2.5

Host System Requirements for VMware Player
The minimum host system requirements for installing and using VMware Player:
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Standard x86-compatible or x86-64-compatible PC
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Processor speed – 733MHz or faster
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Memory – 512 MB minimum (2GB recommended). You must have enough memory to run the host
operating system, the virtual machine, and applications on the host and guest operating systems.
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Hard disk – At least 1GB free disk space is recommended for each guest operating system.
For installation, VMware Player requires approximately 250MB (Windows) or 200MB (Linux) free disk space.
You can delete the installer after installation is complete to reclaim disk space.
See “Supported Host and Guest Operating Systems for VMware Player,” on page 13 for additional
information about supported host and guest operating systems.
Compatible Virtual Machines and System Images
The following virtual machines and system images are compatible with VMware Player:
VMware Virtual
Machines
VMware Player runs virtual machines created with VMware Workstation4 and
higher, GSX Server 3.x, VMware Server, and ESX Server 2.5 and higher.
Workstation 4 virtual machines run in legacy mode. Virtual machines created
in versions earlier than Workstation 4 must be upgraded using another
VMware product before you can run them in VMware Player.
Microsoft Virtual PC and
Virtual Server Virtual
Machines
On Windows hosts, VMware Player can run Microsoft Virtual PC and Virtual
Server virtual machines. When you open a Virtual PC virtual machine in
VMware Player, VMware Player creates a VMware-compatible configuration
file (with a .vmx extension), and preserves the original Virtual PC configuration
file (with a .vmc extension). You can save the VMware-compatible virtual
machine without changing your original Virtual PC configuration file.
Symantec Backup Exec
System Recovery
System Images
On Windows hosts, VMware Player can run system images created with
Symantec Backup Exec System Recovery, formerly Symantec LiveState
Recovery. When you open a Backup Exec System Recovery system image in
VMware Player, VMware Player creates a VMware-compatible configuration
file (with a .vmx extension), and preserves the original Backup Exec System
Recovery system image file (with a .sv2i extension). You can save the VMware-
compatible virtual machine without changing your original Virtual PC
configuration file.
Virtual Symmetric Multiprocessing
Virtual Symmetric Multiprocessing (SMP) support in VMware Player is experimental. With this feature, you
can use VMware Player to assign two virtual processors to a virtual machine on any host machine that has at
least two logical processors.
Getting Started with VMware Player
VMware, Inc. 9