$ sudo aptitude install build-essential linux-kernel-devel linux-headers-generic xinetd
$ wget -c http://download3.vmware.com/software/vmserver/VMware-server-1.0.6-91891.tar.gz
$ tar xf VMware-server-1.0.6-91891.tar.gz
$ cd vmware-server-distrib/
$ sudo ./vmware-install.pl
#
# during this stage, if you get a message complaining that your kernel was build with
# a different version of gcc, just have a try building the module with your existing version.
# Do this by overriding the default [no] - just type yes.
#
$ sudo ln -sf /usr/lib/gcc/i486-linux-gnu/4.2.3/libgcc_s.so /usr/lib/vmware/lib/libgcc_s.so.1/libgcc_s.so.1
$ sudo ln -sf /usr/lib/libpng12.so.0 /usr/lib/vmware/lib/libpng12.so.0/libpng12.so.0
$ sudo vmware& # run it.
To get a product key, you just need to fill out details in this form: http://register.vmware.com/content/registration.html
very easy
christo