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SalimAhmed - PeerSpot reviewer
System Administrator at MMCY Tech
Real User
Top 5
A tool useful for testing purposes in the production environment that needs to reduce its usage of resources like CPU
Pros and Cons
  • "The most valuable feature of the solution stems from the fact that it is an easy-to-use product."
  • "VMware Workstation uses more resources like CPU and disk space, especially the CPU, which is a shortcoming that needs improvement."

What is our primary use case?

I have worked in education and production in one of my previous companies with VMware Workstation. In my current company, I use VMware Workstation for personal use. I have used the solution since my company has a personal server, which is not an extra production server.

How has it helped my organization?

VMware Workstation is something that I have used on my laptop, while at times I have used the solution for testing process purposes, with Linux, Windows, and servers. I have used VMware Workstation for testing purposes in the production environment.

What is most valuable?

The most valuable feature of the solution stems from the fact that it is an easy-to-use product. VMware Workstation is useful for safety purposes. With VMware Workstation, you can easily select CPU hardware or hard disk and install them to the solution. In general, the product allows easy installation with any hardware specifications. If you select a 3 GB or 15 GB hard disk, you can select it.

What needs improvement?

VMware Workstation uses more resources like CPU and disk space, especially the CPU, which is a shortcoming that needs improvement.

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VMware Workstation
December 2024
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For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using VMware Workstation for six months.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

The stability of the solution depends on the solution's license. If you opt for a license purchased from VMware Workstation, then it remains very stable. The unlicensed version of the solution is not very suitable or stable.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

Based on what I have seen, I rate the solution's scalability a seven out of ten.

I didn't use the licensed software version of VMware Workstation, because of which I can't comment on its efficiency.

Though I am unsure, I feel that six to seven users use the solution for their personal use in my company.

Currently, I don't plan to use the version offered by VMware Workstation.

How are customer service and support?

I did not directly contact VMware Workstation's support person since I could get all the answers to my questions through VMware's blogs.

Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

I have moved from VMware Workstation to Oracle VM VirtualBox since I got to use it for free, while VMware Workstation wasn't a free option.

How was the initial setup?

I rate the initial setup a six and a half out of ten. The initial setup of the solution is not complicated, but it may not be stable or as good as it should be if you use the tool without VMware Workstation's license or licensed software.

The solution is deployed by enabling virtualization on my laptop.

The time taken for the deployment depends on the size of your operations. The installation of VMware Workstation only takes around 20 to 30 minutes.

For deployment steps, download the free version of VMware Workstation for all the licenses, and then by clicking the next options available after clicking the EXE file, we can install the solution. You get around 60 days to use the free version of the solution, after which you need to pay for VMware Workstation.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

I use the free version of VMware Workstation.

What other advice do I have?

I have stopped the use of ESXi in VMware Workstation.

It is important to note that VMware Workstation may not be a good solution for my company since it is not a perfect solution.

I don't personally recommend VMware Workstation to those planning to use it since it is a type 2 hypervisor. It is always better to use a type 1 hypervisor, but if someone prefers to use a type 2 hypervisor, then it is always best to choose the paid or licensed version of the solution.

I rate the overall solution a seven out of ten.

Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
CEO at Virtual Consultants Sverige AB
Real User
Top 5
High availability, complete functionality, beneficial VLAN setup
Pros and Cons
  • "The most valuable features of VMware Workstation are the DirectX support, you can run Microsoft Hyper-V in virtual environments which is good for me to test different installations. Additionally, you can set up different VLANs, and overall it is a complete solution."
  • "VMware Workstation has some network limitations which could improve, it is not as flexible as VMware NSX. Additionally, it could support operating systems better. I only run some Linux versions and Windows at the moment but it would be nice to be able to take whatever operating system you want and run it."

What is our primary use case?

VMware Workstation allows me to have virtualized environments. I can run the virtual environment in my home lab.

What is most valuable?

The most valuable features of VMware Workstation are the DirectX support, you can run Microsoft Hyper-V in virtual environments which is good for me to test different installations. Additionally, you can set up different VLANs, and overall it is a complete solution.

What needs improvement?

VMware Workstation has some network limitations which could improve, it is not as flexible as VMware NSX. Additionally, it could support operating systems better. I only run some Linux versions and Windows at the moment but it would be nice to be able to take whatever operating system you want and run it.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using VMware Workstation for approximately 15 years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

VMware Workstation is highly stable. I have been running a VM for a year and a half and nothing has happened with it. It is running very well.

I rate the stability of VMware Workstation a ten out of ten,

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

VMware Workstation cannot scale. It's one installation on one system, you can't scale it. It uses the resources of my computer only.

How are customer service and support?

I have used the support from VMware Workstation. The quality of the support can depend on who you speak to but they have always solved my problem. Sometimes it takes a few extra days for the solution because they have to find the right individual inside that can handle the support question.

I rate the support from VMware Workstation a five out of five.

How would you rate customer service and support?

Positive

Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

I have previously used a Microsoft Virtual Desktop but VMware Workstation is much better with more features. You have a wider range of devices you can use, such as a smart card reader.

How was the initial setup?

The initial setup of the VMware Workstation is simple. You only need to click install and hit the next button over and over on the mouse.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

With a VDI solution, there is always extra cost running a VDI solution but it's not for cost purposes anymore. In the beginning, it was to save money on hardware but at the moment it's other aspects that are more important why you should use a VDI solution.

If you run Microsoft on top of your laptop it's going to be cheaper than running a whole environment of VDIs. However, you get so much more from the VDI solution. You have security aspects and you have one place you store your data. It's closer to the data center so everything should run faster. For example, if you have an AutoCAD installation and you want to pick up a drawing that is approximately one gigabyte, it's going to take about 10 minutes over the landline but when you do it inside a VDI you can receive it in up to 45 seconds or so. These aspects are more important than pricing.

What other advice do I have?

VMware Workstation keeps working and it makes my day every time I have to use it because it starts, it runs, and it makes my life easier. I recommend it for developers.

I rate VMware Workstation a nine out of ten.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

On-premises
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: Partner
PeerSpot user
Buyer's Guide
VMware Workstation
December 2024
Learn what your peers think about VMware Workstation. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: December 2024.
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BHARAT B  SHARMA - PeerSpot reviewer
Director at Shreenathji Solutions
Real User
It performs well and it's easy to scale, but it's hard to set up.
Pros and Cons
  • "It will not harm any of the computer settings to run a specific program. For example, if a program needs a specific security policy, we don't have to use the shared configuration. We have an individual copy of Windows installed on the virtual machine, so anybody can access that. It helps us a lot."
  • "Installing VMware Workstation isn't so easy. It's highly complex compared to Windows. I rate it four out of 10 for ease of installation. Setting up a remote desktop only takes a minute or so, but the Workstation itself takes some time."

What is our primary use case?

We use VMware Workstation to deploy multiple machines, and every machine has its own configuration and software installed according to our configurations. The company has between 25 to 50 employees on virtual machines, and the usage is high. 

What is most valuable?

It will not harm any of the computer settings to run a specific program. For example, if a program needs a specific security policy, we don't have to use the shared configuration. We have an individual copy of Windows installed on the virtual machine, so anybody can access that. It helps us a lot.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using VMware for the last 10 years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

VMware Workstation's performance is excellent.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

VMware's scalability is high. It's usually not an issue.

How are customer service and support?

We've contact support for other VMware solutions besides Workstation. We needed support due to the complexity of the database. I rate VMware support eight out of 10. 

How was the initial setup?

Installing VMware Workstation isn't so easy. It's highly complex compared to Windows. I rate it four out of 10 for ease of installation. Setting up a remote desktop only takes a minute or so, but the Workstation itself takes some time. 

You need to install a tool on the host machine, and then all the features can be managed via VMware Workstation. Once it's deployed, I can maintain issues on the machines remotely. We don't often go to the sites.

What other advice do I have?

I rate VMware Workstation six out of ten.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

Private Cloud
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: integrator/consultant
PeerSpot user
Nick Quirante - PeerSpot reviewer
Senior Technical Engineer at Netplay Inc
Real User
Top 5
Provides compatibility with a wide range of applications and ensures seamless testing and deployment
Pros and Cons
  • "I appreciate the ease of backup and snapshot creation. The ability to revert to previous versions without losing data is very useful for our team."
  • "I would like to see more detailed reporting capabilities, particularly around snapshot activity. It would be helpful to have a summary of changes made prior to deploying an application, allowing us to provide comprehensive reports to our management on a regular basis."

What is our primary use case?

We use VMware Workstation for testing and deploying applications in our production environment.

We use Hyper-V and VMware Workstation for our testing environment. We use it to deploy and test developer applications within our company. 

We run our internal applications on virtual machines to ensure compatibility with the Windows platform.

We deploy the tested applications to our production environment.

How has it helped my organization?

We use VMware products to support our IT infrastructure and application deployment processes.

What is most valuable?

I appreciate the ease of backup and snapshot creation. The ability to revert to previous versions without losing data is very useful for our team.

What needs improvement?

Since we've been using VMware Workstation for a while, I haven't had the opportunity to test other virtualization platforms. However, we have received some proposals for alternative solutions, such as SCI.

So, maybe VMware can consider introducing this in future releases. 

Moreover, I would like to see more detailed reporting capabilities, particularly around snapshot activity. It would be helpful to have a summary of changes made prior to deploying an application, allowing us to provide comprehensive reports to our management on a regular basis.

For how long have I used the solution?

 We have been using this solution for three years now. We started using it in 2020. 

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

We haven't encountered any technical difficulties with VMware Workstation so far.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

VMware Workstation is primarily used by the IT department. We haven't yet rolled it out to all employees.

We have around five end users using this solution in our company. 

How are customer service and support?

We haven't had the need to contact VMware's support team directly.

I've always found the online community to be a valuable resource for addressing any concerns or questions.

Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

We were using VirtualBox, an open-source virtualization software. The decision to use VMware Workstation was made by our technical team. They evaluated various virtualization solutions and determined that VMware Workstation was the best fit for our company's needs.

How was the initial setup?

From a user perspective, the installation and deployment process was easy to understand and easy to deploy. Even for someone like me, who is not a fully technical person, it was manageable.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

Our IT department handles all procurement and cost negotiations. They are responsible for evaluating proposals from vendors and selecting the most cost-effective solution.

Which other solutions did I evaluate?


What other advice do I have?

I would recommend VMware Workstation for critical situations, such as deploying crucial applications within the company. It provides compatibility with a wide range of applications and ensures seamless testing and deployment.

Overall, I would rate the solution a nine out of ten. I'm satisfied with its features and performance, and I haven't encountered any major issues.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

On-premises
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
Tomasz Pietas - PeerSpot reviewer
ICT Manager at LPEC
Real User
Easy to implement with good virtualization and access to a free version
Pros and Cons
  • "It's stable."
  • "The solution can be expensive."

What is our primary use case?

I'm a teacher and I show it to students. I use the solution for virtualization for testing some systems and features in IT, for example, containers. 

What is most valuable?

The most valuable aspect is virtualization. It is very strong on workstations and PCs.

It is easy to implement the product.

There is a free version.

It's stable.

What needs improvement?

The solution is missing a snapshot feature.

The solution can be expensive.

It's not as easy to use as, for example, Oracle's Virtual Box.

For how long have I used the solution?

I started using the solution 11 or 12 years ago. I've used it for a while at this point. 

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

I haven't had any stability issues. There are no bugs or glitches. It doesn't crash or freeze.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

I have not noted any scalability at all with this product.

Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

I also use Oracle Virtual Box. I use it more regularly. I now use Workstation very little. It's also less comfortable to use than Oracle. Both are easy to set up.

How was the initial setup?

The implementation process of the solution is very straightforward and simple. It's not overly complex. 

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

I have it for personal use or just to teach and therefore I don't find it expensive. I use the free version. It's a bit expensive, the paid version. 

What other advice do I have?

I'm an end-user.

Beyond the high cost, it is a very good product. I'd rate it eight out of ten.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

On-premises
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
Information Technology Specialist at a government with 1,001-5,000 employees
Real User
Top 5
A stable solution that can be used for testing purposes on a non-Windows operating system
Pros and Cons
  • "VMware Player helps you to virtualize and install Ubuntu or any other operating system, even on a Windows laptop."
  • "VMware Player should provide a cloud version with no limitations to hardware resources."

What is our primary use case?

I use VMware Player for testing purposes. For example, if I want to test something on a non-Windows operating system, I would install Ubuntu or Linux, and I can do the testing with the solution.

What is most valuable?

VMware Player helps you to virtualize and install Ubuntu or any other operating system, even on a Windows laptop. You can test your application using VMware Player.

What needs improvement?

VMware Player should provide a cloud version with no limitations to hardware resources.

VMware has cloud solutions, but something more can be done at the desktop level.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using VMware Player for eight years now.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

VMware Player’s stability is above my expectations.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

VMware Player is a scalable solution. The solution helped me a lot in my career progression.

More than 100 users use VMware Player in our organization. Our organization's IT infrastructure team uses VMware Player for testing purposes. We have some trainees or interns who have just completed their graduation, and if they want to test something, we recommend they try this solution.

I rate VMware Player ten out of ten for scalability.

How are customer service and support?

We have had VMware Player enterprise support for five years, and it's doing great. Whenever we call them, they are readily available for us. We also get on-site support from VMware. In terms of customer support, VMware is the best.

How was the initial setup?

You can install VMware Player by going to the VMware website and downloading it.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

The solution's pricing depends on how many licenses you are using. VMware Player's pricing is competitive to other vendors in the market, like AWS or Google Cloud. The solution's pricing is almost the same as what Google Cloud, AWS, or Microsoft would charge you.

What other advice do I have?

We have a license for VMware Workstation Player.

Overall, I rate VMware Player ten out of ten.

Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
Grant-Donald - PeerSpot reviewer
Information Security Consultant at Excellenta
Real User
Simple to install, with a helpful and supportive community
Pros and Cons
  • "The technical support is good."
  • "They could add more integration between them, and compatibility with the standard virtualization format."

What is our primary use case?

We use VMware Workstation for testing and development.

What is most valuable?

It is very basic. There are not many features, but it meets our use cases. It is adequate for the use case. 

What needs improvement?

We don't need a lot of features because it's development; I don't think we need anything else for development testing. There isn't a huge technical requirement. It does the basics and that is fine.

There are only a few issues with compatibility between various virtualization tools. Moving virtual machines, for example, between VMware and Parallel is a challenge. As a result of the compatibility issues, it's difficult. Aside from that, both tools are fine. They are very basic, but they do the job.

They could add more integration between them, and compatibility with the standard virtualization format.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using VMware Workstation for two years.

I am not sure what version we're using, but it's the most recent.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

There are three of us who are currently using this solution.

We have no plans to increase our usage at this time, but we may add two more users next year. It is not a significant increase.

How are customer service and support?

The technical support is good. The community is also helpful.

Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

I am no longer using the Proxmox VE solution for a variety of reasons, not because it's bad, but because I have a different requirement.

I am also currently working with Parallels Workstation. Their technical support is also good.

How was the initial setup?

We don't use the on-premise version often; instead, we use a cloud-based solution for the service and the production environment.

The initial setup is straightforward.

The deployment is ongoing, and we use it on a regular basis.

It is not a production environment that has been migrated to the cloud. It is ongoing and does not have a beginning and an end.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

Licensing fees are paid on an annual basis.

There are no additional fees; it is standard licensing.

What other advice do I have?

I would rate VMware Workstation an eight out of ten.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

On-premises
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
PeerSpot user
Network Manager / Senior Network Engineer at Warnock, Tanner & Associates
Real User
I have found this product excellent for quick test/dev environments.
Pros and Cons
  • "I have found this product excellent for test/dev environments. This is 90% of what I use this product for."
  • "I have had issues with the virtual network adapters in the past that has taken some time to troubleshoot."

What is our primary use case?

This product is solid and useful for quick test/dev environments. 

Found replicating client application upgrades and compatibility tests within a virtual environment makes upgrades very successful. 

We also use it for custom application testing to ensure compatibility and smooth transitions.  

 

How has it helped my organization?

Since I work with so many different customers, I deal with many operating systems and workstation configurations. When performing upgrades to servers, applications, windows, etc., I need to know the ramifications before we go live with production.  

Creating labs has been useful for my employees when working on certifications.

I am also not a big fan of adding and removing software over and over on my laptop, so I use my VM's when I need a temporary application installed. It also keeps the clutter down, keeping my main tools fast and efficient.  

They also come in handy when cleaning infected thumb drives.

What is most valuable?

I have found this product excellent for test/dev environments. This is 90% of what I use this product for. 

What needs improvement?

I have had issues with the virtual network adapters in the past that has taken some time to troubleshoot. 

For how long have I used the solution?

Three to five years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

I have encountered stability issues with the virtual networks and have had run into issue with copying or moving VMs. Usually these all work great 9 out of 10 times, but when it doesn't work right it become very time consuming to fix and troubleshoot.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

None thus far.

How are customer service and technical support?

8 out of 10. Good SR system to communicate through emails and phone support.

Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

No

How was the initial setup?

Setup is very easy.

What was our ROI?

Using workstation saves money on big hardware using vSphere just for test/dev.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

The pricing is a bit steep in my opinion for testing and there are other options.  None however that are so powerful and easy to use.

Which other solutions did I evaluate?

No

Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
it_user325122 - PeerSpot reviewer
it_user325122Networks Engineer at a tech services company with 51-200 employees
Consultant

VMware workstation is best tool for virtualization for students/home users. I have been using this tool for more than three years for my test/dev environments. If you are new to virtualization then i'll sugguest you should use this one. It's simple and easy to use,

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Updated: December 2024
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