Virtual Machine ManagerLinux
vs
VMware WorkstationWindows
Virtual Machine Manager as a Linux alternative to VMware Workstation
Updated
Our verdict
Virtual Machine Manager is a solid replacement for most VMware Workstation users who run Linux hosts and need KVM, Xen, or LXC guests. It covers the core tasks—creating, running, snapshotting, and networking VMs—while offering remote host control. Users who rely on Windows‑specific features like macOS guests, advanced drag‑and‑drop, or the VMware‑specific UI will find it lacking, but for Linux‑centric workloads it performs well.
- License
- GPL-2.0+
- Price
- Free
- Latest version
- 5.1.0 (August 26, 2025)
- Rating
- —
What works the same
- Create, run, and delete virtual machines
- Support for snapshots and restore
- Advanced networking options (bridged, NAT, host‑only)
- Hardware acceleration via VT‑x/AMD‑V
- Real‑time resource monitoring
What is different
- No built‑in macOS guest support
- No Windows‑specific integration tools (e.g., VMware Tools)
- No proprietary licensing; free but requires libvirt setup
- No bundled installer for Windows hosts
- Snapshot management is via libvirt CLI, not a dedicated GUI
- No support for VMware Workstation .vmx/.ovf files directly
Opening your VMware Workstation files
Virtual Machine Manager cannot open VMware Workstation .vmx or .ovf files directly. To migrate, export the VM from VMware Workstation as an OVA/OVF package, then import that package into libvirt using virsh import or virt-manager’s import wizard. The process may require converting disk formats (e.g., VMDK to QCOW2) and re‑configuring network settings.
Switching from VMware Workstation to Virtual Machine Manager, step by step
- Export the VMware VM as an OVA/OVF package from Workstation.
- Convert the VMDK disk to QCOW2 using qemu-img if needed.
- Create a new VM in Virtual Machine Manager and attach the converted disk.
- Configure networking to match the original (bridged/NAT).
- Start the VM and install libvirt guest tools for optimal performance.
- Verify snapshots and backup settings are restored.
Key features of Virtual Machine Manager
- GUI for KVM, Xen, LXC via libvirt
- Create, clone, and delete VMs
- Attach virtual disks and network interfaces
- View real‑time resource usage
- Remote management of hosts
- Support for snapshots and live migration
How to install Virtual Machine Manager on Linux
flatpak install flathub org.virt_manager.virt-managersudo apt install virt-managersudo apt install virt-managersudo dnf install virt-managersudo pacman -S virt-managersudo zypper install virt-manager