VMmanager uses a simple tabbed interface to define the parameters for your VMware appliance , including the operating system to be installed; amount of memory to be used; how drives, bus adapters and ports are emulated; and whether to use 3D acceleration and VMware Tools. Unfortunately, the tools are only available if you have VMWare Workstation (not free) installed. After defining your new appliance's settings, simply hit Okay in the Finish tab, choose a place to save your new appliance, and you're in business (though you still need to install the OS once you run it inside VMware Player). VMmanager also enables you to edit existing appliances such as those you can download from VMware.com.
Although VMmanager's GUI is simple, there are some terms and concepts such as VMX vs. VMDK, VMware Workstation 4.x/5.x compatibility that you'll need to bone up on at www.vmware.com--there's no VMmanager help file. But for quick creation and editing of VMware appliances, VMmanager can't be beat.
--Jon L. Jacobi
Reviewed by: Delonte
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