VMware Workstation

VMware Workstation is a hypervisor that runs on x64 computers; it enables users to set up multiple virtual machines (VMs) and use them simultaneously along with the actual machine. Each virtual machine can execute its own operating system, such as Microsoft Windows, Linux or BSD variants. As such, VMware Workstation allows one physical machine to run multiple operating systems simultaneously. Workstation is developed and sold by VMware, Inc., a division of EMC Corporation.

VMware Workstation supports bridging existing host network adapters and share physical disk drives and USB devices with a virtual machine. In addition, it can simulate disk drives. It can mount an existing ISO image file into a virtual optical disc drive so that the virtual machine sees it as a real one. Likewise, virtual hard disk drives are made via .vmdk files.

VMware Workstation can save the state of a virtual machine in one point of time. These saved states, known as a "snapshots", can later be restored, effectively returning the virtual machine to the saved state.^[4]

VMware Workstation includes the ability to designate multiple virtual machines as a team which can then be powered on, powered off, suspended or resume as a single object, making it particularly useful for testing client-server environments.

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Known limitations of VMware Workstation, as of October, 2009^[update], included the following:

• Workstation 8 is the first version that requires an x64-compatible CPU.^[5][3]
• VMware virtual machines do not directly support FireWire.^[6]
• VMware Workstation version 5.5 provided only experimental support for 3D hardware acceleration, via Microsoft's Direct3D 8 API.^[7][8] A video^[9] has appeared on YouTube that demonstrates several 3D-accelerated games running under VMware Fusion and Mac OS X. The release notes for Fusion beta 2 include a list^[10] of 3D-accelerated computer games that can run within Windows XP-based virtual machines. In version 6.5, Direct3D 9.0 API support (only up to Shader Model 2.0) is provided on Windows 2000 and Windows XP guests (although not Windows 9x) and on any host OS. Version 7 has support for Shader Model 3.0 and OpenGL 2.1 graphics. It can run^[11] Crysis at 14-18 frame/s at low settings. Windows Display Driver Model support (version 1.0) was introduced in version 7.0, allowing Windows Aero to run in virtualized Windows Vista and later Windows guests, but OpenGL is regressed to 1.4.
• 64-bit guest operating systems require a 64-bit processor and a BIOS compatible with x86 virtualization.^[12] Intel processors require Intel VT hardware virtualization technology as Intel 64-bit processors without hardware virtualization technology do not have segmentation support in long mode.^[12] Only AMD64 processors of revision D or later can run 64-bit guests.^[12]
• VMware workstation virtual machines did not have SATA support until the VMware Workstation 10 release.^[13]

VMware Workstation can swallow CPU interrupts, making maintenance of accurate time difficult.^[14]

VMware Tools is a package with drivers and other software that can be installed in guest operating systems to increase their performance. It has several components, including the following:

• Drivers for the emulated hardware:
  • VESA-compliant graphics for the guest machine to access high screen resolutions
  • Network drivers for the vmxnet2 and vmxnet3 NIC
  • Ensoniq AudioPCI audio
  • Mouse integration
• Drag-and-drop file support
• Clipboard sharing between host and guest
• Time synchronization capabilities (guest syncs with host machine's clock)
• Support for Unity, a feature that allows seamless integration of applications with the host desktop

Many ready-made virtual machines (VMs) which run on VMWare Player, Workstation, and other virtualization software are available^[15] for specific purposes, either for purchase or free of charge; for example a free Linux-based "browser appliance" with the Firefox browser installed^[16] which can be used for safe Web browsing; if infected or damaged it can be discarded and replaced by a clean copy. The appliance can be configured to automatically reset itself after each use so personal information is not stored. VMs distributed legally only have freely distributable operating systems, as operating systems on VMs must be licensed; ready-to-use Microsoft Windows VMs, in particular, are not distributed, except for evaluation versions.

• PowerWF^[17] - Provides a visual representation of VMware VIX scripts, converting them into workflows, or converting workflows into Powershell cmdlets and modules. VIX is VMware's addition to Microsoft's Powershell for automation of the VMware Player.

• iCore Virtual Accounts
• OS level virtualization
• x86 virtualization

• Review of VMware Workstation 7 at ZDNet UK, rated 9/10
• Review of VMware Workstation 7 at V3, rated 4/5

Wikimedia Commons has media related to VMware.

• VMware Workstation product page
• Workstation at VMware Store