VMWare player vs VMWare server?

Feb 21, 2009 15:37

if you can't make anything on Player, why have it?
Why not just have server?
They are both free.

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Comments 3

structurefall February 22 2009, 19:13:26 UTC
because VMWare player is based on workstation rather than GSX, and thus can do more desktoppy stuff (better support for the USB bus, 3D graphics, etc.) than server, but you would not want to run it for server applications. also it will probably get new tech. sooner than server.

also, player is really a product for less technical people who want to run virtual appliances built by others.

basically, player makes sense if you want to do something like isolate your web browsing for security purposes or try out games written for other platforms (if, for example, you have a really fast laptop running ubuntu). otherwise, obviously server is a more serious product.

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tzeentch4740 February 23 2009, 01:14:37 UTC
but if you want to be able to use anything with player you still have to run Server, or ESX, or Workstation somewhere to be able to build the images to run in player?

So for this new netbook I plan on running Ubuntu on I want access to XP Pro.
With player I would have access, but I would have to create the image on something else (like server or ESX) on a separate system.
With server I would have access and the ability to create as much as I want locally.

If I already know and work with ESX, server is sounding like the better option.

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structurefall February 23 2009, 01:41:45 UTC
the presumption is that nobody downloads player unless they already have a virtual appliance and they just need player to run it. obviously you can't create a vm with it, so if you don't have a vm, the software does nothing.

check out this.

also, it's a more lightweight than server and doesn't start a bunch of background processes.

anyhow all this being said, for you specifically, already possessing knowledge of this stuff and having no use, in all probability, for the few advanced features that player has, i would recommend server. but if my mom wanted to browse the web without worrying about viruses, i'd give her player and a browser appliance.

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