VMware has unveiled a minor yet significant update to its virtualization software, catering to both Windows and Linux users. The newly released Workstation Pro 17.6.1 addresses several key issues, enhancing the overall user experience and functionality.
Key Improvements in Workstation Pro 17.6.1
This latest iteration ensures that VMware Workstation accurately recognizes Windows 11 version 24H2 images, a notable improvement over the previous version, 17.6.0, which erroneously identified these ISO files as Windows Server 2025. This misidentification led to an unintended switch to the Easy Install process, which has now been rectified.
In addition to the recognition issue, developers have tackled update complications on non-English host systems and resolved a couple of other bugs that were affecting performance.
The changelog for this update includes:
- ISO Recognition Fix: When creating a new virtual machine from a Windows 11 24H2 ISO image, the software now correctly identifies the file, eliminating previous errors that misidentified it as a Windows Server 2025 ISO.
- Powering On Errors: Users previously encountered an unrecoverable error (svga) when attempting to power on a virtual machine, particularly with the 3D graphics feature toggled. This issue has been addressed in the update.
- Installation Issues on Non-English Hosts: The update resolves an MSI pop-up error that occurred during installation or upgrades on host systems configured in languages other than English.
- CentOS Compatibility: The update clarifies that CentOS 9 Stream with kernel versions later than 5.14.0-432 is not supported as a host on Workstation Pro 17.6.
Known Issues and Workarounds
Despite the enhancements, VMware Workstation Pro 17.6.1 does come with some known issues. One such concern involves the multi-monitor feature, which may not function correctly across certain hardware configurations and topologies. Users might experience unexpected behavior, such as the system reverting to a single screen or failing to cycle through multiple monitors.
Workaround: Currently, there is no workaround available for this issue.
For those looking to update their VMware Workstation Pro, the process is straightforward. Simply navigate to Help > Software Updates within the application, or download the latest version directly from VMware’s website.
