Arch Linux

cpu

Member

Registered: 2007-02-22

Posts: 68

VMWare Workstation & Server - difference?

Hi

I put this question here - what's differences between workstation and server except server is free and workstation is for && ?
I've found just some enigmatic FAQ on vmware site but still I don't know what's going on.
Since today I've always used workstation but now I would use server version if it's for free and same functionality...

Thanks!

dschrute

Member

From: NJ, USA

Registered: 2007-04-09

Posts: 183

Re: VMWare Workstation & Server - difference?

In general, but not written in stone...
Server is more for virtual machines that you will keep up either all the time, or close to it.  Workstation is more suited for when you have VM's that you use only occaisionally, or for trying out, then deleting different ones.
Each has some features the other doesn't.  For example, server allows vm's to start/run when the host boots, where Workstation requires you to manually start them. 
Workstation has much more advanced snapshot tools for VM's, where server requires a more manual aproach to the process.

So, for example if I had a single physical machine, but needed 3 "machines" to run mostly all the time, I would probably choose server.  If I had a single physical machine, and needed to run Windows only once in a while, and also wanted to try the latest Fedora, the latest OpenBSD and maybe even do some development on something else, but none of the machines needed to be run at any given time, I would choose workstation.

But that's me.  The best way to get to know each one is to use it.  One is free, the other offers a free trial.