VMware Workstation Pro
VMware Workstation Pro is a desktop virtualization software that allows users to run multiple operating systems as virtual machines on a single physical machine. It is used for software development, testing, running legacy apps, and training.
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VMware Workstation Pro: Desktop Virtualization Software
Desktop virtualization software that allows multiple OS runs on a single physical machine for software development, testing, legacy apps, and training.
What is VMware Workstation Pro?
VMware Workstation Pro is a Type 2 hypervisor developed by VMware for desktop virtualization on x64 versions of Windows and Linux. It allows users to set up multiple virtual machines on a single physical machine and run different operating systems and applications in each VM without rebooting.
Key features include:
- Ability to run production environments and real-world testing scenarios with hundreds of OS and app combinations on a single PC
- Snapshotting for quick rollback of VMs to previous states
- VM cloning for rapid deployment of identical VMs
- Virtual networking and network simulation between VMs and host machine
- Support for latest OS versions (Windows 11, Windows Server 2022, Linux kernels etc.) and resource-intensive apps
- Powerful customization with access to all host resources for storage, graphics, peripherals etc.
- Security features like isolation between VMs, role-based access controls, and data encryption
Use cases include software development and testing, running legacy/incompatible apps, disaster recovery simulations, IT training, platform migration testing, and server consolidation to reduce hardware costs. It compares with paid products like Oracle VM VirtualBox and open-source options like QEMU.
VMware Workstation Pro Features
Features
- Create and run multiple virtual machines simultaneously
- Install and run over 200 operating systems including Windows, Linux, etc
- Isolate VMs from host machine for added security
- Take snapshots to save VM state and revert anytime
- Drag-and-drop files between host and VMs
- Virtual networking and sharing options
- 3D graphics support for gaming, CAD, etc
- Unity mode to run VMs seamlessly with host desktop
- Remote connection to access VMs remotely
- VM encryption and cloning
Pricing
- One-time Purchase
- Subscription-Based
Pros
Run multiple operating systems easily
Test software in isolated environments
Revert VMs to previous states
Seamless integration between host and VMs
Good performance even for 3D/graphics apps
Feature-rich remote access capabilities
Great for developers, testers, IT admins
Cons
Resource-heavy, requires decent hardware
Steep learning curve
Paid solution can get expensive for large teams
Limited mobile/remote management features
No built-in collaboration tools
Not ideal for production environments
The Best VMware Workstation Pro Alternatives
Top Virtualization and Desktop Virtualization and other similar apps like VMware Workstation Pro
Here are some alternatives to VMware Workstation Pro:
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VirtualBox
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