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VmWare What is it good far?

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by mattie289404 1 view

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I'm opening a pc repair, networking,business. I've been reviewing Virtualization Software,speficially VmWare Workstation. But I just can't think of a situation I would use it for in my business? Linux to Windows to Linux I already have about 12 Live CDs of different Linux distros and I can run them just fine on windows and they are free? What am I missing here? Thanks in advance...

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by djl0525

Maybe I shouldn't reply because I'm not running Linux, but we installed it in our computer lab because when the lab is reserved by groups to hold conferences and classes, they almost always install software to suit their purpose. We were spending too many labor hours after each reservation restoring settings and uninstalling programs and repairing other programs. VMWare eliminates all that. We load VMWare for each reservation group and they can install software until the cows come home! It has no impact on the real PC environment and there's no clean up. We love it!

I realize this may mean nothing to a Linux user, but I figure Windows users may wonder too.

--DJ

by mattie289404

No I'm not a Linux user, I'm just saying that some people buy VMware so they can run Linux on the windows machine for practice. But you can buy a Live Linux CD for $2.00 and it runs on your comupter without touching your operating system..thanks for the reply

by seanferd

The convenience factor is: not having to burn a CD, not having to reboot to change VMs or use the host OS. There are a lot of VMWare images for things that are not just the equivalent of Linux test distros. Of course, there are small pre-set images available that just let you insert any old live CD iso into them as well, like http://www.vmwarez.com/2006/02/livecd-player-virtual-machine.html

There is a lot of information on that site as well.

In all, it might be interesting for you, but I don't know how VMWare Player or Workstation would directly apply to computer repair, installation, or sales. You can't use it as an offline OS to access a systems HDD like UBCD, BartPE, or Live CD disks from which you boot the system without running the machine's installed OS.

by slayer_

I use it all the time to browse naughty websites, should anything happen, I simply restore the drive. It's also nice to try out suspecious downloads or just new apps to see if they are ligit. I often do it to XP hacks for things such as changing your boot screen. For something as sensitive as that, I use a VM to try it out.

I also keep VM's of legacy systems for legacy testing.

I also put up a VM on my screen whenever someone other than me wants to use my computer.

I also have VM that acts as a backup web/FTP server incase the physical machine needs to go down for maitenance or w/e.

There are 1000's of uses :)

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