VMware Workstation is a desktop application that allows you to run multiple x86-compatible desktop and server operating systems at the same time on a single PC, in fully networked, portable virtual machines with no rebooting or hard drive partitioning required.

1. INSTALL MULTIPLE OPERATING SYSTEMS

VMware Workstation allows you to install multiple operating systems on a single PC. The guess operating systems supported by VMware include Windows (32-bit and 64-bit), Linux (32-bit and 64-bit), Novell Netware 32-bit, Novell Open Enterprise Server 32-bit, FreeBSD (32-bit and 64-bit), and Sun (32-bit and 64-bit). This is especially helpful when you are using a different operating system but wanted to learn new operating systems without going through a dual-boot installation.

2. TESTINGS AND DEPLOYMENTS

If you are getting ready to deploy new software, VMware allows you to test it in a virtual environment from the domain level down to the workstations. This will save you from headaches in case the new software had bugs or compatibility issues with your existing infrastructure.

3. MULTIPLE POINT-IN-TIME SNAPSHOTS

A great thing about virtual machine is you can do almost everything, even mess it up, but then you have nothing to worry because you can easily create a new virtual machine in a matter of seconds. The snapshot capability makes it even more exciting. Take a snapshot of the current state before you do something and if you mess up, you can revert back to the previous state of the virtual machine. You can take multiple snapshots of different states which allow you to go back to any point in your virtual machine.

4. CLONE, MOVE, AND SHARE VIRTUAL MACHINES

VMware allows you to clone a virtual machine fast and easy which saves you from spending time on another installation process. You can even create a virtual machine from a snapshot you had taken. Moving virtual machines from one host to another or even to a host with a different operating system is also seamless. Relocate virtual machines files to a directory accessible to other users and you will be able to share virtual machines. This flexibility offered by virtualization also aids in learning since you can create demo complex or multi-tier configurations on a single laptop.

5. MIMIC NETWORK INFRASTRUCTURE

With VMware, you do not need to have multiple computers to be able to setup or mimic simple to complex network configuration. This helps a lot when you are trying to understand how it works or considering expansion without doing the change live on the actual network. You can create teams of virtual machines to simulate client/server technology or any type of development environment.

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