The technology fairy dropped a note in my inbox about a Public technology preview for VMware’s Desktop Virtualization Products (VMware Workstation and VMware Fusion). While this is a bit unusual for VMware, new and shiny is always fun. The details are below:

VMware Workstation CTP

The VMware Workstation Team is excited to invite you to participate in the VMware Workstation Technology Preview 2012.  With the recent availability of Windows 8 Consumer Preview, Windows Server 8 Beta, and Ubuntu 12.04 Beta (Precise Pangolin) we thought it was the perfect time to release a technology preview.  We would like to get your feedback on new capabilities that may appear in future releases of VMware Workstation. 
In this preview, please try the following:

• Run Windows 8 Consumer Preview and the Windows Server 8 Beta as a guest and host
• Run Ubuntu 12.04 Beta as host and guest and test the new OpenGL driver
• Test the updated virtual graphics hardware with a wide range of applications
• Try new features: Tabs in Windows full screen, download from vSphere on Linux

This is a public technology preview.  You may share this email with your peers so they can download and review the latest VMware virtualization platform.

Get Started Now

1)     Download the VMware Workstation Technology Preview here:
http://communities.vmware.com/community/vmtn/beta/workstationtp2012

2)     When prompted, enter this expiring license key to enable the software:
M108C-N0LE1-08L82-03ARK-2EJPY

Feedback

To provide your feedback to VMware, please visit the technology preview community site:
http://communities.vmware.com/community/vmtn/beta/workstationtp2012?view=discussions
Please contribute to an existing discussion or start a new one.  Our Developers, Quality Assurance Engineers, Support Teams, Technical Writers and Product Managers are all actively involved in the forums to ensure that your suggestions and comments get our attention.

VMware Fusion CTP

The VMware Fusion Team is excited to invite you to participate in the VMware Fusion Technology Preview 2012 program. With the recent availability of Windows 8 Consumer Preview, OS X Mountain Lion Developer Preview and Ubuntu 12.04 Beta (Precise Pangolin), we thought it was the perfect time to release a technology preview to get your feedback on what may appear in future releases of VMware Fusion.
In this preview, we’d like you to try the following:

• Running Windows 8 Consumer Preview and Windows Server 8 Beta as a guest
• Running OS X Mountain Lion Developer Preview as a guest if you are a member of the Mac Developer Program
• Running Ubuntu 12.04 Beta in a virtual machine to test the new OpenGL driver
• Graphics correctness running a range of applications

This is a public technology preview.  You may share this email with your peers to download and review the latest VMware virtualization platform.

Get Started Now:

1) Download and try the VMware Fusion Technology Preview: http://communities.vmware.com/community/vmtn/beta/fusiontp2012
2) When prompted, enter this expiring license key to enable the software:
M141C-N0L03-48U8A-00ARH-AEJ4U

Feedback

To provide your feedback to VMware, please visit the technology preview community site http://communities.vmware.com/community/vmtn/beta/fusiontp2012?view=discussions and contribute to an existing discussion or start a new one.  Our Developers, Quality Assurance Engineers, Support Teams, Technical Writers and Product Managers are all actively involved in the forums to ensure that your suggestions and comments get our attention.

Actually had a wonderful discussion on BlueBear, Kodiak, and all things Geek with the Head Bear Matt himself. Sparing y’all the geeky details, what came of this my dear readers, is that I have Kodiak invites. Lots of them. Right here in fact!

Just click on through, and be sure to mention that you came from ProfessionalVMware.com.

I’ve tried not to cover much outside ESX so far, but one cannot keep their head in the sand about what else is out there. Following on Pancil’s ESXi Post, I’ve found a breakdown, here of the "Free" Virtualization products.

Keep in mind, tis not my post, just came across it while looking some things up for this blog.

so, Veeam the purveyors of all things shiny like Veeam Backup, Veeam Reporter, etc… They’re feeling nice and keeping the holiday cheer going! So sign up here Veeam XMAS Freebie! No idea what it’ll end up being, but here’s the clue:

‘If you liked FastSCP, you’ll love this’

Patrick