VMware Workstation
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VMware Workstation is a hosted hypervisor that runs on x64 versions of Windows and Linux operating systems[1] (an x86 version of earlier releases was available);[2] it enables users to set up virtual machines (VMs) on a single physical machine, and use them simultaneously along with the actual machine. Each virtual machine can execute its own operating system, including versions of Microsoft Windows, Linux, BSD, and MS-DOS. VMware Workstation is developed and sold by VMware, Inc., a division of Dell Technologies. There is a free-of-charge version, VMware Workstation Player, for non-commercial use. An operating systems license is needed to use proprietary ones such as Windows. Ready-made Linux VMs set up for different purposes are available from several sources.
VMware Workstation supports bridging existing host network adapters and sharing physical disk drives and USB devices with a virtual machine. It can simulate disk drives; an ISO image file can be mounted as a virtual optical disc drive, and virtual hard disk drives are implemented as .vmdk files.
VMware Workstation Pro can save the state of a virtual machine (a "snapshot") at any instant. These snapshots can later be restored, effectively returning the virtual machine to the saved state,[3] as it was and free from any post-snapshot damage to the VM.
VMware Workstation includes the ability to group multiple virtual machines in an inventory folder. The machines in such a folder can then be powered on and powered off as a single object, useful for testing complex client-server environments.
2016 company changes and future development
VMware Workstation versions 12.0.0, 12.0.1, and 12.1.0 were released at intervals of about two months in 2015.[4] In January 2016 the entire development team behind VMware Workstation and Fusion was disbanded and all US developers were immediately fired.[5][6][7][8] The company said that "the restructuring activities will not impact the existence of any current product lines", that "roles and responsibilities associated with particular businesses will be moved to other regions and office locations", and that investment would continue "with emphasis on our growth products". The future of Workstation and Fusion became uncertain. On 24 April 2016 maintenance release 12.1.1 was released. In September, same year, the company announced that "we’re very much alive and well"[9]. Consequently, on September 13 Workstation 12.5 and Fusion 8.5 were released as free upgrades which added support for Windows 10 Anniversary edition and Windows Server 2016.
Version history
Color | Meaning |
---|---|
Red | Unsupported release |
Green | Current or still supported release |
Blue | Future release |
Version | Release date | Significant changes | |
---|---|---|---|
1.0 | 1999 | First release | |
3.0 | 1 November 2001 | ||
3.1 | 9 April 2002 | ||
4.0 | 23 March 2003 | ||
4.5 | 5 April 2004 | ||
5.0 | 11 April 2005 | ||
5.5 | 12 September 2005 | ||
6.0 | 9 May 2007 | ||
6.5 | 23 September 2008 | ||
7.0 | 26 October 2009 |
| |
8.0 | 14 September 2011 | ||
9.0[14] | 23 August 2012 |
| |
10.0[15] | 3 September 2013 |
| |
10.0.1 | 24 October 2013 |
| |
10.0.2 | 17 April 2014 |
| |
10.0.3 | 1 July 2014 |
| |
10.0.4 | 30 October 2014 |
| |
10.0.5[16] | 27 January 2015 |
| |
10.0.6[17] | 5 May 2015 |
| |
10.0.7[18] | 2 Jul 2015 |
| |
11.0[19] | 1 Dec 2014 |
| |
11.1[20] | 17 Feb 2015 |
| |
11.1.1[21] | 9 Jun 2015 |
| |
11.1.2[22] | 15 Jun 2015 |
| |
12.0.0[23] | 24 Aug 2015 | The following features have reached end of life in Workstation 12 Pro and have been removed:[24]
Added support for, amongst other things:
| |
12.0.1[25] | 29 Oct 2015 | Maintenance release that resolves some issues. | |
12.1.0[26] | 8 Dec 2015 | Maintenance release that resolves some issues. | |
12.1.1[27][28] | 21 Apr 2016 | Maintenance release that resolves some issues. | |
12.5[29][28] | 13 Sep 2016 |
| |
12.5.1[32] | 27 Oct 2016 | Bug fixes, security updates for undisclosed vulnerabilities and performance improvements. | |
12.5.2[33] | 13 Nov 2016 | This release of VMware Workstation 12 Pro addresses an out-of-bounds memory access vulnerability related to the drag-and-drop feature. This may allow a guest to execute code on the operating system that runs VMware Workstation 12 Pro. | |
12.5.3[34] | 9 Mar 2017 | Bug fixes, security updates, and performance improvements.
| |
12.5.4[35] | 14 Mar 2017 | This release addresses an out-of-bounds memory access vulnerability related to the drag-and-drop feature. This vulnerability might allow a guest to execute code on the operating system that runs VMware Workstation 12 Pro. | |
12.5.5[36] | 28 Mar 2017 | This release of VMware Workstation Pro addresses the following issues:
| |
12.5.6[37] | 18 May 2017 | This release includes the following highlights:
| |
12.5.7[38] | 22 Jun 2017 | This release of VMware Workstation Pro includes some bug fixes and security updates. | |
12.5.8[39] | 16 Nov 2017 |
Support has been added for the following operating systems:
| |
12.5.9[40] | 10 Jan 2018 |
| |
14[41] | 26 Sep 2017 | This major version release includes the following highlights:
| |
14.1.0[42] | 21 Dec 2017 |
| |
14.1.1[43] | 9 Jan 2018 |
| |
14.1.2[44] | 21 May 2018 |
| |
14.1.3[45] | 14 Aug 2018 |
| |
15[46] | 24 Sep 2018 | This major version release includes the following highlights:
| |
15.0.1[47] | 9 Nov 2018 |
| |
15.0.2[48] | 22 Nov 2018 |
| |
15.0.3[49] | 14 Mar 2019 |
| |
15.0.4[50] | 29 Mar 2019 |
| |
15.1.0[51] | 14 May 2019 |
|
Host OS support
Operating system(s) | Supported version(s) |
---|---|
Windows Server 2019 | 15.0.2 and later |
Windows Server 2016 | 12.5 and later |
Windows Server 2012 R2 | 10.0 and later |
Windows Server 2012 | 9.0 and later |
Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 | 8.0 and later |
Windows Server 2008 R2 | 7.0 and later |
Windows Server 2008 | 6.0–10.0 |
Windows Server 2003 R2 | 6.0–10.0 |
Windows Server 2003 | 4.0–10.0[54] |
Windows 10 May 2019 Update (Version 1903) | 15.1.0 and later |
Windows 10 October 2018 Update (Version 1809) | 15.0.2 and later |
Windows 10 April 2018 Update (Version 1803) | 15.0 and later |
Windows 10 Fall Creators Update (Version 1709) | 14.1 and later |
Windows 10 Creators Update (Version 1703) | 14.0 and later |
Windows 10 Anniversary Update (Version 1607) | 12.5 and later |
Windows 10 Version 1507 and November Update (Version 1511) | 11.0 and later |
Windows 8.1 | 10.0 and later |
Windows 8 | 9.0 and later |
Windows 7 | 7.1 and later |
Windows Vista | 6.0–10.0 |
Windows XP | 3.0–10.0[55] |
Windows 2000 | 2.0–6.5[56][57] |
Windows NT 4.0 | 1.0–4.5 |
Ubuntu 19.04 | 15.1.0 and later |
Ubuntu 18.04 | 15.0 and later |
Variants
There was a free VMware Player distinct from Workstation, with similar but reduced functionality, until VMware Player v7, Workstation v11. In 2015 the two packages were combined as VMware Workstation 12, with a free VMware Workstation Player version which, on purchase of a license code, became the higher specification VMware Workstation Pro.[58] VMware Workstation Player, like VMware Player[59] before it, is free of charge for non-commercial use, or for distribution or other use by written agreement.[4][60] (Workstation Pro is also available for download for a free trial period, and is easily confused with the unlimited-time restricted-functionality version.)
- VMware Workstation Player (formerly known as Player Pro),[61] free for non-commercial use; a licence may be purchased for commercial use, also providing eligibility for paid support.[62]
- VMware Workstation Pro,[63] available for a 30-day free trial before purchase but distinct from the permanently free version.
The features of the versions are compared on the VMware web site.[62]
VMware Tools
VMware Tools, a package with drivers and other software available for the various guest operating systems VMware products support, installs in guest operating systems to add functionality. Tools is updated from time to time, with v10.1.15 in September 2017.[64] It has several components, including the following:
- Drivers for 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
- Support of shared folders and drag-and-drop file transfer between host and guest. This functionality is described as HGFS (Host Guest File System), and may be disabled by default for security; it may be enabled by changes to the .VMX configuration file
- Clipboard sharing between host and guest
- Time-synchronization capabilities (guest synchronises with host machine's clock)
- Support for Unity, a feature that allows seamless integration of applications with the host desktop[65] by hiding virtual monitor and drawing the windows of applications running in the virtual machine on the host. Unity support was added for Windows 10 and removed for Linux in Workstation 12.[24]
Third-party resources
Ready-to-use virtual machines
Many ready-made virtual machines (VMs) which run on VMware Player, Workstation, and other virtualization software are available[66] for specific purposes, either for purchase or free of charge; for example free Linux-based "browser appliances" with the Firefox or other browser installed[67][68] 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 and other changes are not stored.[68] 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.
Other tools
- PowerWF[69] - 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.
See also
References
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- ↑ https://kb.vmware.com/selfservice/microsites/search.do?language=en_US&cmd=displayKC&externalId=2129859
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- ↑ https://www.vmware.com/support/ws10/doc/workstation-1005-release-notes.html
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- ↑ https://www.vmware.com/support/ws/doc/workstation-11-release-notes.html
- ↑ https://www.vmware.com/support/ws/doc/workstation-111-release-notes.html
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- ↑ https://pubs.vmware.com/Release_Notes/en/workstation/12pro/workstation-12-release-notes.html
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- ↑ VMware Web site, VMware Workstation Player Pro
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- ↑ Template:Cite web VMware Workstation v14 (September 2017) continued to be free for non-commercial use.
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- ↑ 62.0 62.1 Template:Cite web Version archived 11 October 2016 compares Workstation 12 Player to Player 7 Pro; Workstation 12 Player (Unlicensed) to Workstation 12 Player (Licensed); and Workstation 12 Player to Workstation 12 Pro. Page is updated; as of October 2017 compares Workstation Player and Workstation Pro, only
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