Is there a FREE way to run something like VMware?

Is there a free application that allows me to run another OS, eg Linux from my Vista? Is there something like VMware, but free?

Thanks

 

Go to: http://www.vmware.com/
Read about VMware Server which is free. Also, VMware Player is free.
Another free product is VirtualBox at : http://www.virtualbox.org/

 

So which one is mostly recommend by the people "in the know"?

The free VMware Server or the VirtualBox by Sun?

 

VMware Player.

 

Thanks Xerobank. I will use that then

 

So if I run suse for example with VMware Player, suse won't touch my MS Vista C: partition and tamper with it?

 

Nothing is impossible. But as long as you aren't creating samba shares and telling the thing to write on your normal drive, you'll be fine. It will create a virtual hard drive that will look like a .vmdk file. Your system will treat it as a normal file, the VM will treat it like a hard drive.

 

I've used both VMWare and VirtualBox.

So far, VirtualBox seems to be running for me, personally. Though VMWare does have some advantages over VirtualBox.

Personally, I'd suggest trying both and deciding for yourself.

 

I am using VMWare Player and running Suse. Looks really good. All I have to do now is figure out how to run it in full-screen mode

I also installed openSUSE using Virtualbox. I really like Virtualbox, because unlike VMWare Player, I can install the full DVD openSUSE and install my own full OS'.

 

You can also use the free vmware converter to convert your host system into a virtual machine which can then be used with vmware player. Be aware that legally speaking its only legal to do this with vista ultimate as far as i know.

 

Does anyone know how to make the virtualised OS run in full screen?

When I choose full-screen, all it does it makes the outer borders black, but the OS itself still only fills about half screen.

Any ideas pls?

 

Hey truthseeker, nice that you are experimenting with Linux
You have opened a BIG topic..

VMPlayer will not make a vm ( ie vmx, vmdk etc) like VB, is that what you mean ?

Go to the settings in Suse was Yast last time I looked and change screen resolution: that might fix it or if Suse installed; go to xorg and edit the settings:
Read the documentation.

Google is your friend
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=change screen resolution in suse 11&btnG=Search&aq=f
Search the forums at suse and vmware

Here is a great run through re VMPlayer :
http://www.dedoimedo.com/computers/vmware_player.html

How to create a vm for vm player
http://www.easyvmx.com/

and great tutorials re Linux distros and installing etc
http://www.dedoimedo.com/computer_software.html#linux
If you want to play get PCLOS or Wolvix as the most friendly useable distros to start with.

If you.ve got the $ get VMWare Workstation: really useful utility and lots of extra goodies over VMPlayer ( although with experience and google you will find you can do almost everything you want with VMPlayer if you dont want to pay)
I aint no pro and I hardly had to rtfm ; lol; until I got stuck that is

Mrkvonic might not mind if you asked him

 

Couldn't get to this before: a nice guide.
http://www.howtoforge.com/the-perfect-desktop-opensuse-11
Falko writes very nice guides: just occassionally some fine points skipped over.

 

I have to chime in for Virtualbox. It definitely has its advantages.

 

@truthseeker, VM tools, VM Player was released to run already made and configured VMs. You can install VM tools from Workstation, Server then you can use the keys(there are many hot key functions) Ctrl Alt Return to go in/out full screen mode.
If you have to scroll the guest then you can limit the resolution by editing the vmx file with notepad something like this : svga.maxWith="value" svga.maxHeight="value"

 

Hello,

Apart from 3D support, there's nothing you can't do in VMware Server.
BTW, I recommend the Server over the Player.

Mrk

P.S. Installed SUSE from DVD many times, no problems...

 

I've been using a Windows OS in VirtualBox, and one area that I've found that VirtualBox completely obliterates VMWare is when you go from full screen/window. When I go full screen, the resolution on the guest is automatically changed to use all the available space. If I go back to a window, its resized again.

Why is this so good? I never have to scroll around the guest desktop, unlike VMWare.

 

Im using vbox. But I have read the manual and all the FAQ's, but I cannot work out how to make openSUE and Kubuntu that I installed to run in true Full-Screen.

When I choose fullscreen from virtualbox, openSUE and Kubuntu stay the same size, and doesn't fill my whole screen. In fact, they run rather small, perhaps only taking up about 70% of my screen.

Does anyone please know how to make them run in 100% full-screen?

Thanks so much.

 

I dont understand. Can you please elaborate? What do I need to do exactly?

 

Is the server version free too?

And I installed opensuse on virtualbox, but I cannot make it run in fullscreen. Any ideas?

 

How on Earth did you manage it to do that? For me, Kubuntu and OpenSUSE doesnt go full screen for me even when I choose full screen. It still stays the same size. What is the solution please?

 

For the linux OS'es, I'm guessing you just havn't set the resolution high enough (it won't stretch it) to use all of the real estate. I know X11 is also a little trickier when it comes to changing resolutions as opposed to Windows.

Have you installed the guest tools?

 

truthseeker,

try the free Server, install VMWare Tools.

Comparison of virtual machines

 

You have to install the guest additions on the guest OS.

 

yes I got it working in fullscreen now