VMware Workstation requires login or registration to download?

[BarkingGhostar]

Just to make sure I am observing this correctly, I went to download the linux version of VMware Workstation 11.1.0 and the download work-flow pushes me to login (if registered) or register, first. Looking at the registration process, it seems they would like a bunch of personal information.

I tried looking for the Linux version on non-VMware sites, but can only find the trial version. Everyone go and register an account for personal use?

 

[sweenish]

Vmware PLAYER is the free one.

 

[ultimatebob]

Vmware PLAYER is the free one.

Even Player isn't free for commercial use anymore. Virtualbox is, though.

 

[DigDog]

VMware requires a license code.

 

[BarkingGhostar]

I d/l and installed the VMware Player, which didn't require any code to be used. however, in comparing version 7 of Player to the current version of Virtualbox I see that I wasted my time. Go figure.

 

[sweenish]

Even Player isn't free for commercial use anymore. Virtualbox is, though.

I assume most free software isn't free for commercial for use.

Good on Virtualbox in that regard.

 

[manly]

VMware.com has required an account for downloads for many years.

 

[BarkingGhostar]

Who was thinking I was needing this for commercial use? I never mentioned it. Why the assumption?

 

[lxskllr]

Who was thinking I was needing this for commercial use? I never mentioned it. Why the assumption?

Regardless of your immediate needs, it's always better to choose products that allow more freedom. I choose by license first. Assuming all products meet my essential needs, my order of preference is copyleft, permissive libre, permissive proprietary, restrictive proprietary.

 

[ultimatebob]

Who was thinking I was needing this for commercial use? I never mentioned it. Why the assumption?

Just trying to cover your ass, I guess. In theory, you're probably not allowed to create or distribute VM's with the "free" product that could be used for commercial use by either you or someone else, but I'm not sure how VMWare could realistically enforce that.

 

[MrColin]

Who was thinking I was needing this for commercial use? I never mentioned it. Why the assumption?

You seem quite defensive suddenly...hmmm.

 

[zokudu]

If you genuinely need VMWare workstation and have a valid license the trial versions are the full version, you just need a license key to activate them.

http://www.vmware.com/products/workstation/workstation-evaluation

 

[BarkingGhostar]

Not defensive, just making it clear I was looking for something for personal use. But it academic as the need is no more.

 

[Scarpozzi]

I've switched to Virtualbox for all my VM needs locally. VMware is great, but other hypervisors work great. If you're not using DRS/HA, Vmotion, and using Virtual Center, there's almost no reason to stick with VMware.

Most hypervisors can even read VMDK as well as the other virtualized disk technologies....they can also export VMs fairly easily if you need to import them back into Virtual Center.