The latest version of VMware's exxcellent Workstation virtualisation software supports 64-bit guests for AMD64 and Intel Extended Memory 64 Technology (EM64T) systems. Available now for beta download, Workstation 5.5, also sports new features and significant platform enhancements, according to the company.

VMware Workstation, first introduced six years ago, is mainly used to accelerate software development, testing and deployment, as well as by enthusiasts to play with multiple operating systems. With VMware Workstation, you can create a library of virtual machines for 32-bit and 64-bit x86 operating systems, including Linux, NetWare, Solaris x86 and Windows, that replicate production environments.

Among the major new and enhanced features in VMware Workstation 5.5 are 64-bit guest support for AMD and Intel processors and two-way virtual SMP (experimental), which makes it possible for a single virtual machine to span two processors. The updated software also provides developers and testers with the additional flexibility to convert Symantec Ghost images into virtual machines or to open those images in their native format without any modification.

VMware Workstation 5.5 also offers an enhanced vmrun interface to allow organisations to automate repetitive manual tasks. New vmrun features include the ability to take snapshots, list all snapshots for a virtual machine and revert to a selected snapshot. Virtual machines created with the software can be deployed to enterprise-class VMware GSX Server and data centre-class VMware ESX Server platforms. Once deployed on GSX Server or ESX Server, VMware VirtualCenter can manage these virtual machines.

'VMware Workstation 5.5 reaffirms VMware's commitment to providing our customers with the industry's broadest virtualisation platform,' said Karthik Rau, director of product management at VMware. 'With new features like support for 64-bit guest operating systems and multi-CPU virtual machines, VMware Workstation 5.5 gives developers a powerful platform to accelerate the development, testing and support of their next-generation applications.'

BIOS, Sep 14, 05 | Print | Send | Comments (0) | Posted In Operating System