VMware Workstation Pro: 25H2 Release Highlights

Is VMware Workstation Pro Still Relevant in 2024? A Look at the 25H2 Update

Are you still relying on virtual machines for testing software, running legacy applications, or exploring different operating systems? If so, you’re likely familiar with VMware Workstation Pro. The good news is that despite the rise of cloud-based virtualization, VMware Workstation Pro remains a powerful and actively developed tool, and completely free to use. The latest update, version 25H2, brings a host of new features, hardware support, and important fixes, ensuring it remains a viable option for developers, IT professionals, and hobbyists alike. This article will delve into the details of this update, exploring its key improvements and what they mean for users.

Exploring the Latest VMware Workstation Pro 25H2 Release

The VMware Workstation Pro 25H2 update isn’t just a minor patch; it’s a significant release packed with new features and improvements. Let’s break down the key elements of this update.

Embracing New Hardware with Virtual Hardware Version 22

One of the most important aspects of the 25H2 release is its support for Virtual Hardware Version 22. What exactly does this mean? Virtual hardware versions define the capabilities and features available to the guest operating system running within the virtual machine. Each new version expands the range and performance of these virtualized components. Hardware Version 22 brings several key improvements:

• NVMe 1.3c as Default Controller: This provides significantly faster storage performance for guest operating systems, improving overall responsiveness and application loading times. NVMe (Non-Volatile Memory Express) is a modern storage protocol that offers much higher speeds than traditional SATA interfaces.
• PCI Passthrough: Allows direct access to physical PCI devices from within the virtual machine. This can be crucial for specialized hardware like GPUs, network cards, or capture cards, enabling near-native performance within the VM.
• USB 3.2 Support: Enables higher-speed USB connections within the virtual machine, improving data transfer rates for external drives and other USB devices.
• Direct3D 11.0 & OpenGL 4.0 Compatibility: Ensures compatibility with a wider range of applications and games that rely on these graphics APIs. This is particularly important for users running graphically intensive workloads within virtual machines.

Introducing dictTool: A New Configuration Management Tool

VMware Workstation Pro 25H2 introduces dictTool, a command-line utility designed for examining and modifying VMware configuration files. These files, such as .vmx (virtual machine configuration) and user preferences files, contain settings that control the behavior of VMware Workstation and its virtual machines.

dictTool provides a more structured and efficient way to manage these settings compared to manually editing the files. It allows users to:

• Inspect configuration settings: Quickly view the current values of various settings within the configuration files.
• Modify configuration settings: Change the values of settings, enabling customization of VMware Workstation and virtual machine behavior.
• Automate configuration tasks: Use scripts to automate the process of configuring VMware Workstation and virtual machines, making it easier to manage large deployments.

VMware has released documentation for dictTool, making it accessible to users who want to leverage its capabilities. This addition is a significant boon for advanced users and system administrators who require fine-grained control over VMware’s configuration.

Enhanced CPU and Host OS Support

The 25H2 update also focuses on supporting the latest hardware and operating systems:

• Support for Intel Lunar Lake, Arrow Lake, and Meteor Lake CPUs: Ensures optimal performance and compatibility with Intel’s latest generation of processors. This is crucial for users who want to take advantage of the newest CPU features and improvements within their virtual machines.
• Hyper-V/WHP Detection (Workstation Only): Improves the identification of a VM’s running mode by displaying the Hyper-V/WHP (Windows Hypervisor Platform) status. This is useful for troubleshooting and understanding the performance characteristics of virtual machines running on Windows systems with Hyper-V enabled.

The update also expands guest OS support to include:

• Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10
• Fedora Linux 42
• openSUSE Leap 16.0
• Debian 13
• Oracle Linux 10
• VMware ESXi 9.0

This ensures that users can run the latest versions of these operating systems within their virtual machines without encountering compatibility issues. Notably, it also supports macOS 26 Tahoe in Fusion Pro, its macOS equivalent.

Important Bug Fixes and Optimizations

Beyond the new features, VMware Workstation Pro 25H2 includes a range of bug fixes and optimizations, particularly for Linux users:

• Optimized Linux Support Bundles: Simplifies the process of collecting diagnostic information and troubleshooting issues on Linux systems.
• Fixed UI Quirks on Windows: Addresses issues with resizing and window controls on Windows, improving the user experience.
• Reduced Logging in Windows Event Viewer: Reduces the amount of logging generated by vmauthd in the Windows Event Viewer, making it easier to find relevant information.
• Option to Discard VM Suspend States: Provides the option to discard the suspend state of a virtual machine, freeing up disk space and potentially resolving issues related to corrupted suspend files.
• Resolved Linux Intel GPU 3D Acceleration Issues: Fixes issues related to 3D acceleration on Linux systems with Intel GPUs, improving the performance of graphically intensive applications.

Installing VMware Workstation Pro on Ubuntu: A Quick Guide

While VMware Workstation Pro is free to use, the installation process, particularly on Linux, can be a bit tricky. Here’s a simplified guide for installing it on Ubuntu:

1. Download the .bundle file: You’ll need to create a VMware account (free) to access the download. The link can be a little hard to find on the website.
2. Run the .bundle file as root: Open a terminal and navigate to the directory where you downloaded the file. Then, execute the following command: sudo sh VMware-Workstation-Full-[version].bundle. Replace [version] with the actual version number of the downloaded file.
3. Install Dependencies: You’ll need to install build-essential (for GCC) and the appropriate Linux headers. Use the following commands:
   • sudo apt update
   • sudo apt install build-essential
   • sudo apt install linux-headers-generic-$(uname -r)
4. Launch VMware Workstation Pro: Open VMware Workstation Pro from your applications menu. It will guide you through the kernel module installation process.

Is VMware Workstation Pro the Right Choice for You?

VMware Workstation Pro is a powerful tool, but it’s not always the best choice for every situation. Consider these factors:

• Performance Requirements: For demanding workloads requiring near-native performance, consider PCI passthrough or other techniques to minimize virtualization overhead.
• Budget: While the license is free, VMware products do have enterprise paid products which provide support and other integration features.
• Ease of Use: Alternatives like VirtualBox might be simpler to set up for basic virtualization tasks.
• Host Operating System: VMware Workstation Pro is available for both Windows and Linux, while VMware Fusion Pro is its macOS counterpart. Choose the appropriate product for your host OS.

Conclusion: VMware Workstation Pro Remains a Strong Contender

The VMware Workstation Pro 25H2 update demonstrates that VMware is committed to keeping its desktop virtualization software relevant in a rapidly evolving technology landscape. With its support for new hardware, enhanced features, and important bug fixes, VMware Workstation Pro remains a valuable tool for developers, IT professionals, and anyone who needs to run multiple operating systems on a single machine. Whether you’re testing software, running legacy applications, or simply exploring new operating systems, VMware Workstation Pro provides a robust and reliable virtualization solution.

What do you think about the new update? Are you still using VMware Workstation Pro, or have you switched to a different virtualization solution? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

Sources & Further Reading:
Original article at www.omgubuntu.co.uk