Released in late 2024 with version 17.6.2, VMware Workstation Pro 17.6.2 is the industry-leading Type-2 hypervisor from VMware (Broadcom), allowing users to create and run multiple virtual machines on a single physical computer with advanced features like vSphere connectivity, encryption, snapshots, and high-performance 3D graphics for developers, IT professionals, and power users on Windows and Linux systems.
Key Highlights
- Advanced Virtualization – Run multiple x86-based operating systems simultaneously with support for Windows 11, latest Linux distributions, and legacy OSes in isolated environments.
- vSphere & ESXi Connectivity – Remote connection to vCenter, ESXi hosts, and Workstation servers for centralized management and testing in enterprise environments.
- VM Encryption & Security – Full virtual machine encryption with password protection, restricted VMs, and secure boot support for sensitive workloads.
- Snapshots & Cloning – Create snapshots for quick rollback, linked/full clones for efficient storage, and AutoStart for automatic VM boot.
- High-Performance Graphics – DirectX 11 and OpenGL 4.3 acceleration with up to 8GB vGPU memory for demanding 3D applications and CAD software.
- Networking & USB Support – Advanced virtual networking (NAT, bridged, host-only), USB 3.1 passthrough, and drag-and-drop/shared folders between host and guest.
- Performance & Stability – Optimized hypervisor engine, improved Windows 11 host/guest support, enhanced hardware compatibility, and regular security updates.
System Requirements
- Windows 11 64-bit (or Windows 10 / Server editions)
- 16 GB RAM minimum (32 GB+ recommended)
- Multi-core 64-bit processor with virtualization support (Intel VT-x / AMD-V)
- NVMe SSD strongly advised