Specifications

CHAPTER 1 Introduction and System Requirements
17
The console interface is completely updated. You can run multiple virtual machines in
the same window and switch from one to another using the new quick switch mode.
The console menus have been streamlined. The console requires less network
bandwidth over remote connections than the older console did.
For details, see Running Virtual Machines in the VMware GSX Server Virtual Machine
Guide.
Take Snapshots of Your Virtual Machines
You can take a snapshot of your virtual machine’s state, a point-in-time copy of the
running system state, that is saved to disk. You can revert to that snapshot at any time
— making it easier to do challenging tasks like upgrading guest operating systems.
Take a snapshot, upgrade the operating system, and if something goes wrong, revert
back to the snapshot. Or use the snapshot as a starting point for a sales
demonstration.
See Taking Snapshots in the VMware GSX Server Virtual Machine Guide for details.
Automatically Install GSX Server on Windows Hosts and VMware Tools in
Windows Guests
We’ve improved the installers for Windows hosts and for VMware Tools in Windows
guest operating systems. GSX Server for Windows hosts and VMware Tools for
Windows guests use the Microsoft Windows Installer runtime engine, which allows
you to automate the installation of GSX Server on a Windows host and VMware Tools
in a Windows virtual machine. For information, see Automating the Installation of GSX
Server on page 47 and Automating the Installation of VMware Tools in a Windows
Guest in the VMware GSX Server Virtual Machine Guide.
With the Microsoft Windows Installer runtime engine, you can pick and choose the
features you want to install.
Automatically Start and Stop Virtual Machines When the Host Starts and Stops
You can configure virtual machines to automatically power on when the GSX Server
host starts or automatically power off when the GSX Server host shuts down. For more
information, see Powering Virtual Machines On and Off when the Host Starts and
Shuts Down in the VMware GSX Server Virtual Machine Guide.
Connect to Older Virtual Machines and Older GSX Server Hosts
You can connect to older GSX Server hosts with consoles and run virtual machines
from older versions of VMware products. For information, see Connecting to Older
GSX Server and ESX Server Systems and Older Virtual Machines in the VMware GSX
Server Virtual Machine Guide.