VMware Workstation 3.2

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What's New in Version 3

Whether you're a long-time power user of VMware Workstation or a beginning user who is just learning what you can do with virtual machines, the new features in VMware Workstation 3 extend its capabilities and make it easier to use. Here are some highlights of the many new and improved features in this release.

New in Version 3.2

Designed for Microsoft Windows Certification

VMware Workstation 3.2 for Windows has earned Microsoft's Designed for Windows certification. This certification provides users with the assurance that VMware Workstation has full functionality on Windows NT, Windows 2000 and Windows XP hosts and is designed to take advantage of new Windows XP features.

New Administrative Lockout Feature

You can require a password for access to several key administrative features - creating new virtual machines, editing virtual machine configurations and editing network settings.

Additional Host and Guest Operating System Support

You can use the latest Microsoft and Linux operating systems, including:

Microsoft� Windows� XP, Service Pack 1
Microsoft Windows 2000, Service Pack 3
New Linux distributions, including Red Hat Linux 7.3, SuSE Linux 8.0 and Turbolinux 6.0 and 7.0

New in Versions 3.0 and 3.1

Improved Host and Guest Operating System Support

You can use recent Microsoft and Linux operating systems, including:

Microsoft� Windows� .NET Web Server beta 3 (experimental)
Microsoft Windows .NET Standard Server beta 3 (experimental)
Microsoft Windows .NET Enterprise Server beta 3 (experimental)
Microsoft Windows XP, Service Pack 1
Microsoft Windows 2000, Service Pack 3 beta
New Linux distributions, including Mandrake Linux 8.2, Red Hat Linux 7.2 and SuSE Linux 7.3
FreeBSD 4.5 (guest operating system only)
Netware 6.0 guest operating system experimental support (without VMware Tools)

Improved NAT Performance and Functionality

Faster Network Address Translation networking
Support for NetLogon, allowing you to log on to a Windows domain from a virtual machine so you can access file shares on physical computers in the domain
Support for UDP and TCP port forwarding to connect to virtual machines

New Repeatable Resume Feature

Resume a virtual machine from a specific point at which you suspended it, over and over. This is useful for a classroom or QA environment, where you want to start your guest operating system with applications already running and system settings tailored to your needs; or, in the event of a catastrophic failure, to restart from the same point, instead of rebooting the virtual machine.

Experimental Support for Remote Desktop

Connect to your Windows host remotely through Windows Terminal Services and Windows XP Remote Desktop and launch virtual machines.

Full Japanese Localization on Windows Hosts

VMware Workstation for Windows hosts contains a localized graphical user interface, installer, VMware Tools, messaging and in-product help in Japanese. The localized version of VMware Workstation is available only through Networld, our partner in Japan. For more information, please visit www.networld.co.jp/products/vmware/index.htm.

Use of Microsoft Windows Installer

On VMware Workstation for Windows hosts, take advantage of the Windows Installer to customize your Workstation installations.

Other New Features

New serial port implementation
Note: The new serial port implementation deprecates the use of TTY type of virtual serial ports in a virtual machine.
Improved disk performance on Windows 95 and Windows 98 through direct memory access (DMA)
Simplified movement of virtual machines, which now recognize relative paths
Improved cursor performance
New menu item to modify bridged networking settings on a Windows host - Manage Virtual Networks on the Settings menu. This menu item replaces the Settings button in the Configuration Editor on the panel for a virtual machine's network adapter.

Major Bugs Fixed in Workstation 3.2

For a list of major bugs fixed in VMware Workstation 3.2, please see Major Bugs Fixed in Workstation 3.2.

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