VMware Workstation

Release version: Australia

Updated March 12, 2026

1 minute to read

In the basic VMware system, the VMware Workstation runs on a Windows or Linux host machine, but not managed directly thorugh vCenter.

This system clones instances from templates, but can't be automated. The relationships between VMware components for this type of installation are in the following diagram:

Figure 1. VMware Workstation relationships

Table 1. VMware Workstation Component relationships
Component	Relationships
Windows or Linux Server	Runs the VMware application
VMware application	Runs on a Windows or Linux host machine Has registered VM instances Virtualizes virtual machines
VM Instances (including images and templates)	Registers on the VMware application Instantiated by individual virtual machines
Virtual machines	Instantiates VM instances Virtualized by VMware application