14 DAY TRIAL // VMware Technology Network is now delivering support for both 32-bit and 64-bit editions of Windows Vista with Build 45731 of its Workstation. VMWare Workstation 6.0 has been made available for download as of today, May 9, 2007. Users that wish to access the files will need a valid Workstation 6 serial number. Otherwise, the files cannot be downloaded, and this is why VMware informed that customers need to either register for an evaluation or buy a license.
Although x86 and x64 Windows Vista is supported as guest and host operating system there are a number of issues that the users will need to mitigate in order to ensure that everything runs smoothly. Users have to be aware that, with the exception of Windows Vista operating systems running as guests, Workstation 6.0 delivers enhanced virtual keyboard only for Windows hosts, and for all 32-bit Windows guests. Therefore, pressing Ctrl-Alt-Delete will not result in the Windows Vista guest system acting on the command.
VMware additionally informs that the product's serial number is intimately connected with the installation process and the permission settings, and will have to be entered during the initial deployment. Using the Change option via the Workstation installer on a Windows Vista host implies disabling the User Account Control to avoid error messages. Vista's UAC also provides an alert message upon the uninstallation of Workstation, but here users only need to click Allow.
VMware also advises users to always run Workstation either with or without administrative privileges, but not a combination of administrative and standard user privileges as it results in conflicts. Running the Virtual Network Editor also requires administrative privileges.
"On Windows Vista hosts, you might not be able to view or select physical disk partitions when creating a virtual machine. On Windows Vista guests, to open the VMware Tools control panel, you need to be logged in as an Administrator user. On Windows Vista hosts, if you want to use File > Import to create a virtual machine from a physical machine, you need to start Workstation by right-clicking the desktop icon and choosing Run as administrator," VMware informed.
VMware Workstation 6.0.0.45731 was tested by Softpedia as being 100% Clean and is available for download here.