Getting A Copy of VMware's Virtualization Software

Submitted by wwong on Wed, 03/12/2008 - 01:01.

Step 1: Getting Virtualization Onto Your Computer (VMware)

Since the goal is to create an environment, which won't potentially screw up your working desktop/server/laptop/etc, we will want to create the Japanese game playing environment within the confines of a virtualized environment.

The added benefit of this is that you will be able to use this portable environment on your Windows/Linux/MacOSX systems, without too much concern for underlying upgrades or OS updates/changes. Switching from Ubuntu to Fedora Core, or vice versa? No problem. Upgrading from Windows XYZ to Windows 123? No problem. Going to do a clean re-install of MacOSX? Go right ahead. Your portable gaming environment will remain intact and can be run, when you finish re-installing your VMware Virtualization software.

So... Where do I go?

Well, you can download VMware's products, either their free(as in beer) or demo(as in 30 day) softwares, from http://www.vmware.com/.

More specifically: http://www.vmware.com/download/

Please note, in order to download, you will need to register. Once you do, you will be able to download the software.

The software comes in different flavors, and depending on your intended use, beyond just a virtual game environment, different versions will suit your needs better.

VMware Server
- Arguably the most often downloaded version. This is the product, which is most like their enterprise-grade solution, ESX server. The difference with Server and ESX, is that you do not gain the benefits of functions like: vmotion, cloning, server farm management, etc. What you do get, is the ability to turn one of your spare computers into a virtual server for multiple systems, provided you have enough processing power, storage, and memory/RAM.
  
  VMware Server will do 90% of what most people starting out in virtualization want. If you're on the Linux platform, this also happens to be the only free version of VMware's offerings you can get. So... if you're on the Linux platform, this is the one you want. Note, no USB device support.
VMware Workstation
- Workstation is for people who want to just create/run VM(s) on their desktop or laptop and have no desire to remote manage their system. There is a version for Linux and for Windows. This is a pay product. This is geared more for the average user out there and is better bundled than say, Server. If you like easy to use interfaces, go with VMware Workstation. Note, Workstation will also support USB devices.
VMware Player
- This is the software used to "play" or run the bundled Virtual Machines from the VMware VAM site: http://www.vmware.com/appliances/
  The VMware Player does not allow you to actually create any virtual machines, so the usefulness is somewhat limited. However, if you can convince someone to bundle such a VM for you, or if you download a VM from VMware, you can run it with this product.
  
  Note, there is a way you can get VMware Player to create VM(s). However, if you're going to go that route, you might as well get Server.
VMware Fusion
- The astute observer will note that there is no VMplayer for the Mac OSX platform. That is because there is a seperate dedicated offering called VMware Fusion, for the Mac OSX platform. Unlike VMplayer, you can build and create VM(s), much like with Workstation. The difference is that this is a Mac OSX product and it is a pay product. Works great!
  
  Also supports USB devices quite readily. In fact, it can be used in this manner for upgrading a Tivo hard drive.