VMware Player

Pros

• Lets you safely test different OS versions and programs.
• Compatible with a wide range of operating systems.
• Simple to configure and use.

Cons

• Uses a lot of system resources, requiring a powerful PC for best performance.

VMware Player is a tool that lets you run multiple operating systems at the same time by using virtual machines. Compared to other virtualization programs, it's relatively simple to use, so even those who have never used virtual machines shouldn't have too much trouble figuring out how everything works.

Easy Way to Create and Run Virtual Machines

VMware Player supports a large number of operating systems, including nearly every version of Windows and Linux. This allows you to use virtual machines running practically any operating system available.

To get started, you will either need to have a pre-made VMware virtual machine file or create your own. Many websites provide VMware images that contain a virtual hard drive with an operating system like Ubuntu, together with various types of software, already installed and configured. If you have an image file already, all that you have to do is to open it. The software will load the virtual machine, allowing you to use your virtual system in less than a minute.

The other option is to create a new virtual machine based on your specifications. The process is very quick and simple, as VMware Player first asks you which operating system your virtual machine will use, then recommends a configuration for it. You can use the provided defaults or adjust the settings, such as the amount of RAM and hard drive space available to your virtual system.

Installing the operating system can be done from a physical installer disc (CD or DVD) or an ISO image file. When you run your new virtual machine for the first time, you'll set up its operating system just like you would on a physical computer. Once this process is done, you'll be ready to use the virtual PC you've created.

Useful Tool to Safely Try Operating Systems and Software

VMware Player creates virtual computers that run separately form the host system. This is very useful if you want to try different operating systems or new software programs, but don't want to run the risk of causing potential damage to your main system if something goes wrong.

This software is also a great when you want to use a program that isn't compatible with your PC's main operating system. For example, you might have an older game that only runs under Windows XP or an open source accounting program exclusively available for Linux.

Your virtual machines will be able to share files with the host system, access the Internet, as well as use most USB devices you have connected to it. However, you may need to install some additional software provided by VMware on the guest operating system before you can share files and devices with the host system. VMware has a support portal that provides detailed instructions on how to do this.

While VMware Player lets you effectively run two (or more) operating systems on your PC at the same time, it does use a fair amount of system resources. To get optimal performance with virtual machines running newer operating systems like Windows 10 or Server 2012, you'll need a computer with a relatively powerful CPU and lots of RAM. It can still work fine on older and less powerful PCs if your virtual machines run operating systems that aren't too demanding, like some simple Linux distributions or Windows XP.

Pros

• Lets you safely test different OS versions and programs.
• Compatible with a wide range of operating systems.
• Simple to configure and use.

Cons

• Uses a lot of system resources, requiring a powerful PC for best performance.