATLAB Be Installed on a Virtual Machine?

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I have MATLAB R2012a Student Version, that I'm failing to install on an XP VM (virtual machine) using VMware Workstation 15 player.
I have followed all of the recommendations (i.e., disabling Firewall, removing proxy's, disabling antivirus, disabling VPN, etc.), but still no luck. I continue to get ...
Connection Error
The application could not connect to MathWorks. Please make sure your internet connection is available and that all software and hardware firewalls have been disabled before retrying your request.
Unexpected Exception
There was an unexpected exception: null See the log file (C:\DOCUME~1\ADMINI~1\LOCALS~1\Temp\TMW_svact_Administrator.log) for more details.
So I looked for a workaround whereby I might install as if my VM does not have internet. There's a webpage for this, but it requires a link that is no longer supported by MathWorks.
I then modified an installation script that allowed me to specify the license obtained during a previous installation (my origial installation was cancelled, as that PC died), and that didn't work.
I'm at a loss, and have already wasted an entire day trying to work around this. I have a valid license, serial number, and machine ID, but don't know how to apply these things! At this point, I doubt that I'll find a way to get around the network errors, so I'm hoping to find a way to complete the installation/activation with the known information mentioned (i.e., license, serial number, and machine ID).
Can anyone help?

Answers (2)

Walter Roberson
Walter Roberson on 4 Oct 2019
Yes, it is possible. The easiest way is to grant internet access to the VM and use the regular installer . If you cannot do that, then use the installer on the host in "download only" mode to download the installation files for MATLAB and all of the toolboxes you need, and then make that directory available to the VM. You would use a File Installation Key; see https://www.mathworks.com/help/install/ug/install-and-activate-without-an-internet-connection.html

Victor Arambula
Victor Arambula on 4 Oct 2019
Alex Koure of MathWorks solved the problem! Here's the solution...
I believe this is due to the Activation System for Student Version licenses being deprecated, you should be able to get around this by following the instructions below:
Before you can activate MATLAB using what is called the "manual" or "offline" activation method, you must obtain your Host ID and possibly your login name, depending on your license type.
To obtain your Host ID, follow the instructions in this article:
What is a Host ID? How do I find my Host ID in order to activate my license?
Login Name is required for Individual or Student licenses. To obtain your Login Name, follow the instructions in this article:
How do I find my computer username in order to activate my license?
After obtaining your Host ID and/or Login Name:
  1. Go to the License Center: https://www.mathworks.com/mwaccount
  2. Click the license number you wish to activate under "My Software." If you do not see your license number, click "View additional Licenses or Trials" in the bottom right hand corner.
  3. Click the "Install and Activate" tab
  4. Click "Activate to Retrieve License File" or "Activate a Computer"
  5. Enter the release you are activating, as well as the operating system, the host ID, the Computer Login Name, and the Activation Label
  6. Download the license file and copy it into the following folder: C:\Program Files\MATLAB\R2012a\licenses (if the licenses folder does not exist you may create it).
  7. Open MATLAB.
What I found was that the MAC address is what is required for the Host ID.
Thanks all,
Victor

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