VMware has decided to make its Pro Virtual Machine software free for personal use on Windows, macOS, and Linux. This means that users can now download VMware Workstation Pro 17 for Windows and Linux, and VMware Fusion Pro 13 for macOS at no cost and without the need for a license key or subscription. This software allows users to run guest operating systems on their host operating system with features like shared clipboard, drag and drop files, access to USB devices, and hardware acceleration.
Broadcom, the company that acquired VMware, announced this change to provide ongoing value to customers and the VMware community. Users can create a virtual lab on their computers by downloading these free versions from Broadcom’s new download portal. Commercial use of Fusion Pro or Workstation Pro still requires a paid subscription, but there are no feature limitations or monitoring to enforce this, relying on users’ honesty.
While VMware Workstation Pro is proprietary software, other open-source virtual machine software options for Linux include Oracle VirtualBox and GNOME Boxes. VMware Workstation Pro offers configurable networking options, snapshots, cloning, machine templates, remote connectivity, and more advanced features compared to VirtualBox.
Downloading and installing VMware Workstation Pro on Linux requires creating a Broadcom account, accepting terms and conditions, and providing “commercial compliance” information. The installer is a .bundle file, which should be given permission to run and installed as root from a terminal. Users may encounter some issues during installation, such as kernel module problems, but can be resolved by following the installation steps.
Overall, whether to use VMware Workstation Pro over other options is up to the user’s preference. The software is now considered freeware for personal use on Windows, macOS, and Linux. Users can share their experiences with VMware software in the comments section.
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