Which VMware version for development? [closed]

Question

I'm lost among the zillion versions of VMware. Which one should I choose?

I just want to:

• create VM's
• take snapshots
• run it on top of a third party host OS (no ESX)
• get the least resource intensive for the host OS
• UPDATE: get it free if possible ("as in free beer")

I first went for VMware server but isn't it a bit overkill for my use? I will only run 1 VM.

Thanks for your suggestions,

Teebot

Answer 1

VMWare Workstation will do all of the above, and more:

• Create whole-cloth (straight file copies) or delta-only (which uses a "parent" image and only records changes) clones of machines
• Simulate an environment with multiple machines (useful for client-server)
• Integration with Visual Studio debugger
• Screen captures / recordings
• Import physical machines as images, appliances, OVA's (open virtual machines), and also Export a few other formats.

VMWare Player allows you to deploy a single machine to someone else free of charge. It does not create or change images. What PDFs are to Acrobat Reader, VM images are to VMWare Player.

VMWare Server is their older server product, now free of charge. Some products still integrate with this.

VMWare ESXi is their light-weight enterprise solution, now free as of last year. It allows for multiple images to be used, but lacks high-end tools, such as live migration. This is mostly used in the SMB market, as it can only deal with a single machine and lacks the integration features of its "big brother".

VMWare ESX is the "heavy" for-pay solution (the big brother of ESXi) and has all of the high-end goodies needed for a virtualized server environment, including live migration of running machines from server to server (yes, you can move across hardware), shared images, shared filesystem, etc.

Answer 2

You want VMWare Workstation.

Answer 3

You can use VMWARE workstation for performing the above tasks. Also you can use free ESXi host for managing the VMs with our functaions. Please post all VMWARE related queries here.