Senior Micro Solutions Engineer at Mobexpert
Real User
Scales well, has good technical support, quick and easy to install
Pros and Cons
  • "Technical support is very good."
  • "I would want to see features included that make deployment easier."

What is our primary use case?

VMware Workstation is currently being used as a test model, it is not in production.

It is used for testing, and we have a mixed solution for reduction.  We are also considering moving part of our servers to virtualization.

How has it helped my organization?

It made various enhancements to the system once the deployment was completed.

What needs improvement?

I would like to see the stability improve. We have experienced some crashes on our devices.

The configuration could be simplified.

I would want to see features included that make deployment easier.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using VMware Workstation for five or six years.

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What do I think about the stability of the solution?

There are some concerns regarding the stability of this solution. We have a device that seems to be under some pressure and two others that are working very well.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

We have no issues with the scalability of the VMware Workstation.

At this time our organization has 15 to 20 users.

This solution is being used daily, and we have plans to increase our usage.

Our plan is to move part of the server to this solution.

How are customer service and support?

Technical support is very good.

Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

I have been using several virtualization tools over the last five or six years.

Approximately six or seven years ago I used a Remote Desktop Solution but it was not a good experience.

How was the initial setup?

The initial setup is straightforward. it took thirty minutes to complete the deployment.

We only require two days a month for one person to maintain this solution.

What about the implementation team?

Using a lot of documentation, I was able to complete the installation myself.

What was our ROI?

With VMware Workstation, we have seen a return on investment, but the actual ROI will be shown in two or three years.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

Licensing costs are paid on a yearly basis.

What other advice do I have?

The documentation should be thoroughly read.

I would rate VMware Workstation a nine out of ten.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

Public Cloud
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
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Engineering Applications Analyst at a manufacturing company with 5,001-10,000 employees
Real User
Excellent for testing and provides insight without having to purchase licenses
Pros and Cons
  • "Because the setup is so easy, this is a solution that can be used at a moment's notice."
  • "Lacks the ability to clone onto another system rather than starting from scratch."

What is our primary use case?

Our primary use case of VMware Workstation is to test environments, different Windows operating systems and the like, and basically to figure out how the solution would work before we put it into production. I'm an engineering applications analyst. 

How has it helped my organization?

The solution benefits us because it allows us to identify whether we need to spend money on a solution that would involve having to buy a bunch of licenses for software, and running an application or a system for whatever our requirements might be. It allows us to test out that scenario to see if it would be more beneficial for our environment as opposed to buying everything, setting it up and determining whether it is going to work or not. It gives us insight into some of the issues we might run into, and how to better facilitate fixing them.

What is most valuable?

Because the setup is so easy, this is a solution that can be used at a moment's notice. It's simple to set up for a test environment and that's a huge benefit.

What needs improvement?

For our needs, the issue is that there is no way to take an existing system out of the testing environment, clone it with everything that it's currently set up on, and put it into production without having to create a whole new one. It lacks the ability to clone the environment so you have your test environment set up in the way it's going to be used in production. Rather than create a whole other environment, the idea would be to clone that capability onto another system and not have to start over from scratch. You have everything working the way you want it to and you just want to move it over to the production side of things.

For how long have I used the solution?

I've been using this solution for about a year. 

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

The solution handles pretty well. It did seem to function a little bit better than I had expected.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

There are no issues with scalability. When we need to make any tweaks by adding more resources, it's pretty straightforward. I'm the only user. In terms of the back end, Microsoft patching needs to be done on a monthly basis based on our processes. The software itself will look to see how often it needs updates. It's pretty straightforward.

Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

I've also used Azure. We made the switch because we had a license for Workstation and I needed to test a particular system. I could plug and play using the VMware Player to take an existing VTK, whatever the file extension is, and plug it in there to look at this VM. Workstation allowed us to test scenarios. We have a lot of older applications that run on older operating systems. Sometimes we have to test the old systems and see how they'll run in a virtual environment as well. 

How was the initial setup?

As long as you have all the information you need in terms of how many processors are require and how much memory, it's not complicated. Implementation was an in-house job. Rather than loading a specific software package on our network, we can use a testing environment to see what to expect from it. We test out of the box in a virtual environment and see where we get with it. The deployment took about a day. 

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

We use VMware for virtual cluster of servers, but I believe we bought Workstation outright once. It's pretty low in cost, so if we need multiple copies, we usually buy a handful. I've actually insisted that we go that route for some of the software groups that we have so they can test various environments without having to use another system.

What other advice do I have?

This product is pretty straightforward and easy to use. I would definitely recommend it for testing different scenarios, Windows, Linux, that sort of thing. It works well in all environments, in my opinion, and the ease of setup is great and allows you to have a lot of test cases strictly run from your system rather than having to set up another whole desktop or another computer as a testing environment. Obviously, it's based on the number of hardware resources available in your system but to get a quick testbed or environment set up, it's pretty easy and straightforward. You can set it up and go about your daily routine and then come back to it, test some more scenarios, get it to where it's accessible through the networks, and determine whether we need it or not. It's better to have that rather than having to set up a whole other computer for testing.

I rate this solution 10 out of 10. 

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

On-premises
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
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April 2024
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SalimAhmed - PeerSpot reviewer
System Administrator at MMCY Tech
Real User
Top 10
A tool useful for testing purposes in the production environment that needs to reduce its usage of resources like CPU
Pros and Cons
  • "The most valuable feature of the solution stems from the fact that it is an easy-to-use product."
  • "VMware Workstation uses more resources like CPU and disk space, especially the CPU, which is a shortcoming that needs improvement."

What is our primary use case?

I have worked in education and production in one of my previous companies with VMware Workstation. In my current company, I use VMware Workstation for personal use. I have used the solution since my company has a personal server, which is not an extra production server.

How has it helped my organization?

VMware Workstation is something that I have used on my laptop, while at times I have used the solution for testing process purposes, with Linux, Windows, and servers. I have used VMware Workstation for testing purposes in the production environment.

What is most valuable?

The most valuable feature of the solution stems from the fact that it is an easy-to-use product. VMware Workstation is useful for safety purposes. With VMware Workstation, you can easily select CPU hardware or hard disk and install them to the solution. In general, the product allows easy installation with any hardware specifications. If you select a 3 GB or 15 GB hard disk, you can select it.

What needs improvement?

VMware Workstation uses more resources like CPU and disk space, especially the CPU, which is a shortcoming that needs improvement.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using VMware Workstation for six months.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

The stability of the solution depends on the solution's license. If you opt for a license purchased from VMware Workstation, then it remains very stable. The unlicensed version of the solution is not very suitable or stable.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

Based on what I have seen, I rate the solution's scalability a seven out of ten.

I didn't use the licensed software version of VMware Workstation, because of which I can't comment on its efficiency.

Though I am unsure, I feel that six to seven users use the solution for their personal use in my company.

Currently, I don't plan to use the version offered by VMware Workstation.

How are customer service and support?

I did not directly contact VMware Workstation's support person since I could get all the answers to my questions through VMware's blogs.

Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

I have moved from VMware Workstation to Oracle VM VirtualBox since I got to use it for free, while VMware Workstation wasn't a free option.

How was the initial setup?

I rate the initial setup a six and a half out of ten. The initial setup of the solution is not complicated, but it may not be stable or as good as it should be if you use the tool without VMware Workstation's license or licensed software.

The solution is deployed by enabling virtualization on my laptop.

The time taken for the deployment depends on the size of your operations. The installation of VMware Workstation only takes around 20 to 30 minutes.

For deployment steps, download the free version of VMware Workstation for all the licenses, and then by clicking the next options available after clicking the EXE file, we can install the solution. You get around 60 days to use the free version of the solution, after which you need to pay for VMware Workstation.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

I use the free version of VMware Workstation.

What other advice do I have?

I have stopped the use of ESXi in VMware Workstation.

It is important to note that VMware Workstation may not be a good solution for my company since it is not a perfect solution.

I don't personally recommend VMware Workstation to those planning to use it since it is a type 2 hypervisor. It is always better to use a type 1 hypervisor, but if someone prefers to use a type 2 hypervisor, then it is always best to choose the paid or licensed version of the solution.

I rate the overall solution a seven out of ten.

Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
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Pallab Kumar Chanda - PeerSpot reviewer
Key Account Sales Manager at VFM Systems And Services
Real User
Mature solution that delivers more ROI compared to similar products
Pros and Cons
  • "It is much more mature compared to Nutanix or SimpliVity when it's cross-platform based."
  • "The GUI interface could be improved."

What is our primary use case?

I'm an IT salesperson. I have experience selling this solution.

What is most valuable?

It is much more mature compared to Nutanix or SimpliVity when it's cross-platform based. It's much more well known compared to the other newly formed solutions.

What needs improvement?

The GUI interface could be improved. My customer says that you have to be trained to use it. 

For someone who isn't a VMware expert, a simpler user interface would help.

For how long have I used the solution?

I sold my first VMware solution in 2003.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

The stability is good.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

It's scalable.

How are customer service and support?

It's good. I have used technical support once or twice for my customer. They have helped inform some technical discussions. I would rate them 5 out of 5.

Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

Solutions like Nutanix are more user-friendly.

What was our ROI?

We have seen ROI. VMware is way cheaper if I take it as an application or a software compared to any hardware. It is cheaper compared to other products.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

The cost differs depending on the customer's requirement.

What other advice do I have?

I would rate this solution 10 out of 10.

There are pros and cons to this solution, so understand your infrastructure. Utilize the technical people to understand what is required, then go for it. There are many customers who have taken what they don't need, and many customers don't have what they do need.

Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: Partner
PeerSpot user
Cloud Engineer, Content Writer at Planet Flora
Real User
Top 5
A virtualization solution with faster deployment and reasonable pricing
Pros and Cons
  • "The initial setup is simple and takes only five minutes to complete."
  • "It takes too much time to load all the plug-ins and software."

What is our primary use case?

We use the solution for virtualization.

How has it helped my organization?

We are using Workstation to run multiple operating systems.

What is most valuable?

We are using Workstation to install another OS or VM for our application. Also, it provides more features than a VMware Virtual Box.

What needs improvement?

The solution’s performance is low. Also, support should be enhanced after Huiwei's acquisition. They are migrating all their clients to the new company.

It takes too much time to load all the plug-ins and software.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using VMware Workstation for three years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

I rate the solution’s stability an eight out of ten.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

One user is using this solution.

I rate the solution’s scalability an eight out of ten.

How was the initial setup?

The initial setup is simple and takes only five minutes to complete.

I rate the initial setup a seven out of ten, where one is difficult, and ten is easy.

What other advice do I have?

We have shipped out all the back end and containerized the application. We are currently using DKU and AKS.

I recommend the solution because of its reasonable pricing.

Overall, I rate the solution a nine out of ten.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

On-premises
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
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Networking engineer at Hical Technologies Private Limited
Real User
Top 20
Easy to setup, highly scalable and stable product
Pros and Cons
  • "I would rate the stability a ten out of ten."
  • "The dashboard can be improved."

What is our primary use case?

I use it in my Windows and Linux systems. I create VMs.

I also use vSphere Client

What needs improvement?

The dashboard can be improved. 

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using it for three years and two months.  

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

I would rate the stability a ten out of ten.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

I would rate the scalability a ten out of ten. There are around 350 end users using this in our organization. 

We use it on an everyday basis. 

Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

We used vSphere. In our case, we have 23 servers saved on vSphere with the hostname AD2012.

How was the initial setup?

The initial setup is easy. The deployment took a few days. 

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

I would rate the pricing an eight out of ten, with ten being expensive. It is expensive. 

What other advice do I have?

It's the best solution. I would rate it a ten out of ten. 

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

Public Cloud
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
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System Administrator at a manufacturing company with 11-50 employees
Real User
Top 20
A stable and easy-to-install solution that performs well and enables users to set up virtual machines
Pros and Cons
  • "The product works well."
  • "I need to buy a newer version of the tool to support Windows Server."

What is our primary use case?

The solution is used to set up virtual machines.

What is most valuable?

The product works well.

What needs improvement?

I need to buy a newer version of the tool to support Windows Server. I would love to see the support in the lower versions.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using the solution for four or five years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

The stability is fine.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

We have about five users.

How was the initial setup?

The initial installation is easy.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

The product is expensive.

Which other solutions did I evaluate?

If we cannot afford the solution, we can use VMware Player or VirtualBox.

What other advice do I have?

Overall, I rate the solution a nine out of ten.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

On-premises
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
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System Engineer at a university with 1,001-5,000 employees
Real User
Top 20
A reasonably priced, user-friendly solution that fulfills the virtualization needs of the organization
Pros and Cons
  • "The product is really easy to use."
  • "The product could provide the features available in Microsoft Hyper-V."

What is our primary use case?

We use the solution for virtualization.

What is most valuable?

The product is really easy to use. It is user-friendly. It satisfies our needs.

What needs improvement?

The product could provide the features available in Microsoft Hyper-V.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using the solution for five years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

The product is stable.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

The solution is not scalable. The solution is not in production. We are not trying to scale it. Not more than 50 people are using the product.

Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

We are using both VMware Workstation and Microsoft Hyper-V. Microsoft products are more scalable.

How was the initial setup?

The initial setup was not that difficult.

What about the implementation team?

We need four to five administrators for the solution.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

The pricing is reasonable.

What other advice do I have?

We are planning to invest in Microsoft products. My recommendation would depend on the product that people are using. While researching, I could find the solution in the product’s documentation. Overall, I rate the solution a seven or eight out of ten.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

On-premises
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
Buyer's Guide
Download our free VMware Workstation Report and get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions.
Updated: April 2024
Buyer's Guide
Download our free VMware Workstation Report and get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions.