VMware Fusion Pro pros and cons

4.4 out of 5

6 reviews
100% willing to recommend

487 followers

Pros & Cons summary

VMware Fusion Pro stands out for running Windows VMs on Mac, prized for its backend integration via Windows ESXi attachment and session management. Valued for stability and versatility, it quickly launches new operating systems. Snapshot management and API interactions need improvement, and integration of VMware backup options is necessary. Installation simplicity and easier ESXi data transfer are desired. Despite challenges, Fusion Pro's capabilities cater to diverse virtualization needs.

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Prominent pros & cons

PROS

VMware Fusion Pro's most valuable feature is its ability to run Windows VMs on a Mac.

It allows attachment to the Windows ESXi infrastructure, enabling users to connect to VMware hooks at the backend.

VMware Fusion Pro is versatile.

It is highly stable.

It significantly speeds up the launch of a new OS.

CONS

Handling of snapshotting requires improvement, particularly with cleaning up snapshots before deletion and transfer.

Backups for virtual machines need enhancement, as users often rely on Windows backups instead of a built-in VMware feature.

Transferring virtual machines from ESXi to Fusion is not straightforward, and improved functionality for pulling data from VMware infrastructure into Fusion is desired.

The installation process could be simplified for easier deployment.

Licensing costs for Fusion Pro are considered high and in need of adjustment.

VMware Fusion Pro Pros review quotes

reviewer1330542

Network Engineer at a government with 501-1,000 employees

Nov 26, 2020

The whole point of it is to run Windows VMs on a Mac. This is the most valuable feature. There is snapshotting, but we don't really use that. The Pro version allows me to actually attach to the Windows ESXi infrastructure at the backend, and I'm able to create a session that I can attach to the VMware hooks at the backend, so one is running a VM, and the whole operating system is running on the actual Mac. The other one is literally a frontend to the VMs that are running in the infrastructure at the backend. These are the two main features I use.

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Christian Kyony

Senior Security Engineer at DRS

Jun 3, 2024

The most important feature of VMware Fusion is that it helps me rapidly launch a new OS.

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Amit Negi

Information Technology Officer at Loesche GmbH

May 29, 2023

It is a highly stable solution.

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Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI)

October 2024

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reviewer1738311

Cybersecurity Student at a university with 5,001-10,000 employees

Feb 23, 2022

The most value that it provides is that it is versatile.

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IhorPetruk

Head of System Software Division at Bunch Craft Group

Sep 12, 2023

The product is easy to use and has a simple user interface.

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VMware Fusion Pro Cons review quotes

reviewer1330542

Network Engineer at a government with 501-1,000 employees

Nov 26, 2020

The way they handle snapshotting can be improved. One time, I moved a machine from one to another, and I tried to pull it up on the second machine, but it didn't work. This was because I had not cleaned up the snapshot before I deleted it and moved it across. So, when I tried to pull it up, it wouldn't let me bring it up. The backups for the VMs themselves can also be improved. I pretty much have to rely on Windows backups and not something on VMware. That's where it needs improvement. I am able to upload from my Fusion into the ESXi easily. I'm able to spin something up on Fusion and push it into the big arena, but the reverse is not as easy, that is, trying to pull something down from that. I would love to have a functionality where I could pull something from the VMware infrastructure into Fusion, but I'm not sure if I can take something from ESXi and pull it into Fusion.

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Christian Kyony

Senior Security Engineer at DRS

Jun 3, 2024

Additionally, enhancing the API interactions could improve the ability to manage VS and deploy various kinds of guests.

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Amit Negi

Information Technology Officer at Loesche GmbH

May 29, 2023

Its installation process could be simpler.

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