Workstation for Linux
Linux Virtualization for Everyone
VMware Workstation for Linux products are the industry standard for running multiple operating systems as virtual machines on a single Linux PC. Thousands of IT professionals, developers and businesses use Workstation Pro for Linux and Workstation Player for Linux to be more agile, more productive and more secure every day.
With over 15 years of virtualization leadership, millions of satisfied customers, and more than 50 awards, VMware provides the most stable and secure desktop virtualization platform in the industry.
Workstation Pro Overview
Learn about Workstation Pro and its leading-edge virtualization features.
What's New in Workstation 14
Check out what's new in Workstation, including: new networking controls, improved vSphere support and integration, and more.
Buy Workstation Pro for Linux Today
Discover the advanced features that are available exclusively with Workstation Pro.
Buy Online at the VMware StoreWorkstation for Linux Frees You to Innovate in Your Own Space
Mature Desktop Virtualization
With over 15 years of active development, Workstation products are the most mature and stable solution for local desktop virtualization. Safely and easily run multiple operating systems as virtual machines on a single PC without affecting your Linux environment and without rebooting. Evaluate new distros, check out Windows 10, test software applications, or validate patches and reference architectures all in an isolated and safe environment.
Dev and Test Capabilities for any Platform
Workstation products make it easy to test almost any operating system and application, all from a local PC. Build apps for Windows 10 from Linux OS, test compatibility with any browser, or deploy Android-x86 to check mobile behavior without needing a mobile device.
Connection to vSphere
IT pros use Workstation products to securely connect with vSphere, ESXi or other Workstation servers to manage virtual machines and physical hosts. A common hypervisor platform maximizes agility and productivity by enabling easy transfer of virtual machines to and from your local PC.
Run Local Corporate Desktops
Refuse to compromise by running the corporate desktop image on the same machine as your development environment without rebooting. Isolate corporate desktops from BYO devices you may not own by disabling copy-and-paste, drag-and-drop, shared folders and access to USB devices. Create or run restricted virtual machines that are encrypted and password-protected, ensuring that only authorized users can interact with corporate data.
Secure and Isolated Environments
Run a secure second desktop with different privacy settings, tools and networking configurations, or use forensic tools to investigate operating system vulnerabilities. Workstation provides one of the most secure hypervisor in the industry, and support for security focused operating systems like Kali Linux.
FEATURES
Run Windows on a Linux Desktop
With the powerful and secure hypervisor underneath Workstation for Linux, novice and seasoned Linux users can run nearly any Windows application without having to compromise their desktop of choice. With Workstation on your Linux desktop, you can take advantage of new features like Cortina and Edge’s inking capabilities, or even start building universal apps for Windows 10 devices.
VMware vSphere Connectivity
Use Workstation to connect to vSphere, ESXi or Workstation Pro servers. Drive remote VMs, command power operations or transfer virtual machines to and from vSphere environments. With the common underlying hypervisor, it’s easy to run VMs from the corporate data center from the comfort of your Linux box.
Powerful Networking
Create complex IPv4 or IPv6 virtual networks for virtual machines, or integrate with third-party software to design full data center topologies using real-world routing software and tools.
Monster Virtual Machines
Create massive virtual machines with up to 16 vCPUs, 8 TB virtual disks and 64 GB of memory to run the most demanding desktop and server applications in a virtualized environment. Give graphics-intensive applications an additional boost by allocating up to 2GB of video memory to a virtual machine.
High-Resolution Display Support
Workstation is optimized to support high-resolution 4K UHD (3840 x 2160) displays for desktops and QHD+ (3200x1800) displays used in laptops and x86 tablets. Workstation also supports multiple monitors with different DPI settings, such as a new 4K UHD display along with an existing 1080P HD display.
Restricted Access to Virtual Machines
Protect corporate content by restricting access to Workstation virtual machine settings like drag-and-drop, copy-and-paste, and connections to USB devices. Virtual machines can be encrypted and password-protected to ensure only authorized users have access.
Clones for Rapid Duplication
Save time and effort when creating the same virtual machine setup repeatedly. Use “Linked Clones” to quickly duplicate a VM while significantly reducing physical disk space. You can also use “Full Clones” to create fully isolated duplicates that can be shared with others.
Helpful Snapshots
Use Snapshots to create a rollback point to revert to on the fly, which is perfect for testing unknown software or creating customer demos. Multiple snapshots makes it easy to test a variety of different scenarios without needing to install multiple operating systems.
High-Performance 3D Graphics
VMware Workstation products now support DirectX 10 and OpenGL 3.3, delivering a more fluid and responsive experience when running 3D applications. Workstation can run the most highly demanding 3D applications like AutoCAD or SOLIDWORKS with near-native performance in a virtual machine.
Cross Compatibility
Workstation allows you to create virtual machines that can run across the VMware product portfolio. We even support the open standard so you can create and play virtual machines from other vendors.
Shared Virtual Machines
Quickly share and test applications in a simulated production environment. Run VMware Workstation Pro as a server to share a repository of pre-loaded virtual machines in every desired configuration with your teammates, department or organization.
USE CASES: BUILT FOR YOU
Linux Virtualization for Everyone
Workstation delivers a desktop virtualization solution designed for every kind of Linux user.
IT pros get a high-powered productivity tool. Developers get an expansive engineering environment. Business leaders can enable their BYO initiatives. Students and home users get the best of all worlds.
IT Pros
Run virtual machines that are compatible with your corporate data center right from your desktop, laptop or tablet. Quickly perform remote management tasks on vSphere or integrate with industry-leading network tools to design and test enterprise topologies without spinning up costly rack-mounted hardware.
Use cases:
- Data center design and test
- Data center management
- Network design and test
Developers
With broad OS support and integration with agile development workflow tools, VMware Workstation is the foundation of modern development and testing. Whether you’re working with iOS, Android or Linux, or cloud-scale container-driven web apps with workflow automation, VMware offers the most comprehensive tools available.
Use cases:
- Multi-operating system development
- Multi-operating system test
- DevOps \ Agile development workflows
Businesses
Workstation, optionally managed by VMware Horizon FLEX, offers unparalleled agility, productivity and security for delivering corporate desktops to laptops for M&A, contractors, field workers, or as an enabler in BYOPC initiatives. By delivering things like Windows XP on Windows 10 machines, Linux on Windows, or any combination of over 200 supported operating systems. Workstation can accelerate user adoption and productivity while driving down costs.
Use cases:
- Corporate desktops
- Legacy applications
TECH SPECS
Host Operating Systems (64-bit)
- Ubuntu 8.04 and above
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5 & above
- CentOS 5.0 and above
- Oracle Linux 5.0 and above
- open SUSE 10.2 and above
- SUSE Linux 10 and above
Guest Operating Systems
More than 200 operating systems are supported, including:
- Windows 10
- Windows 8.X
- Windows 7
- Windows XP
- Ubuntu
- RedHat
- SUSE
- Oracle Linux
- Debian
- Fedora
- openSUSE
- Mint
- CentOS
For a complete list of supported host and guest operating systems vist the VMware Compatibility Guide.
COMPARE
Workstation Player or Workstation Pro - Choose the Version that is Right For You
| Workstation Player | Workstation Pro | |
| Buy Now | Buy Now | |
| Upgrade Now | Upgrade Now | |
| Download Now | Download Now | |
General |
||
| Create new VMs | ||
| Create large VMs (16CPU x 64GB RAM) | ||
| Over 200 supported guest OSs | ||
| Mass deployment | ||
Host/Guest Integration |
||
| Host/guest file sharing | ||
| Run virtual machine with different view modes | ||
| 3D graphics with DX10 and OpenGL 3.3 support | ||
Device Support |
||
| 4K display support | ||
| Support a wide range of virtual devices | ||
| USB smart card reader support | ||
| USB 3.0 device support | ||
Advanced Features |
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| Run encrypted VM | ||
| Drag-able tabbed interface | ||
| Run Multiple VMs at one time | ||
| Create/manage encrypted VM | ||
| Snapshots | ||
| Advanced networking | ||
| Linked clone | ||
| Share virtual machine (as a server) | ||
| Connect to vSphere/ESXi server | ||
| Connect to vCloud Air | ||
| Command line operation: vmrun and VIX | ||
FAQS
Product
See AllHow does VMware Workstation Pro work?
VMware Workstation Pro works by creating fully isolated, secure virtual machines that encapsulate an operating system and its applications. The VMware virtualization layer maps the physical hardware resources to the virtual machine's resources, so each virtual machine has its own CPU, memory, disks, and I/O devices, and is the full equivalent of a standard x86 machine. VMware Workstation Pro installs onto the host operating system and provides broad hardware support by inheriting device support from the host.
What types of applications can I run in a virtual machine?
Any application that will run on a standard PC will run inside a virtual machine on VMware Workstation Pro. VMware Workstation Pro is the equivalent of a full PC, with full networking and devices — each virtual machine has its own CPU, memory, disks, I/O devices, etc. This allows you to run any application that runs on the supported guest operating systems, including Microsoft Office, Adobe Photoshop, Apache Web Server, Microsoft Visual Studio, Kernel debuggers, Firewalls, VPN software and much more.
Installation
See AllWhat kind of hardware do I need to run VMware Workstation Pro?
VMware Workstation Pro runs on standard x86-based hardware with 64-bit Intel and AMD processors and on 64-bit Windows or Linux host operating systems. VMware recommends 1.2 GB of available disk space for the application. Additional hard disk space required for each virtual machine. Please refer to vendors recommended disk space for specific guest operating systems.
Does Workstation 12 Pro support 32-bit operating systems?
Workstation 12 Pro requires a 64-bit operating system on the host PC. You can still run your favorite 32-bit Windows and Linux guest operating systems inside a virtual machine on Workstation 12 Pro. If you plan to run 64-bit virtual machines with VMware Workstation Pro, please refer to the Knowledge Base article on compatible 64-bit CPUs .
Downloads and Trials
See AllHow can I download VMware Workstation Pro?
You can download VMware Workstation Pro software from the Workstation Pro Download page.
Can I convert my trial license to a permanent license?
After the evaluation period has expired, you will be prompted to enter a license key. If you have purchased the product you will have received a new license key. Enter the purchased license key when prompted to unlock the full "unlimited" version of the software. To take advantage of complimentary email support for up to 30 days, your license key must be registered. If you purchased the product from the VMware Online store, your license key is automatically registered. If you purchased from a reseller, you need to manually register your license key in My VMware. Please consult this KB article for detailed instructions on license key registration.
Licensing and Upgrades
See AllWhat if I purchased VMware Workstation 11 without a Support and Subscription (SnS) contract before July 29, 2015?
Customers who purchased VMware Workstation 11 before July 29, 2015 without an SnS contract are not eligible for a complimentary upgrade to VMware Workstation 12 Pro and need to purchase an upgrade to Workstation 12 Pro to fully enjoy the benefits of the latest version of the product.
How do I purchase Workstation 12 Pro upgrades?
VMware Workstation 12 Pro upgrades are available for purchase on the VMware online store or through VMware resellers.
IMPORTANT: When you install a new version of Workstation, the previous version will be uninstalled from your system. Therefore, we recommend that you proceed with the upgrade only if you have a new license key. Your existing virtual machines will not be affected.
Support
See AllWhen does complimentary support start?
Complimentary support starts when your VMware Workstation Pro license is registered. Registration takes place automatically if you purchase your product from the VMware Online store. If you purchased from a reseller, you need to register your license in My VMware. Please consult this KB article for detailed instructions on license key registration.
VMware Transforms the Way Care is Delivered to Remote Areas
Medic Mobile, a revolutionary healthcare management system, is using VMware Workstation Player to power over 10,000 community health workers.
RESOURCES
Technical Information for Workstation Pro
Workstation Pro Community
Technical Information for Workstation Player
Workstation Player Community
CHOOSE YOUR OS
For Windows and macOS
At VMware, we refuse to make you choose. We know you’re under constant pressure to increase productivity and agility, but you can’t sacrifice security. You aren’t satisfied running only native applications on your PCs, or having to reboot to run apps on different operating systems. Now you can run whichever apps will keep you most productive, wherever you want to use them.
If Linux isn’t your main operating system, you’ll be pleased to know that all these features are available for other operating systems.
Workstation for Windows
Fusion for Mac