Preface

VMware is the world leader in virtualization solutions. VMware offers products to virtualize the data center, and also solutions that help you set up test environments. This book is about VMware Workstation, the most versatile solution that can be used to set up a test environment to develop new software solutions, or to test complex architecture before taking it into production.

What this book covers

Chapter 1, Installing VMware Workstation, explains how to install VMware Workstation on Windows or Linux computers. It also describes the recommended hardware to set up a virtualization environment.

Chapter 2, Installing Virtual Machines, describes what to do before even starting the installation of the first virtual machine, such as setting up storage or networking. It also explains how to create different types of virtual machines.

Chapter 3, Working with Virtual Machines, shows you how to get around and perform some of the most common tasks in VMware Workstation as VMware Workstation offers several options to make it easier to work with virtual machines.

Chapter 4, VMware Workstation behind the Scenes, describes how VMware Workstation is organized. It teaches you about the different files that are used, and the processes in use to offer all of the required services.

Chapter 5, Networking VMware Workstation, shows how to set up the different types of network that can be used in VMware Workstation environments.

Chapter 6, Accessing Virtual Machines Remotely, teaches you how to access virtual machines from a distance, using solutions such as the integrated web server that you can use.

Chapter 7, Converting Virtual Machines, shows how to convert virtual machines, which help you to import virtual machines that have been created on other virtualization platforms.

Chapter 8, Cloning and Snapshots, teaches you how to work with clones and snapshots, which allow you to set up a test environment in an easy and versatile way.

Chapter 9, Sharing Virtual Machines, teaches you how to share virtual machines. It also covers how to easily share the machines that you've created with other people you want to work with.

What you need for this book

To learn how to work with VMware Workstation, you need a copy of VMware Workstation. This can be obtained from www.vmware.com.

Who this book is for

This book is written for system administrators and developers who want to set up test environments to verify the working of new products in isolated and secure environments.

Conventions

In this book, you will find a number of styles of text that distinguish between different kinds of information. Here are some examples of these styles, and an explanation of their meaning.

Code words in text, database table names, folder names, filenames, file extensions, pathnames, dummy URLs, user input, and Twitter handles are shown as follows: "The entire configuration of the virtual machine is specified in the .vmx file".

A block of code is set as follows:

# Disk DescriptorFile
version=1
encoding="UTF-8"
CID=bb3b482f
parentCID=ffffffff

Any command-line input or output is written as follows:

    inet6 fe80::250:56ff:fec0:8/64 scope link
       valid_lft forever preferred_lft forever

New terms and important words are shown in bold. Words that you see on the screen, in menus or dialog boxes, for example, appear in the text like this: "Click on Add Network to add a new network".

Note

Warnings or important notes appear in a box like this.

Tip

Tips and tricks appear like this.

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