VMware Workstation

VMware Workstation is unique among the three Windows compatibility solutions discussed in this chapter in that it provides the tools necessary to run applications from a whole variety of operating systems in Fedora Core 4, including

• Microsoft Windows (all versions)

• Microsoft MS-DOS

• Other Unix systems

• Novell NetWare

• Various other PC-compatible operating systems

Although the interface isn't as intuitive or clean as the CrossOver Office interface, VMware provides a much more powerful solution for developers and system administrators who need extensive compatibility with a variety of applications, or who need to run several virtual computers inside a single real computer.

By the Way

You can learn more about or purchase VMware Workstation by visiting the VMware website at http://www.vmware.com.

VMware: Architecture and Capabilities

VMware achieves its extensive compatibility by behaving like a virtual (imaginary) computer system that is separate from your Fedora Core 4 computereven though technically VMware is an application that is running inside your Fedora Core 4 computer. To do this, VMware opens an application window on your Linux desktop that will function as the display (screen) of this virtual computer. Your CD-ROM drive, printer, and network connection act as the CD-ROM drive, printer, and network connections for the virtual computer as well. A section of your hard drive (contained in a large file) is given to this virtual computer and acts as its hard drive.

Such a virtual computer, whose screen is an application window on your desktop, looks and functions very much like a separate real computer to most programs. For this reason, you can install any supported operating system and applications on its (imaginary) hard driveWindows and windows applications if needed, FreeBSD and FreeBSD applications if needed, or even QNX and QNX applications if that's what your needs call for. These operating systems and applications then run in the application window on your Linux desktop that acts as the virtual computer's display.

One important side effect of this architecture should be noted: You can start as many VMware application windows as you like; each one can be a separate virtual computer with its own virtual hard drive and its own network address. For this reason, one Fedora Core 4 machine running VMware, with one network cable plugged into its network jack, can appear to be 10 or even 20 independent computers on your network, running a variety of operating systems and applications.

One final benefit bears mentioning here: If you are running Microsoft Windows and Windows applications using VMware Workstation, you don't need to worry about Windows crashes. If Microsoft Windows or any of its applications crash, only the virtual computer is affected and its application window closes. Fedora Core 4 continues to operate without any ill effects, healthy and unaffected by the Windows crash. The same holds true for any operating system running in the virtual machine.