The latest incarnation of VMware’s virtualisation tool for PC operating systems – VMware workstation got a an update which chages quite a few of the features and tools now expectected from this kind of virtualisation utility. Previously I used this product daily until I moved fully into the ESX(i) environment but have been very infrequently in it for the last 18 months so the new release has coaxed me back to take a look at what it offers for technicians dealing with ESX and Vm on a regular basis.
Key VMware Workstation 8 features include:
- Remote Connections – VMware Workstation 8 provides a seamless way to establish remote connections to hosts running in Workstation, VMware vSphere, and VMware vCenter™.
- “Share” VMs – New in Workstation 8, users can share VMs so they can be accessed by teammates providing a quick way to test applications in a more production-like environment.
- Upload to vSphere –Workstation 8 enables users to drag and drop a VM from a user’s desktop to VMware vSphere. This feature allows users to deploy a complete application environment from a PC to a server for further testing, demoing, and analysis.
- New User Interface –The VMware Workstation 8 user interface has been revamped with simplified menus, live thumbnails, improved preferences screens, and a new virtual machine library with enhanced searching. Users can now search and access a large library of virtual machines that can reside on your desktop, a server, or on another PC running VMware Workstation.
- Improved Virtual Machine Capabilities – With support for HD audio with 7.1 surround sound, USB 3 and Bluetooth devices, Workstation 8 delivers new levels of virtual machine performance. In addition, improvements to virtual SMP, 3D graphics performance and new support for 64-GB RAM allows users to run the most demanding applications in a virtual machine.