VMware Workstation 8: The Future of Virtualization is Here
Virtualization technology has come a long way since its inception, and VMware has been at the forefront of this revolution. The company’s latest offering, VMware Workstation 8, promises to take virtualization to the next level with a host of new features and enhancements. As a beta tester, I have had the opportunity to play around with this exciting new release, and I must say, it does not disappoint.
Before we dive into the juicy details, let’s talk about the system requirements for running VMware Workstation 8. The host system processor needs to meet certain requirements, specifically:
* 64-bit x86 CPU LAHF/SAHF support in long mode
To determine if your host system is 64-bit capable, you can download CPU-Z to determine the capabilities of your processor.
Now, let’s talk about some of the exciting new features in VMware Workstation 8. One of the most significant improvements is the ability to run nested 64-bit guests, like VMware vSphere 5 hosts, without any issues. This feature requires specific CPU features, such as AMD CPU that has segment-limit support in long mode, or Intel CPU that has VT-x support with VT-x support must be enabled in the host system BIOS.
Another fantastic addition to VMware Workstation 8 is the new Connect to Server feature, which allows remote connections to hosts running Workstation, ESX 4.x, and Virtual Center. This feature enables users to access all their VMs from a single interface, regardless of where they reside. This feature is especially useful for teams working together or single administrators who need to access the same VMs from multiple computers.
VMware Workstation 8 also introduces a new sharing feature that allows you to control who can access your VMs from other instances of Workstation. This feature is a great addition for teams working together, as it ensures that only authorized users can access sensitive VMs. Additionally, a shared VM is started with the host OS without starting the VMware Workstation GUI, similar to how VMware Server worked before it was discontinued.
Other notable improvements in VMware Workstation 8 include:
* New default keyboard driver to limit the number of reboots required during installation/upgrade.
* Improved graphics performance in guests.
* Improved vSMP (Virtual SMP) other virtual hardware improvements.
* Memory support is now 64GB per VM.
* HD Audio is available for Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 2008, and Windows 2008 R2 guests (RealTek ALC888 7.1 Channel High Definition Audio Codec).
* USB 3.0 support for Linux guests (not available for Windows guests).
* Bluetooth devices can be shared with Windows guests.
Overall, VMware Workstation 8 is a significant improvement over its predecessors, offering improved performance, new features, and better support for nested virtualization. With this release, VMware has once again solidified its position as the leader in virtualization technology. If you’re looking to take your virtualization game to the next level, VMware Workstation 8 is definitely worth checking out.