Access virtualization environments and run other operating systems on your computer, including all versions of Microsoft Windows and multiple distributions of Linux, Sun Solaris, Novell Netware, and other OSes. Create a virtual machine by specifying its hard disk size and choosing between the pre-allocated or dynamic types of your virtual machine.
VMware Player allows you to create and run virtual machines under Windows easily. A virtual machine is an isolated emulated computer, capable of running its own operating system, plus having its own configuration and applications. The virtual machine runs as an application on the primary (host) operating system, and it can be displayed as either a window, or full-screen.
In the past, VMware Player could only run virtual machines already created with VMware Workstation, however, the latest releases of VMware player also allow the user to create the virtual machines.
One of the greatest disadvantages of the fast-changing information technologies and operating systems, is that, when a new version of an operating system is released, many programs that ran well on the previous version do not work with the newest one. Fortunately, creating a virtual machine offers a solution for this problem.
Creating a Virtual Machine has many advantages for many users. Users of Windows 7/8 can create a virtual machine running Windows XP or Linux, and start the computer, install the specific software on the virtual computer, use the programs with all its features, and shut down the computer. All of this without the need of a reboot, or dealing with installing another operating system on another partition or hard drive.
With VMware Player, you have the option to install all versions of Microsoft Windows, many distributions of Linux, Sun Solaris, Novell Netware, and others. At the moment of the creation of the virtual machine, you will specify its hard disk size, the option to split the hard disk into multiple files, and the nature of these files either pre-allocated, or dynamic.
Once the guest operating system is installed, you have the option to install VMware Tools, which is a software package that allows for better performance of the virtual machine, as well as integration options between the virtual machine and the host machine, such as drag and drop to copy/move a file, clipboard sharing and unity mode (the ability to have a program that is being executed on the virtual machine as a window on the taskbar of the host machine).
WMware Tools is definitely a great solution for compatibility problems and software testing, where these and other situations need the environment of an isolated computer.
v3.0 [Aug 17, 2009]
- Virtual Machine with Easy Install — Create a virtual machine and install any supported guest operating system with Easy Install.
-New User Interface — Use the new user interface to create virtual machines and edit virtual machine settings.
-Windows 7 — Create and run Windows 7 32-bit and 64-bit virtual machines using VMware Workstation. VMware Workstation has been enhanced for performance and to take advantage of the new Windows 7 features including Live Thumbnails and Aero Peek.
-Aero Glass — A new Windows Display Driver Model (WDDM) graphics driver has been developed for Windows Vista and Windows 7 virtual machines. The WDDM driver can display the Windows Aero user interface, OpenGL 1.4, and Shader Model 3.0. For more information on the VMware recommended graphics hardware, see the VMware Workstation User's Manual.
- Windows XP Mode Compatible — Import a Windows XP Mode virtual machine using VMware Player 3.0 and run the virtual machine without being prompted to enter a Windows XP license key. VMware Player enables the Windows XP Mode virtual machine to take advantage of more than one processor, render high-end graphics, integrate seamlessly with Unity, and transfer files easily with drag and drop, and shared folders. VMware Player also has the ability to run concurrently with Windows XP Mode.
- 3D Graphics Improvements for Windows XP guests — OpenGL 2.1 and Shader Model 3.0 support is now available for Windows XP virtual machines. The XPDM (SVGAII) graphics driver works with Windows XP, Windows Vista, and Windows 7. However, only Windows XP virtual machines install the XPDM graphics driver by default. To switch graphics drivers in the guest operating system, see How to Switch Between SVGAII and WDDM Drivers.
- Multiple-Monitor Display
- Advanced Linux Sound Architecture (ALSA)
- Drag and Drop Enhancements
- On-Demand VMware Tools Download
- Virtual Printing
- VIX API for VMware Player
