VMware Workstation Player

VMware Workstation Player
Developer(s)VMware
Initial releaseDecember 12, 2005
Final release
17.5.2[1] Edit this on Wikidata / 14 May 2024; 6 months ago (14 May 2024)
Written inC, C++
Operating systemWindows, Linux
Platformx86-64 only
TypeHypervisor
LicenseFreemium[2]
Websitewww.vmware.com/products/workstation-player.html

VMware Workstation Player, formerly VMware Player, is a discontinued virtualization software package for x64 computers running Microsoft Windows or Linux, supplied free of charge by VMware, Inc.[3] VMware Player could run existing virtual appliances and create its own virtual machines (which require that an operating system be installed to be functional). It used the same virtualization core as VMware Workstation, a similar program with more features, which became available free of charge for personal, but not commercial, use in 2024.[4] VMware Player was available for personal non-commercial use,[5] or for distribution or other use by written agreement.[6] VMware, Inc. did not formally support Player, but there was an active community website for discussing and resolving issues,[7] and a knowledge base.[8]

The free VMware Player was distinct from VMware Workstation until Player v7, Workstation v11. In 2015 the two packages were combined as VMware Workstation 12, with a free for non-commercial use restricted Player version which, on purchase of a license code, either became the higher-specification VMware Workstation Pro,[9][10] or allowed commercial use of Player.

VMware Workstation Player was discontinued in May 2024 when VMware Workstation Pro became free for personal use. Commercial users of Player could continue to use it until the end of the active support term.[4]

  1. ^ "VMware Workstation 17.5.2 Player Release Notes". 14 May 2024.
  2. ^ "FAQs". VMware Player home page. VMware. Retrieved 9 September 2015.
  3. ^ "VMware Player – The Easiest Way to Run a Virtual Machine". 1 July 2011. Archived from the original on 2011-07-01. Archived version; the page as of 2016 is about VMware Workstation Player
  4. ^ a b Roy, Michael (13 May 2024). "VMware Workstation Pro: Now Available Free for Personal Use". VMware Cloud Foundation (VCF) Blog. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
  5. ^ "VMware Workstation Player FAQs: Create and run virtual machines". VMWare.
  6. ^ "VMware Player 4.0 EULA". VMware. Retrieved 27 April 2012.
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference community was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ "Knowledge Base". Kb.vmware.com. Retrieved 2016-08-27.
  9. ^ "free". My.vmware.com. Retrieved 2016-08-27.
  10. ^ "VMware Workstation: Multiple Operating Systems Linux, Windows 8 & More". Vmware.com. 2015-07-29. Retrieved 2016-08-27.