VMware Introduces New Release of Its Powerful Desktop Virtualization Software

VMware Workstation 5.5 Features Support for 64-bit Guests for AMD64 Technology Systems and Intel Extended Memory 64 Technology (EM64T) Systems with Intel Virtualization Technology (VT) and Two-Way Virtual SMP


PALO ALTO, Calif., Sept. 12 /PRNewswire/ -- VMware, Inc., the global leader in virtual infrastructure software for industry-standard systems, today announced that VMware Workstation 5.5, the newest feature-packed release of its award-winning desktop virtualization software, is available for beta download. With numerous new features and significant platform enhancements, Workstation 5.5 provides unmatched flexibility for developers and testers.

Millions today use VMware Workstation, first introduced six years ago, to accelerate software development, testing and deployment and increase product quality. With VMware Workstation, enterprises are able to create a library of virtual machines for 32-bit and 64-bit x86 operating systems, including Linux, NetWare, Solaris x86 and Windows, that replicate production environments. These virtual machines can then be rapidly provisioned, making it possible for developers and testers to spend more time developing and testing software and less time configuring the required environment.

Among the major new and enhanced features in VMware Workstation 5.5 are:

• 64-bit Guest Support for AMD64 Technology Systems and Intel EM64T Systems with VT Support: Building on the 64-bit host operating system support introduced in previous releases, VMware Workstation 5.5 delivers support for 64-bit FreeBSD, Linux and Windows guest operating systems and experimental support for 64-bit Solaris x86. This gives developers and testers the flexibility to run 32-bit and 64-bit operating systems simultaneously on the same hardware.
  
• Two-way Virtual SMP (experimental): VMware brings its server-class Virtual SMP to the desktop. Virtual SMP makes it possible for a single virtual machine to span two processors, enabling developers and testers to configure real-world production environments on developer-class desktops.
  
• Enhanced VMware Virtual Machine Importer: VMware Workstation 5.5 provides developers and testers with the additional flexibility to convert Symantec Ghost images into virtual machines or to open those images in their native format without any modification. Developers and testers can reuse their libraries of physical machine images when deploying or building a virtual infrastructure.
  
• Enhanced Command Line Interface: VMware Workstation 5.5 offers an enhanced vmrun interface to allow organizations to automate repetitive manual tasks. New vmrun features include the ability to take snapshots, list all snapshots for a virtual machine and revert to a selected snapshot.

Virtual machines created with VMware Workstation can be deployed to enterprise-class VMware GSX Server and data center-class VMware ESX Server platforms. Once deployed on GSX Server or ESX Server, VMware VirtualCenter can manage these virtual machines. This lets development teams more easily manage the software lifecycle process and seamlessly move computing environments from development to testing, and from staging to production.

"VMware Workstation 5.5 reaffirms VMware's commitment to providing our customers with the industry's broadest virtualization platform," said
Karthik Rau, director of product management at VMware. "With new features like support for 64-bit guest operating systems and multi-CPU virtual machines, VMware Workstation 5.5 gives developers a powerful platform to accelerate the development, testing and support of their next-generation applications."

Pricing and Availability

The VMware Workstation 5.5 beta for both Windows and Linux host operating systems is available for download at http://www.vmware.com/products/beta/ws/ . VMware Workstation 5.5 will be generally available by the end of the year.

The electronic download for Workstation 5 is $189 via the VMware Store (www.vmware.com/vmwarestore/ ); the boxed version available for $199. The product is also available from the VMware VIP Reseller Network and distribution partners (www.vmware.com/partners/resellers/).

Registered customers who purchased VMware Workstation 5 are eligible for a free electronic download distribution update license to VMware Workstation 5.5 via the VMware Store (www.vmware.com/vmwarestore/ ) as soon as the update is generally available.

VMware Workstation is also available as part of VMTN Subscription which provides a powerful suite of VMware products, support and upgrades in a convenient, low-cost annual subscription of $299 per user. VMTN Subscription provides a consistent virtualization platform for development and test that is designed to increase the productivity and efficiency across the software development lifecycle, reduce cost and complexity and improve software quality. VMTN Subscription includes VMware Workstation for individual developer productivity, VMware GSX Server and a developer version of VMware ESX Server with Virtual SMP for team collaboration and VMware Physical to Virtual (P2V) Assistant for migrating physical systems to virtual machines.

A full-featured 30-day trial version of VMware Workstation 5 can be downloaded directly from the VMware Web site (www.vmware.com).

About VMware, Inc.

VMware, an EMC company (NYSE: EMC), is the global leader in virtual infrastructure software for industry-standard systems. The world's largest companies use VMware solutions to simplify their IT, fully leverage their existing computing investments and respond faster to changing business demands. VMware is based in Palo Alto, California. For more information, visit www.vmware.com.

NOTE: VMware is a registered trademark of VMware, Inc. in the United States and/or various jurisdictions. All other trademarks and names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective companies.

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