1) Required packages

libx11-6
libx11-dev
libxtst6
xlibs-dev
xinetd

linux-headers (for currently installed kernel)
build-essential

gcc
binutils-doc
cpp-doc
make
manpages-dev
autoconf
automake1.9
libtool
flex
bison
gdb
gcc-doc
gcc-4.0-doc
libc6-dev-amd64
lib64gcc1

(also perl, if not already on the system).

2) apt-get commands to install required packages

# apt-get install libx11-6 libx11-dev libxtst6 xlibs-dev xinetd wget

# apt-get install linux-headers-`uname -r` build-essential

# apt-get install gcc binutils-doc cpp-doc make manpages-dev autoconf automake1.9 libtool flex bison gdb gcc-doc gcc-4.0-doc libc6-dev-amd64 lib64gcc1

3) download the latest version of the free VMware Server from http://www.vmware.com/download/server/

4) unpack the downloaded package

5) run install (example below)
./vmware-install.pl

6) follow prompts and answer with appropriate information -- including the 20-character serial number. serial number is free can retrieved from www.vmware.com

Tips:
Try to separate the location of where the VMs are to be stored. For example, "/var/vm" may be an ideal place. On can also use "/var/vm/iso" to store ISO images of install discs.