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.
v6.0 [Sep 4, 2013]
- It is introducing a commercial version of VMware Player called VMware Player 6 Plus.
- Installation Options
VMware Player installation has been enhanced with configuration settings to allow unattended installation of VMware Player using enterprise software configuration management tools. VMware Player now allows the EULA to be suppressed, a destination directory to be set, to opt out of the User Experience Improvement Program, Desktop and start menu shortcuts to not be created, the serial key to be passed automatically installed, the software update URL and a support contact URL to be configured.
- Simplified UI Mode
Many of our customers would like to create virtual machines and provide them to their employees and students without enabling them to create virtual machines or modify VMware Player settings. VMware Player 6 includes a Simplified UI mode that can be set to hide these menu items.
- Operating System Support
Support for Windows 8.1 and Windows 8.1 Enterprise, Windows Server 2012 R2, Ubuntu 13.10 and the latest Fedora, CentOS, Red Hat and OpenSUSE releases.
- VMware Hardware Version 10
This version of VMware Player includes VMware hardware Version 10.
- Expiring Virtual Machines
VMware has enhanced the capabilities of Restricted Virtual Machines to include the ability to expire on a specified date and time. This capability enables our customers to create virtual machines to be shared with employees, students, customers, contractors etc. that will run until their contract terminates, demo runs out or course ends.
