[NTLUG:Discuss] Difference between VMPlayer and the new free VMWare Server

[lonny.dahl@verizon.com]

I guess I don't have a clue about the differences between the VMPlayer and
the new VMWare Server that's being offered.  I checked the VMWare website
and saw the comparisons between the two and see a few feature differences,
but what's the difference, really?

Maybe I have a fundamental misunderstanding about what VMPlayer actually
does.  I've never installed anything VMWare-wise, so I don't know what the
difference is between the old VMWare and the newer VMWare Player.  As I
understood the old VMWare software, it set up virtual machines you could
then install a guest OS on...as in Linux (host) with a Weenderz guest
system running in a virtual machine.  How is VMWare Player different?  I
think the website is confusing me a bit.  Quoting "VMware Player lets you
evaluate new or pre-release software contained in virtual machines, without
any installation or configuration hassles. You can also share existing
virtual machines with colleagues or friends—just use VMware Player to run
any virtual machine."  Just reading that, it looks like it's not necessary
to install the OS...just run the apps in the virtual machine.  Am I
misunderstanding this?  Or is it still necessary to install VMWare Player,
then a guest OS, then the apps you want to run in the virtual machine?

Discombobulated in Dallas,

Wayne