3.1

Compatible Virtual Machines and System Images
VMware Player runs virtual machines and system images created with other VMware and non-VMware
products.
The following virtual machines and system images are compatible with VMware Player:
VMware Virtual
Machines
VMware Player runs virtual machines created with VMware Workstation 4 and
later, GSX Server 3.x, VMware Server, and ESX Server 2.5 and later.
Workstation 4 virtual machines run in legacy mode. You must use another
VMware product to upgrade virtual machines created in versions earlier than
Workstation 4 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 file extension, and preserves the original Virtual PC
configuration file, with a .vmc file 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 file extension.
Using Virtual Symmetric Multiprocessing
With Virtual Symmetric Multiprocessing (SMP), you can assign up to eight processors to a virtual machine on
any host machine that has at least two logical processors.
The following are all considered to have two or more logical processors:
n
A multiprocessor host with two or more physical CPUs
n
A single-processor host with a multicore CPU
n
A single-processor host with hyperthreading enabled
NOTE On hyperthreaded uniprocessor hosts, performance of virtual machines with Virtual SMP might be
below normal.
With VMware Player you can power on and run multiple dual-processor virtual machines concurrently.
Getting Started Guide
12 VMware, Inc.