VMware Updates Desktop Virtualization Software
VMware Workstation 5.5 includes industry-first commercial support for 64-bit guest operating systems and hardware virtualization assists, and virtual SMP support to accelerate development of next-generation applications
PALO ALTO, Calif., Nov. 29 -- VMware, Inc., a global leader in virtual infrastructure software for industry-standard systems, today announced the general availability of VMware Workstation 5.5, the newest release of its desktop virtualization software. VMware Workstation 5.5 has numerous new features and significant platform enhancements that provide unmatched flexibility for developers and testers.
Millions today use VMware Workstation, first introduced more than six years ago, to accelerate software development, testing, and deployment and increase product quality. With VMware Workstation, enterprises are able to create a library of virtual machines for 32-bit and 64-bit x86 operating systems, including Linux, NetWare, Solaris x86, and Windows, that replicate production environments. These virtual machines can then be rapidly provisioned and used, enabling developers and testers to spend more time developing and testing software and less time configuring and managing their required environments.
Among the major new and enhanced features in VMware Workstation 5.5 are:
64-bit Guest Support for AMD Athlon 64 Processor-based Systems; and 64-bit Guest Support for Systems using Intel Extended Memory 64 Technology (EM64T) with Intel Virtualization Technology (experimental): Building on the 64-bit host operating system support introduced in previous releases, VMware Workstation 5.5 delivers support for 64-bit Linux and Windows guest operating systems and experimental support for 64-bit Solaris x86 and FreeBSD. This gives developers and testers the flexibility to run 32-bit and 64-bit operating systems simultaneously on the same hardware.
Support for Two-way Virtual SMP (experimental): VMware brings its server-class Virtual SMP to the desktop. Virtual SMP makes it possible for a single virtual machine to span two processors, enabling developers and testers to configure real-world production environments on developer-class desktops.
Enhanced VMware Virtual Machine Importer: VMware Workstation 5.5 provides developers and testers with the additional flexibility to convert Symantec Live State Recovery images into virtual machines or to open those images in their native format without any modification. Developers and testers can reuse their libraries of physical machine images when deploying or building a virtual infrastructure.
Enhanced Command Line Interface: VMware Workstation 5.5 offers an enhanced vmrun interface to allow organizations to automate repetitive manual tasks. New vmrun features include the ability to take snapshots, list all snapshots for a virtual machine and revert to a selected snapshot.
Virtual machines created with VMware Workstation can be deployed to VMware Player, enterprise-class VMware GSX Server and data center-class VMware ESX Server platforms. Once deployed on GSX Server or ESX Server, VMware VirtualCenter can manage these virtual machines. This lets development teams more easily manage the software lifecycle process and seamlessly move computing environments from development to testing and from staging to production.
Pricing and Availability
VMware Workstation 5.5 for both Linux and Windows host operating systems is available today. The electronic download for Workstation 5.5 is $189 via the VMware Store at http://www.vmware.com/vmwarestore/ and the boxed version is available for $199. The product is also available from the VMware VIP Reseller Network and distribution partners. A full-featured 30-day trial version of VMware Workstation 5.5 can be downloaded directly from the VMware Web site at http://www.vmware.com.
VMware Workstation is also available with VMTN Subscription, which provides developers with the range of VMware products, support and upgrades for an annual subscription of $299 per user. VMTN Subscription provides a consistent virtualization platform for development and test to increase the productivity and efficiency across the software development lifecycle, reduce cost and complexity and improve software quality. VMTN Subscription includes VMware Workstation for individual developer productivity, VMware GSX Server and a developer version of VMware ESX Server with Virtual SMP for team collaboration and VMware Physical to Virtual (P2V) Assistant for migrating physical systems to virtual machines.
Registered customers who purchased VMware Workstation 5 are eligible for a free electronic download distribution update license to VMware Workstation 5.5 via the VMware Store.
About VMware, Inc.
VMware, an EMC company, is a global leader in virtual infrastructure software for industry-standard systems. The For more information, visit http://www.vmware.com or call 650-475-5000.
VMware and VMTN are registered trademarks of VMware, Inc. in the United States and/or various jurisdictions. All other trademarks and names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective companies.