# VMware Workstation

Application: Broadcom

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

Broadcom, System

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

| 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.

| 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

| Typical install | C:\Program Files (x86)\VMware\VMware Workstation\\ |
| --------------- | -------------------------------------------------- |

## File formats

VMX, VMDK, OVA

## 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.

| Download      | [www.vmware.com/products/workstation-pro.html ](https://www.vmware.com/products/workstation-pro.html)Official installer or vendor page |
| ------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Help          | [knowledge.broadcom.com/ ](https://knowledge.broadcom.com/)Vendor support                                                              |
| Official site | [www.vmware.com/products/workstation-pro.html ](https://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.

## Related

Dis entities connect to dis article. Type dey show for every link.

[VirtualBox: Application](https://feex.it/wiki/l/pcm/software/virtualbox/)[How to read Task Manager: Guide](https://feex.it/wiki/l/pcm/software/system/how-to-read-task-manager/)

## Sources and verification

Recorded source label: August 2026. Dis label no establish independent verification. [How we dey do research](https://feex.it/wiki/research/).

- [VMware Workstation official site ](https://www.vmware.com/products/workstation-pro.html)· Vendor product page
- [VMware Workstation help ](https://knowledge.broadcom.com/)· Vendor support
- [Foxhole process map ](https://foxhole.feex.it/)· First-party samples on top Windows PCs. No be lab benchmark.

## Dis article make sense to you?

Yes or no dey enough. Choose reason if you want, or add short note.

Quick facts

The short identity of dis page. Specs, sources, and the full story still dey inside the article.

- **Developer**: Broadcom

  **Category**: Type-2 hypervisor

  **Process**: vmware.exe

  **License**: Broadcom-licensed. Player na di free sibling

  **First released**: 1999

  **Official site**: [vmware.com/workstation-pro](https://www.vmware.com/products/workstation-pro.html)

  **Feex map am**: Dem see am on top Windows PCs for Foxhole

Recorded source status: Feex Reviewed: Recorded source label: August 2026. Dis label no establish independent verification.

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