Download VMware Workstation 6.5 beta build 84113

VMware has released a beta version of its virtualization software Workstation 6.5 with build number 84113. This package works under Linux or Windows and is able to run various operating systems on the host computer via a virtual machine. For the guest computer you can use different BSD variants, various Linux distributions, Solaris and Windows. For more information, we refer you to this page and this manual in pdf format. The list of changes includes support for the Unity mode we know from VMware Fusion for Mac OS X:

New Support for 32-Bit and 64-Bit Operating Systems

Plans for Workstation 6.5 include adding support for additional host and guest operating systems such as CentOS, Oracle Enterprise Linux, Asianux, and newer editions of operating systems already supported. Windows Server 2008 is experimentally supported as a guest.

You are welcome to try Workstation 6.5 on these operating systems and send feedback. Precompiled kernel modules are not available for the newly added Linux operating systems. Therefore, when you start Workstation for the first time, a dialog box might prompt you to compile the kernel modules. If you experience issues with this new module updater feature, run the following command: vmware-config.pl –compile.

New Features in This Release

In addition to the new features listed here, be sure to read about new ACE-specific features in the VMware ACE 2.5 beta release notes.

• Unity mode — Integrate your favorite guest applications with your host. Open the application window, enter unity mode, and then minimize the Workstation window. The guest application windows look just like host application windows. You can access the virtual machine’s Start menu (for Windows virtual machines) or Applications menu (for Linux virtual machines) by placing the mouse pointer over the host’s Start or Applications menu.
• Accelerated 3-D graphics on Windows XP guests — Workstation 6.5 virtual machine now support applications that use DirectX 9 accelerated graphics with shaders up through Shader Model 2.0 on Windows XP guests. Hosts can be running Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Vista, or Linux.
• Enhanced VMware ACE authoring — Use ACE (Assured Computing Environment) features to package and deploy Pocket ACE and desktop virtual machines with encryption, restricted network access, and device control. VMware ACE authoring features are now fully integrated with Workstation, and no special ACE Edition is required.
• More powerful record/replay of VM execution behavior — Easily enable this powerful debugging tool, which records full system behavior, including all CPU and device activity. You can now insert markers while creating or playing back a recording and quickly navigate to these markers during replay. You can also browse a recording to replay from any spot.
• Link state propagation for mobile users — If you use virtual machines on a laptop or other mobile device, enable the new link state propagation feature for bridged networks. As you move from one wired or wireless network to another, the IP address is automatically renewed.
• Support for smart cards in virtual machines — You can plug a smart card reader into a Windows host and insert your smart card to authenticate yourself on your host or on a guest. Smart cards can now be shared between the host and guests or between guests. To enable sharing, add the following line to the global configuration file: usb.ccid.useSharedMode = “TRUE”
• Integration with VMware Converter 3.0.3 — This release includes the Conversion wizard component from VMware Converter 3.0.3. You can now use File > Import to create virtual machines from Acronis True Image files in addition to the Microsoft Virtual PC, Symantec Backup Exec System Recovery, and StorageCraft ShadowProtect file types previously supported. You can also convert Open Virtual Machine Format (OVF) appliances. For Microsoft Virtual PC and Microsoft Virtual Server virtual machines, you now have the option of sharing the source virtual hard disk (.vhd) files.
• Easy Install option for Windows guest operating systems — When you create a virtual machine, you now have the option of entering a few pieces of information so that installation of the guest operating system and VMware Tools is performed in an unattended fashion.
• Virtual Network Editor for Linux hosts — On Linux hosts, the new Virtual Network Editor now provides a graphical user interface for creating and configuring virtual networks.
• New virtual hardware version — This new hardware version lets you use the following new features if the guest operating system supports them: Add or remove some virtual devices while the virtual machine is powered on (“hot-plug”). Use LSI Logic SAS (serial attached SCSI) adapters in the virtual machine. 3-D graphics capabilities are enabled by default. Hot-add virtual CPUs and memory to a Windows Server 2008 guest.
• New features for VMware Player — VMware Player now includes the following features, which were previously available only in Workstation:
  • While in full screen mode, you can now switch from one powered-on virtual machine to another.
  • Unity mode is available, so that you can open your favorite guest applications in windows on your host desktop.
  • Both Windows and Linux hosts now support suspending the virtual machine when exiting.
• Updated VIX 1.5 API — The VIX API (formerly known as the Programming API) allows you to write scripts and programs to automate virtual machine operations. The API is available in the C language. There are additional language bindings for Perl and COM. See the VIX API 1.5 release notes and the VIX API Reference Guide.
• (Experimental) VAssert API for inserting replay-only code to debug applications — Use virtual assertions as you would regular assertions in the applications you develop. The benefit of VAsserts is that they appear only when you replay a recording using the application and so are overhead-free. Currently available for Windows guests. See the VAssert Programming Guide.
• VProbes tool for investigating guest behavior — You can write VProbes scripts that inspect and record activities in the guest, VMM, VMX, and virtual device state, without modifying that state. For example, VProbes can track which applications are running or indicate which processes are causing page faults. See the VProbes Reference Guide.