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VMware Workstation

ApplicationBroadcom

Dem still dey call am workstation pro, vmware player, vmware workstation pro

BroadcomSystem

Type-2 hypervisor for Windows. Broadcom now own VMware. Player na di free sibling. E no be VirtualBox.

Wetin you need know

Workstation na VMware hypervisor. Broadcom own am. Player na di free sibling.

vmware.exe dey run guests for Windows. VirtualBox na different hypervisor. Player na di free VMware sibling, no be VirtualBox.

Wetin e be?
Type-2 hypervisor
Still current?
Yes, see Current status
Official download?
Use di vendor link inside dis article
Feex tok say
If person send VirtualBox .ova and na only Workstation you get, I go import am with care or use VirtualBox. I no dey treat vmware.exe like say na VBoxSVC.

Wetin be VMware Workstation?

VMware Workstation dey run guest VMs for Windows as type-2 hypervisor. vmware.exe na di UI. vmware-vmx.exe na di VM. Hyper-V for di same PC fit conflict unless you plan for am.

If you never use am before

If you need full Windows or Linux VM on top your desktop, Workstation na VMware paid-line hypervisor. Broadcom own VMware now, so downloads and licenses dey live on Broadcom properties. Player na di free sibling wey get fewer features. VirtualBox na Oracle hypervisor, no be this product.

Wetin dem dey use am for?

Desktop virtual machines

Windows or Linux guests on top your PC. Dis one no be dual-boot and no be WSL.

Snapshots and snapshots-heavy labs

Workstation Pro features. Player na di slimmer free sibling.

VMware Tools inside di guest

Guest additions for mouse and video. VirtualBox Guest Additions no go work here.

Na who e dey for?

  • People wey already get VMware VMs
  • Labs wey prefer VMware over VirtualBox
  • Users wey must pick Player versus Pro after di Broadcom change

Current status

VMware Workstation (1999) na current type-2 hypervisor from Broadcom. Di vendor still dey point Windows users go https://www.vmware.com/products/workstation-pro.html.

How old e be?

Workstation start since 1999. EMC, then Dell, then Broadcom buy VMware. 2012 "download from vmware.com only" bookmark fit now redirect through Broadcom.

Versions

Major channels first. Exact build numbers no dey all verified here.

Workstation Pro
Workstation Player (free sibling)

System requirements

Values dey follow wetin di publisher release publicly. Workload still dey change di real need.

Minimum

Minimum system requirements
Operating system Current supported Windows 10 or Windows 11 release, according to di vendor
RAM Host RAM plus whatever you assign di guest. Microsoft-class 8 GB hosts dey tight with 4 GB guest

Resource profile

CPU demand
Dey follow wetin you open inside di app
RAM demand
Dey follow documents, tabs, or libraries

Installed processes

Dese executables belong to dis product when e dey installed.

Installed processes
vmware.exe Main Windows executable
vmware-vmx.exe Per-VM worker

Startup components

VMware services fit start with Windows. VMs demsef dey start when you open dem, unless you set autostart.

File locations

Common VMware Workstation locations
Typical install C:\Program Files (x86)\VMware\VMware Workstation\

File formats

VMXVMDKOVA

Common wahala dem

Hyper-V or WSL 2 already own di hypervisor

Windows fit dey stop VMware make e no start VMs until you settle hypervisor overlap. Dat one no mean say di ISO bad.

Find Player-only download for stale mirror

Use Broadcom / VMware official pages. Player still no be VirtualBox.

How to get unstuck

Download from di current VMware or Broadcom product page

knowledge.broadcom.com get support. Random "Workstation 17 full" hosts na trap.

Install VMware Tools inside di guest

Dat one na di VMware guest pack. VirtualBox Guest Additions belong inside VirtualBox.

If VMs no gree start, check Hyper-V / Memory Integrity overlap

Microsoft and VMware both document hypervisor conflicts. No delete vmware-vmx.exe.

Alternatives

VirtualBox dey free and na Oracle own am. Hyper-V na di in-box Windows hypervisor. WSL no be replacement guest OS desktop.

Official help and downloads

Start with di vendor. Random exe sites no be support channel.

Official contacts
Download www.vmware.com/products/workstation-pro.html Official installer or vendor page
Help knowledge.broadcom.com/ Vendor support
Official site www.vmware.com/products/workstation-pro.html Start here, no be random exe host

Related hardware

Guests dey want CPU virtualization (Intel VT-x or AMD-V) plus RAM wey you fit spare. Current desktop CPU with virtualization turned on for firmware na di normal level.

Technical details

Technical details

Vendor version numbers dey change. Dis article no pin down any build.

Sources and verification

Recorded source label: August 2026. Dis label no establish independent verification. How we dey do research.

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