VMware Workstation 6 leads us a merry dance

Product: VMware Workstation 6
Website: vmware.com
System Requirements: 733MHz or faster CPU minimum, 512MB minimum (2GB is recommended), At least 1GB free disk space recommended for each guest operating system
Price: ?72, £49, $99 - Upgrade from 5.5. ?139, £95, $189 - Full Version, Windows & Linux

IN AN effort to keep up with the latest and greatest Operating Systems we employ a multi multi-boot PC. The computer tasked with this arduous duty is a four-year-old Pentium 4 and running any kind of virtual platforms would surely send it into a cardiac arrest. We're in the middle of upgrading to a new system which provoked the re-evaluation of this test bed solution. That along with a future review on Mac Parallels forced a renewed acquaintance of the virtual world once again.

VMware Workstation 6 is the company's fee paying Parallels software, focused on the desktop rather than the server. It's capable of creating virtual platforms and not just running them either, unlike the free application VMware Player. This version comes with new OS support, USB 2.0 and a whole host of other goodies.

Version 6 replaces 5.5 launched late 2005, with the major and most significant change is that it now supports Vista. This is both in the host, the PC running Workstation and the guest, the OS running inside the actual software. There's even support for the x64 versions too. Not every facet of the Windows Vista core is supported. It falls short of the higher-end graphical functions in reference to Aero Glass and other 3D based features. Sadly it's limited to just DirectX 8 support and no further. Microsoft Virtual PC 2007 can support Aero, but only via some jiggery-pokery, so it's clearly a problem that has thwarted the parallels world.

VMware Workstation 6 - Main Screen

More than one display can now be used inside Workstation 6. A virtual machine can now span across multiple screens, in either a single instance or multiple guests. This is if the OS can support it of course. This new function does appear to be the first of the kind on the block, with competitors lagging behind. It's just a good move towards parallels becoming closer and closer to mimicking the actual functionality of a physical computer.

USB 2.0 support is now apparent inside guest OSes, all for the increased access to storage devices. Up until now only 1.1 was supported, so a barrier would be hit in high-speed data transfers. The Linux guest we loaded accessed a USB flash drive well; apparent this would have been a sporadic issue at best in previous versions. Still missing is the native support for FireWire and e-SATA, although those devices can be configured to be seen in a round-about way. We've seen more external professional storage products moving away from USB, so it's an avenue VMware should be actively pursuing. USB 2.0 has been around for nearly six years, so don't hold out for a native answer for those others anytime soon.

Previously there was a ceiling of 4GB for all the running virtual machines, this has now been lifted. The only limit now is of that of the computers own RAM. Also the maximum memory allowed for active parallels has been increased from 3.6GB to 8GB. Judging by various forum posts, from developers to testers and enthusiasts, this was an irksome annoyance all around.

VM Ware has added a nice snapshot facility that can take a quick virtual image at a certain point in a running virtual OS, then roll back to that stage if needed. Much the same way as last-known good configuration in the Windows boot-up works, or the roll back restores in Symantec Ghost. This we found useful in assessing new beta software for benchmarking laptops by SYSmark. We could discover what variable was going wrong, without waiting the whole eight hours for the tests to complete, then go back to that time and try something else. It's not limited either as other parallel software to just the one single snapshot, multiple instances can be taken.

There's even an experimental feature now of recording all the actions performed by the guest OS and then being able to replay them. Although we weren't able to fully test this, it does sound like a great facility for developers and beta testers. This could potentially save a good deal of time in getting to the bottom of problems.

VMware Workstation 6 - Physical to Virtual

In terms of creating virtual machines some work has been done here too. One of the key points worth mentioning is the Physical to Virtual migration. It's in the much larger and costly packages from VMware and it's now good to see it here inside the lowly Workstation. This gives the ability to take an actual live OS running and convert it into a virtual one. Excellent for qualifying service packs and hot fixes on an atypical computer in a company, all before it's rolled out.

There's also a nice level of support in accessing competitors and other images found in existing virtual and back-up software. Useful, within the realm that it's not confined to just the one type of image format and therefore limiting the uses of VMware Workstation 6. Even the Symantec Ghost file type, sv2i, can be accessed.

VMware Workstation 6 - Other Image Types

Workstation can be useful to tech savvy users too. That's besides just the developers and testers out there. One of the out-side-the-box roles and one this reviewer has used is in disaster recovery area. When an OS fails and time is critical to get up and running again, taking an image of the dying PC is advisable, then reimage the computer with a working OS. At a later stage the damaged OS image can be brought in to Workstation 6 and the ever-so-valuable data can be brought back.

We tried a number of freely available platforms from the VMware site and its affiliates, also from the Microsoft MSDN site - all worked well without a hitch. The actual array of Operating Systems and appliances is extremely vast and diverse, far too many to be listed but all appear useful. Just as the list of Linux and Microsoft platforms that Workstation 6 could run too. We'll be trying a few more of them out now we're into the swing of things.

VMware Workstation 6 - Running Fedore 8

Creating a virtual OS from an install DVD went smoothly, just as we would have hoped for with no problems. VMware offered a minimum spec in processer but we'd advise a reasonable Core Duo, especially in the installation stage. As it can be a system hog at times. Importing an OS went well too, all though not every OS could be brought across - some of the old NetWare systems seemed to have trouble.

It has been confirmed that VMware uses Workstation as its own test-bed for features to be seen in their grown-up products VMware Server and ESX. So look forward to seeing some of these abilities in future editions of their platforms.

In Short
Whatever your use for VMware Workstation 6, whether development, disaster recovery or IT literacy - version 6 is useful. Just don't expect every facet of Vista being supported if you go down that route.

The Good
Vista support, USB 2.0, Physical to Virtual

The Bad
No support for FireWire & e-SATA

The Ugly
Lack of support for any DirectX over 8

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