Need to run a Linux setup, test a Windows configuration, or build a small network without rebooting your PC? VMware Workstation Pro runs virtual machines alongside Windows, with separate virtual hardware and saved machine states for testing and development.
How do you create and manage a virtual machine?
Workstation Pro keeps virtual machines in a library, where you can select a machine and open its console to interact with the guest operating system. A setup wizard guides the creation process: choose an operating system source, then configure virtual hardware such as memory, processors, and storage. The guest starts in its own window while the Windows host remains available.
A VM can run a different Windows or Linux environment for software development, compatibility checks, or IT practice. Assigning resources to each guest lets you run more than one machine at a time, subject to the capacity of the host PC.
How do snapshots and clones help with testing?
A snapshot records a virtual machine’s state at a point in time. Create one before changing settings or trying software, then return to that saved state if the experiment leaves the guest in a bad condition. Snapshots are handy for repeatable test cycles, but they capture a VM state; they are not a replacement for keeping separate backups of important files.
Cloning creates a separate copy of a VM’s configuration and data. A clone gives you another instance to modify while keeping the original setup available for comparison or reuse.
How can virtual machines connect to a network?
Workstation Pro provides virtual networking options for shaping how a guest communicates with the host and outside networks. NAT lets a VM use the host’s network connection, bridged networking connects it to the local network as a separate machine, and host-only networking confines communication to the host and connected VMs. These modes support lab setups for network configuration and server testing.
What graphics can a guest use?
The program provides guest graphics support for DirectX 10 and OpenGL 3.3. That gives developers and designers a way to check graphics applications in a virtual environment, while the VM’s graphics performance still depends on the host hardware and the guest’s assigned resources.
Pros
- Save VM states with snapshots before experiments
- Clone virtual machines to duplicate a configuration
- Configure NAT, bridged, and host-only virtual networks
- Supports DirectX 10 and OpenGL 3.3 graphics
System requirements: Windows 10, Windows 11 · 64-bit only · 64-bit x86/AMD64 CPU launched in 2011 or later · 1.3 GHz or faster CPU · 2 GB RAM minimum; 4 GB or more recommended · About 2.5 GB available disk space
Can a snapshot undo changes inside a VM?
Yes. Restore the VM to a snapshot saved before the changes to return it to that recorded state.
What is the difference between a snapshot and a clone?
A snapshot saves a VM’s state for later restoration. A clone makes a separate copy of a virtual machine.
Can a virtual machine use the host’s network?
Yes. NAT shares the host’s network connection; bridged and host-only modes provide other network arrangements.