VMware Workstation Player vs VMware Player Portable: Which One to Choose?
VMware Player Portable Free Download: A Guide for Beginners
If you are looking for a way to run multiple operating systems on your PC without installing them, you might want to try VMware Player Portable. This is a free and portable version of VMware Workstation Player, a popular desktop virtualization software. In this article, we will explain what VMware Player Portable is, what it can do for you, how it compares with other virtualization software, and how to use it.
VMware Player Portable free download
What is VMware Player Portable and what does it do?
VMware Player Portable is a software that lets you run virtual machines on your Windows or Linux PC. A virtual machine is a simulated computer that runs inside your real computer. You can install any operating system on a virtual machine, such as Windows, Linux, or macOS, and run any applications that are compatible with that operating system. You can also switch between different virtual machines easily, without rebooting your PC.
VMware Player Portable is different from VMware Workstation Player in that it does not require installation. You can download it as a single executable file and run it from any removable device, such as a USB flash drive or an external hard drive. This makes it convenient for carrying your virtual machines with you wherever you go, or for using them on different PCs without leaving any traces.
Why would someone want to use VMware Player Portable?
There are many reasons why someone might want to use VMware Player Portable. Here are some of the most common ones:
Testing applications and software in different environments. If you are a developer, a tester, or a user who wants to try out different software or applications, you can use VMware Player Portable to create virtual machines with different operating systems and configurations. This way, you can test how your software or applications work in various scenarios, without affecting your host system or installing anything on it.
Securing your host system from malware and viruses. If you are concerned about the security of your PC, you can use VMware Player Portable to run potentially risky or unknown programs in a virtual machine. This way, you can isolate them from your host system and prevent them from infecting or damaging it. You can also use VMware Player Portable to browse the web safely in a secure sandbox, with different privacy settings and networking configurations.
Saving disk space and resources. If you have limited disk space or resources on your PC, you can use VMware Player Portable to run multiple operating systems without installing them. This way, you can save space and resources that would otherwise be used by multiple partitions or dual-boot systems. You can also delete or compress your virtual machines when you don't need them anymore.
Features and benefits of VMware Player Portable
VMware Player Portable has many features and benefits that make it a powerful and convenient tool for running virtual machines. Here are some of them:
Easy to use. VMware Player Portable has a user-friendly interface that makes it easy for anyone to create and run virtual machines. You can choose from a list of preconfigured virtual machines or create your own from scratch. You can also drag-and-drop files between your host system and your virtual machines, or copy-and-paste text and images.
Reliable. VMware Player Portable is based on the same hypervisor technology as VMware Workstation Pro and VMware vSphere, which are trusted by millions of users worldwide. It . There are other virtualization software that you can choose from, depending on your needs and preferences. Here is a brief comparison of some of the most popular ones:
Name
Host OS
Guest OS
License
Pros
Cons
VMware Player Portable
Windows, Linux
Windows, Linux, macOS, and others
Free for personal use
No installation required, portable, compatible, reliable, easy to use
Limited features compared to Workstation Player, no official support, no snapshots or clones
VMware Workstation Player
Windows, Linux
Windows, Linux, macOS, and others
Free for personal use, paid for commercial use
Full-featured, compatible, reliable, easy to use, snapshots and clones, official support
Requires installation, not portable, expensive for commercial use
VirtualBox
Windows, Linux, macOS, and others
Windows, Linux, macOS, and others
Free and open source
Cross-platform, free and open source, snapshots and clones, extensible with plugins
Less performance and stability than VMware products, less user-friendly interface than VMware products, less official support than VMware products
As you can see, each virtualization software has its own advantages and disadvantages. You should choose the one that suits your needs and preferences best. For this article, we will focus on VMware Player Portable as our preferred option. How to use VMware Player Portable
Now that you know what VMware Player Portable is and what it can do for you, let's see how to use it. Here are the steps you need to follow:
Download VMware Player Portable. You can download VMware Player Portable from the official website or from other trusted sources. The file size is about 100 MB and it is a single executable file that does not require installation. You can save it on any removable device, such as a USB flash drive or an external hard drive, or on your local disk.
Run VMware Player Portable. To run VMware Player Portable, you just need to double-click on the executable file. You will see a welcome screen that asks you to accept the license agreement and the privacy policy. You can also choose the language and the folder where you want to store your virtual machines. After that, you will see the main interface of VMware Player Portable, where you can create and run virtual machines.
Create a virtual machine. To create a virtual machine, you can click on the "Create a New Virtual Machine" button on the home screen, or go to File > New Virtual Machine. You will see a wizard that guides you through the process. You can choose from three options: Typical, Custom, or Import. The Typical option is the easiest one, as it automatically detects the operating system and the settings of your virtual machine based on the installation media or the ISO file that you provide. The Custom option lets you customize more aspects of your virtual machine, such as the memory, the disk size, the network adapter, and so on. The Import option lets you import an existing virtual machine from another VMware product or from another virtualization software.
Run a virtual machine. To run a virtual machine, you can select it from the list on the home screen, or go to File > Open a Virtual Machine. You will see a window that shows the details of your virtual machine, such as the name, the operating system, the status, and the actions. You can click on the "Play" button to start your virtual machine, or use other buttons to pause, resume, suspend, or power off your virtual machine. You can also use the menu bar or the toolbar to access more options and features, such as changing the view mode, taking snapshots, cloning, sharing folders, connecting devices, and so on.
Customize and manage your virtual machines. To customize and manage your virtual machines, you can use the settings and tools provided by VMware Player Portable. You can access them by clicking on the "Edit" button on the window of your virtual machine, or by going to VM > Settings or VM > Tools. You can change various aspects of your virtual machine, such as the hardware components, the display resolution, the sound output, the keyboard and mouse input, and so on. You can also install VMware Tools on your virtual machine, which is a set of drivers and utilities that enhance its performance and functionality. You can also use VMware Player Portable to create backups of your virtual machines, export them to other formats, or delete them when you don't need them anymore.
Conclusion
VMware Player Portable is a free and portable version of VMware Workstation Player that lets you run multiple operating systems on your PC without installing them. It is a useful tool for testing applications and software in different environments, securing your host system from malware and viruses, saving disk space and resources, and more. It is easy to use, reliable, compatible, and compatible with hundreds of operating systems. It also has some limitations, such as limited features compared to Workstation Player, no official support, and no snapshots or clones. You should compare it with other virtualization software and choose the one that suits your needs and preferences best.
To use VMware Player Portable, you just need to download it as a single executable file and run it from any removable device or your local disk. You can then create and run virtual machines with different operating systems and configurations, and customize and manage them with the settings and tools provided by VMware Player Portable. You can also import and export virtual machines from other VMware products or other virtualization software.
We hope this article has helped you understand what VMware Player Portable is and how to use it. If you want to try it out for yourself, you can download it from the link below. Happy virtualizing!
Download VMware Player Portable
FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions about VMware Player Portable:
Is VMware Player Portable legal?
Yes, VMware Player Portable is legal, as long as you use it for personal and non-commercial purposes. You also need to comply with the license agreements and the privacy policies of VMware and the operating systems that you run on your virtual machines.
Can I run macOS on VMware Player Portable?
Yes, you can run macOS on VMware Player Portable, but you need to have a Mac computer that supports virtualization and a valid license for macOS. You also need to follow some steps to create a macOS virtual machine, such as downloading the macOS installer, creating a bootable ISO file, and modifying some settings. You can find more details on how to do this online.
How can I update VMware Player Portable?
To update VMware Player Portable, you need to download the latest version of the executable file from the official website or other trusted sources, and replace the old file with the new one. You don't need to uninstall or reinstall anything. You can also check for updates from within VMware Player Portable by going to Help > Software Updates.
How can I get support for VMware Player Portable?
VMware does not provide official support for VMware Player Portable, as it is not an official product of VMware. However, you can find some unofficial support from online communities, such as forums, blogs, or social media. You can also consult the documentation and the FAQs of VMware Workstation Player, as they are similar to VMware Player Portable.
What are the system requirements for VMware Player Portable?
The system requirements for VMware Player Portable are the same as those for VMware Workstation Player. You need a PC with a 64-bit processor that supports Intel VT-x or AMD-V virtualization technology, at least 2 GB of RAM (4 GB recommended), at least 1 GB of disk space (more for each virtual machine), and a Windows or Linux operating system that supports DirectX 10 or OpenGL 3.3 graphics.
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