VMware Workstation 17.6: Few new features, important functions have been dropped
The desktop hypervisors VMware Workstation and Fusion will receive support for new operating systems and a command line tool. Other features have been dropped.
(Image: iX)
As part of the new versions, VMware Workstation Pro 17.6 and Fusion Pro 13.6 receive some new functions –, but at the same time several important features have been removed. New additions include vmcli, which is a command line tool that allows users to interact with the hypervisor via a Linux or macOS terminal or the Windows command prompt.
For example, users can create new virtual machines or VM templates, start systems and edit their settings. Instructions for Fusion (macOS) can be found here, the documentation for Workstation (Windows, Linux) can be found here.
Windows Server 2025, Windows 11 Version 23H2, Ubuntu 24.04 and Fedora 40 can now be used as new guests. The same operating systems have also been added to the list of supported hosts. However, anyone using Workstation Pro under Windows cannot have the software automatically install the update to 17.6.
The reason for this is the move of VMware services to the new owner Broadcom. Instead, users have to log in to the Broadcom Support Portal and download and install Workstation Pro manually again.
This is no longer necessary
For many users, however, the loss of several functions is likely to have a greater impact: Firstly, the pass-through of Bluetooth devices has been dropped, meaning that no Bluetooth devices connected to the host can be used in the VM. Broadcom has also completely removed Unity mode: It allowed virtualized programs to be executed in such a way that the host treated them as local applications – for example, users could manage programs in the host's taskbar and add them as shortcuts. Finally, the Enhanced Keyboard driver, which not only improved support for international keyboard layouts but also provided a security function, has also been dropped.
All details on the new version 17.6 can be found in the release notes. Workstation Pro and Fusion Pro are the formerly commercial VMware hypervisors for the desktop, which are now free for end users. In the course of the takeover, Broadcom had removed Workstation Player and Fusion Player, which were the slimmed-down versions of the software. However, companies still have to buy licenses for the Pro versions.
(fo)