Stupid... Guest operating system versions added

Similar Questions

• Most recent version of the guest operating system as the host of the basic version?

  H there, just a quick question.

  Would this work if guest operating system is 10.7 but host operating system is 10.6.8? I use 4 Fusion

  Very much appreciated.

  Technically by the OS X ALS detail you can only virtualize a legally virtalizable version of Mac OS X (Client) under him.  In other words under OS X 10.6 Client ALS detail allows to be virtualized so so technically the only legally virtalizable version of Mac OS X is Mac OS X Server 10.5.x/10.6.x that which is technically required by the SLA in detail and what is technically possible are two different things.  In other words we can virtualize OS X 10.7 (Client or server) but ALS retail for OS X 10.7 requires it be done on OS X 10.7.  Now VMware and VMware Fusion or not apply this requirement and it is up to the user to work in the product EULA and or SLA.

  BTW I don't remember if VMware Fusion 4 supported OS x 10.7, but if it's a selectable BONE in the wizard, then you can try though in violation of ALS retail for OS X 10.7 If you use a retail OS X 10.7.

• Adding SCSI - HOST OS card works fine, GUEST operating system does not see the new hardware

  I have a HOST Windows XP Pro SP3 with VMWare v6.5.2 running Windows Server 2003 R2 STD, SP2 as OS GUEST running on any new Dell Precision T3500 Workstation.

  I've closed the COMMENTS and then HOST. Installed an Adeptec SCSI 39160 card in the PC. The card is a 64-bit and is installed in a PCI 32-bit slot. (It is backwards compatible with 32 - bit)

  Powered on PC. Install the drivers of Adeptec on the HOST. Works fine and I can see the card under Windows XP. Rebooted and everything is always OKm POST shows the installed card and search devices. I have no device attached at this point.

  GUEST operating system has started and it does not automatically detect the card. Tried to run the Add Hardware Wizard and same result. Tried to use VMWare to install the new Hard ware with no result.

  Can tell you how I can get the OS TO see / use the new SCSI card?

  golden rule:

  old guest will love the buslogic controller

  new comments will love the lsi-logic controller

  It depends on your guest

  ___________________________________

  VMX-settings- VMware-liveCD - VM-infirmary

• Adding a hard drive to a guest operating system

  Delema:

  I need to add a hard drive that is big enough in our machine esx which is formatted to NTFS and the accessible car from a guest operating system to Server 2 k 3. (working on a budget here) its 1.5 to and is full of about 80%.

  Basically, I need to know whether or not its possible to add this drive without formatting and accessible by the guest operating system

  I understand now - you will not be able to take out the drive and add it to your ESX Server and be able to access the store data NTFS and Yes using Converter requires a data store with the 1.5 TB or necessary for the new drive - virtual

  If you find this or any other answer useful please consider awarding points marking the answer correct or useful

• CPU pegged at 100% in the guest operating system

  Hi all

  New to this forum, so I hope I'm posting in the right place. Note that I'm not our VMware admin, but rather, I have a server I have to admin that has been converted to VM via the P V. apparently process, our group has converted nearly 50 PMs successfully and of course one of mine is the only one who has a problem now. We have a custom application that has been developed to synchronize data between ESRI GIS and databases SAP. The code is about 7 years old and runs on a version of Oracle (9.2) and is Java based, both on the same vintage. It is not possible to upgrade by the creator going out of business and not having is not the source code. I ask this to understand that the problem is probably with the programming, but thought it was worth it.

  Anyway, one of our guard batch process fail with a Java out of memory error on the virtual machine. It works well on the PM. A consultant ran the diagnosis with a Profiler memory on the virtual machine and concluded that the program never went beyond 256 MB and we have 1 GB allocated to the guest. We now consider the CPU issues. The only other thing we know is different is a matter of hyperthreading (HT). The PM is certainly HT'd (1 physical CPU showing that 2) and it does not appear that this setting met on the virtual machine. When you run the package on the PM, we see 2 CPUs in the Task Manager, and neither hits 100% for more than a few seconds for the whole process. On the virtual machine, we see a flatlined CPU and it is 100% most of the time until it fails about 15 min in.

  The sysinfo on the virtual machine shows a 2400 MHz CPU, while the PM shows (2) 3400 MHz CPU (due to HT). I checked all my other virtual machines, and they are all 'show' 2400 MHz, so this must be a virtual standard machine type? I think that the virtual computer guest has access to the CPU ramp according to the needs, but then I'm not clear why the task manager would show that he attached the entire lot? It is likely that task manager prompt indicates whether flatlined to 100% of a 2400 Mhz CPU, even if she isn't really the most? If this is really the most, our admin should not be able to increase the dedicated CPU (I looked at the console with him and did not see an obvious option for this)? Is it possible to enable hyperthreading on the * comments * OS to mimic what has had on the PM? We cannot add another CPU to the guest due to licensing issues. Oh yes, the guest operating system is windows server 2003 and VMware ESXI 4.1 server. Thank you very much!

  G

  The speed of the CPU that you see is the speed of the physical processor in ESXi hosts. You cannot increase this speed, however - licensing - usually, you can assign two vCPUs, virtual machine as a dual CPU core instead of 2 processors. This option has been added to ESXi 4.1. See http://kb.vmware.com/kb/1010184 for more details.

  What you need to do is to set the number of processors to 2 and add the advanced parameter cpuid.coresPerSocket = 2.

  André

• Surface Pro 3 - errors when you try to start a guest operating system 64-bit

  I get the following errors setting up an Ubuntu guest operating system.

  This virtual machine is configured for 64-bit operating systems. However, the 64-bit mode is not possible.

  This host supports Intel VT - x, but Intel VT - x is disabled.

  Intel VT - x can be disabled if it has been disabled in the BIOS/firmware settings or host was not powered by bicycle since changing this setting.

  (1) check that the settings BIOS/firmware activate Intel VT - x and disable "trust execution."

  2 turn on the host if either of these BIOS/firmware settings have been changed.

  (3) turn on the host if you have not done since the installation of VMware Workstation.

  (4) update of the BIOS/firmware from the host to the latest version.

  I've been Googling this problem since yesterday and so far, I have not come to any possible solution. Certainly, I can install the 32-bit linux flavor, but that doesn't help me when I run the installation to other 64-bit operating systems.

  I was able to resolve the issue, after most googleing. I'm always a little surprised that it works, but hey, Ubuntu is installing.

  I installed Microsoft Visual Studio, including phone windows SDK (must be included).  I disabled and then Hyper-V by issued this command in a shell of administrator command:

  bcdedit/set hypervisorlaunchtype

  If you want to reactivate it, you then type this command

  bcdedit/set auto hypervisorlaunchtype

  WinSupersite credit for the tip (link http://winsupersite.com/mobile-devices/surface-pro-3-tip-hyper-v-vs-connected-standby)

  Once I rebooted and restarted Vmware, I could start Ubuntu and start the installation process.

• T of what guest operating systems will start the VMware Support for EFI?

  Is there a list of support guest OS for the EFI firmware?  Mianly supported by VMware - do not try, fail, call support technique etc etc.   My experiences on the TP forums, I guess that there is not.  Some OS (such as Windows Server) come with a screen to choose BIOS/EFI firmware.  If not, you need to go to setting > Hard Drive OPtions-> advanced _ > boot using EFI.  In particular there at - it versions of Linux that you give you option of BIOS/EFI firmware before the confutation of VM is complete, so the hard drive then be custom.

  We will officially support the EFI firmware for any guest operating system to which all the following conditions are met:

  • We list this guest operating system, supported in the VMware Compatibility Guide for operating systems and your virtualization product.
  • The guest operating system supports EFI in the operating system installation media.
  • Support the guest OS EFI has no catastrophic flaws (for example Fedora 12 x 64, FreeBSD 11, Centos 6.0 through all the 6.2 have catastrophic flaws).

  New computer virtual assistant of 11 workstation has only the option of EFI firmware for Windows clients.  Special mention, do not yet support us Easy Install for non EFI customers in 11 workstations.  For all other customer support EFI OSes, you can do a manual installation after choosing the EFI firmware in the virtual machine settings > Options > Advanced > Boot with EFI instead of the BIOS.

  I don't understand your concern about the personalization of the hard drive... Could you elaborate?

  See you soon,.

  --

  Darius

• Guest operating system compatibility

  Dear team,

  We have mix U1 ESX5.1 and ESXi5.5U2 environment. We are palnning to deploy Windows 2012 R2 on U1 ESXi5.1 host, I want just to cofirm will, I was able to migrate 2012 SMV of ESXi5.1U1 to ESXi5.5U2 I found that there are a few incompatibity with mixed version as shown below KB. I would also like to confirm that they said that this applies to 5.0.x and 5.1.x.

  

  need your urgent help on the same.

  concerning

  Mr. VMwrae

  Ko 2033723, the affected guest operating system is Windows Server 2012 (not R2) and hosts ESXi 5.0 Update 1 or ESXi 5.0 P03... then I think you should just avoid using this version of the build host, given that the VMware compatibility shows that Windows Server R2 2012 is compatible only with ESXi 5.0 Update 2 and later versions.

  On the other KBs, make sure to read workaround, and everything will be OK.

• RDRAND is accessible to a guest operating system?

  I can't seem to find any documentation on this one way or the other.  Is the RDRAND statement (aka Intel Secure Key) presentations/accessible to a guest operating system with the latest version of the Player on a system with a processor Ivy Bridge?

  Thank you!

  Support for RDRAND was introduced with version 9 of virtual equipment.  As long as your virtual machine has virtual version 9 or higher and RDRAND is available on your physical CPU, it will be available at the prompt.

• The VM startup slow down, delay long before the guest operating system begins startup

  Evaluation of VMWare to set up the VM for the maintenance of the software. Set up a virtual machine, install Windows 7 SP1 32-bit, everything works well. Once started, the performance is excellent.

  The symptom is that when you start the virtual machine, either starting from cold boot or suspend, there is a significant delay before the power of VMware on / start screen is displayed. Once it appears, the operating system starts starting (or the recovery of wakefulness) quickly and performance is normal after that. During the start-up period, the whole system is insensitive, host and guest operating system.

  See the extract of newspaper below to 09:54:28.619 moment where the delay occurs followed by the entry concerning 09:55:11.625 time when start continues, a delay of 43 seconds during which nothing seems to happen and the system does not respond. After that, everything is fast.

  Any ideas or suggestions?

  More info...

  VMware Player version 6.0.1 build-1379776

  Host PC: Dell Optiplex, Intel Core2 Quad Q9650 3.00 GHz ABLE to

  Installed memory: 4.00 GB (3.25 GB usable)

  Boot disk C: Intel SSD, 180GB (where the VMware is installed)

  Data disk F: Seagate 1 TB (where the virtual machine)

  SE host: Windows 7 Professional 32-bit SP1

  Guest OS: Windows 7 Professional 32-bit SP1

  excerpt from VMware.log:

  2014 02-19 T 09: 54:28.619 - 05:00 | VMX | I120: VMMEM: initial booking: 1442MB (1024MB = MainMem)

  2014 02-19 T 09: 54:28.619 - 05:00 | VMX | I120: MemSched_PowerOn: minGuestSize ball 104857 (80% size required min 131072)

  2014 02-19 T 09: 54:28.619 - 05:00 | VMX | I120: MemSched: mem reserved (in MB) min max recommended 128 2493 2493

  2014 02-19 T 09: 54:28.619 - 05:00 | VMX | I120: PShare: activated 1 1 Adaptive scanRate [16, 400]

  2014 02-19 T 09: 54:28.619 - 05:00 | VMX | I120: MemSched: mem 5159 262144 np 35890 pg 590258 anon

  2014 02-19 T 09: 55:11.625 - 05:00 | VMX | I120: MemSched: numvm 1 locked pages: num 0 max 605661

  2014 02-19 T 09: 55:11.626 - 05:00 | VMX | I120: MemSched: locked Page limit: host 638514 config 638208 dynam 613853

  2014 02-19 T 09: 55:11.626 - 05:00 | VMX | I120: MemSched: minmempct 50 minalloc 0 admitted 1

  2014 02-19 T 09: 55:11.626 - 05:00 | VMX | W110: NUMA: application of automatic dimensioning VM ignored

  configuration (.vmx) VM file:

  . Encoding = "windows-1252".

  config.version = '8 '.

  virtualHW.version = "10".

  scsi0. Present = 'TRUE '.

  scsi0.virtualDev = "lsisas1068".

  SATA0. Present = 'TRUE '.

  memsize = "1024".

  MEM.hotadd = 'TRUE '.

  scsi0:0. Present = 'TRUE '.

  scsi0:0. FileName = "BCDEVVM.vmdk".

  SATA0:1.present = 'TRUE '.

  SATA0:1.filename = "E:".

  SATA0:1.DeviceType = "cdrom-raw"

  ethernet0. Present = 'TRUE '.

  ethernet0. ConnectionType = "bridged".

  ethernet0.virtualDev = "e1000".

  ethernet0.wakeOnPcktRcv = "FALSE".

  ethernet0. AddressType = 'generated '.

  USB. Present = 'TRUE '.

  EHCI. Present = 'TRUE '.

  ehci.pciSlotNumber = "35".

  Sound.Present = 'TRUE '.

  sound.virtualDev = 'hdaudio '.

  sound.fileName = 'speakers (SoundMAX Integrated D.

  Sound.AutoDetect = "FALSE".

  MKS. Enable3D = 'TRUE '.

  Serial0.present = 'TRUE '.

  Serial0.FileType = "thinprint".

  pciBridge0.present = 'TRUE '.

  pciBridge4.present = 'TRUE '.

  pciBridge4.virtualDev = "pcieRootPort"

  pciBridge4.functions = '8 '.

  pciBridge5.present = 'TRUE '.

  pciBridge5.virtualDev = "pcieRootPort"

  pciBridge5.functions = '8 '.

  pciBridge6.present = 'TRUE '.

  pciBridge6.virtualDev = "pcieRootPort"

  pciBridge6.functions = '8 '.

  pciBridge7.present = 'TRUE '.

  pciBridge7.virtualDev = "pcieRootPort"

  pciBridge7.functions = '8 '.

  vmci0. Present = 'TRUE '.

  hpet0. Present = 'TRUE '.

  usb.vbluetooth.startConnected = "FALSE".

  displayName = "BCDEVVM."

  guestOS = "windows7"

  NVRAM = "BCDEVVM.nvram."

  virtualHW.productCompatibility = "hosted".

  gui.exitOnCLIHLT = "FALSE".

  powerType.powerOff = 'soft '.

  powerType.powerOn = 'soft '.

  powerType.suspend = 'soft '.

  powerType.reset = 'soft '.

  extendedConfigFile = "BCDEVVM.vmxf".

  gui.lastPoweredViewMode = "full screen".

  UUID. BIOS = "56 4 d d2 32 bb c9 b7 bd 3 c d2 46 59 38 e3 e6 f2"

  UUID. Location = "56 4 d d2 32 bb c9 b7 bd 3 c d2 46 59 38 e3 e6 f2"

  Replay.Supported = "FALSE".

  Replay.FileName = «»

  scsi0:0. Redo = «»

  pciBridge0.pciSlotNumber = "17".

  pciBridge4.pciSlotNumber = "21".

  pciBridge5.pciSlotNumber = "22".

  pciBridge6.pciSlotNumber = "23".

  pciBridge7.pciSlotNumber = "24".

  scsi0.pciSlotNumber = "160".

  usb.pciSlotNumber = "32".

  ethernet0.pciSlotNumber = "33".

  sound.pciSlotNumber = "34".

  vmci0.pciSlotNumber = '36 '.

  SATA0.pciSlotNumber = "37".

  scsi0.sasWWID = "50 05 05 62 bb c9 b7 b0.

  ethernet0.generatedAddress = "00: 0C: 29:E6:38:E3.

  ethernet0.generatedAddressOffset = '0 '.

  vmci0.ID = "1508260067".

  vmotion.checkpointFBSize = "134217728.

  cleanShutdown = 'TRUE '.

  softPowerOff = 'TRUE '.

  USB:1.speed = '2 '.

  USB:1.present = 'TRUE '.

  USB:1.DeviceType = "hub".

  USB:1.port = "1".

  USB:1.parent = "-1".

  SATA0:1.AutoDetect = "FALSE".

  tools.syncTime = "FALSE".

  unity.wasCapable = "FALSE".

  tools.remindInstall = "FALSE".

  toolsInstallManager.updateCounter = '1 '.

  checkpoint.vmState = «»

  Monitor.virtual_mmu = "automatic".

  Monitor.virtual_exec = "automatic".

  USB:0. Present = 'TRUE '.

  USB:0. DeviceType = 'hidden '.

  USB:0.port = "0".

  USB:0.parent = "-1".

  USB. Generic.AutoConnect = "FALSE".

  serial1. Present = 'TRUE '.

  serial1. FileName = "COM1".

  floppy0. Present = "FALSE".

  Hello

  I know what you want to say as I've seen sometimes as well. But especially on older hardware or if there are problems with regard to particular resources. For example I saw this on an ESX host (yes I know product different) where there was a problem with the storage not enough providing IOPS / s.

  I saw also this on older versions of Linux (IIRC 7) workstation where the host had an Atom based CPU, there I updated to more RAM and a more recent version of the workstation and the problem disappeared.

  Then I also saw it on the 4/5 merger when my host operating system was out of memory and I tried to start another operating system to prompt anyway.

  I do not consider a normal behavior for the slow start and does not respond, it is an indication that the hypervisor is seeking some resources, but does not receive them fast enough.

  The reasons can be many. Indeed things like antivirus could be biting you if she tries to analyze all files (including virtual disks) at their opening.

  FWIW, I also understand the support response as would be expected if your host is a bit thin on the resources (for example, trying to start a VM 1 GB on a host Win7 with only 3.5 GB of RAM) and if the virtual machine runs OK after the initial startup delay, it's mostly just an annoyance.

  --

  Wil

• Performance problem with the guest operating system

  Hello gurus - I have one of the most unusual questions, I ran into a few time.   Here it is:

  I have a guest w2008R2 OS - installed in a 5.1 version of VM 7 vSpherer - which has an Emulex LPe 12002-E 8 GB dual HBA port is assigned to the as 2 PCI (1 device per port) via DirectPath devices

  The guest operating system has an application that performs backup tests.   WWPN of the HBA is zoned in the fabric and declared in the interface of Compellent Storage Center and everything is good here. the application creates a replay of a volume, mount it as a drive, read all the blocks, then dismantles and moves then repeat the process with what ever additional volumes should be safeguarded.   It is so cool I have do this with a VM right and not a physical host?  (would be cool if I had work NPIV but that's another story, not with technology HBA vendor support...)

  So, what's the problem?   Well, the bed the mounted disk backup will work extremely slow as slow as 5MB\sec flow, then during any other activity takes place on the system the flow jumps up to 150MB\sec all of a sudden and will continue to run fast for a long time and finish jobs on time with each work taking a little more than an hour.  But when the slow going the same work (all jobs are the same, they are simply by reading all the blocks of a bunch of 200 GB volumes and wrote a set of NULL value, do not forget this is just test) takes up to 10 hours to complete.

  I think that what is the culprit?   POWER MANAGEMENT.

  I have just about each performance counter and the journal of events known to man and I don't see anything abnormal on the table, ESXi virtual machine, nothing.  But what I see in the newspapers is any kind of activity that could happen in a transparent manner to save energy.

  FACTS on this case:

  -Reservation of memory is defined (it must be for directpath otherwise, you can't power on the virtual machine)

  -Booking CPU - has not been defined before an hour ago, I gave her just a small reserve for this rule, so I do not know if this will help alleviate the slow flow, or have an effect on what I think is a question of power (unit linked) management

  -windows power management is set to high performance never-ever - but not until an hour there doesn't I changed advanced settings for USB Disabled------turned off.  PCI peripheral energy saving setting was already off.  Which is in contradiction with my theory.  But maybe, just maybe, something is broken somewhere, or could be a bug... blah blah blah

  -the HBA, Emulex, as it appears in Device Manager in the guest OS doesn't have a power management tab to disable the feature, I don't see that the adapter VMXNET3 had this tab, and I turn off the power save setting to be conservative, do not think that it was the culprit, but as there is no real data running through the NIC.  The data is simply to be read from the disk mounted, not copied on any wire Ethernet.  never the less, in the Emulex properties is a Details tab and a selection of power data, and performance data indicate you what power mode, the device is, as well as feeding supported systems.  D0: full power, but D3, which shows as supported by the device, is an energy saving mode.   I could not yet attend the setting at the time of slow activity, my good intention as soon as possible. He is currently shooting in D0, full power.

  This is so what I have to offer on this, I hope that its just...   If I'm missing something, or if others have experienced this massive loss of unknown flow without reason and have resolutions, please share.

  If there is a way for me to disable power on the Emulex HBA management inform you please, I don't mind if I stop to enter the firmware, if that was even possible.  But if possible I would disable it immediately before any new tests are executed.

  The root cause of this issue has never been identified by VMware support which for me is a question of ugly.  Reservation of CPU for the VM using directpath IO with HBA installed in it corrected the problem.  I'd be leary with direct path IO.

• CPU has been disabled by the guest operating system error

  Running VMPlayer 3.1.3 version 324285 build on Windows 7 Enterprise 64 bit with 8G of memory.

  When I try to install some VMs based on Linux of ISOs, in a few seconds, I get the error:

  "The CPU has been disabled by the guest operating system. You must turn off or reset the virtual machine at this point. »

  (See also the screenshot attached)

  This happens on other ISOs based on Linux/Windows. I googled the web & VMTN, but have not found relevant

  answer my question.

  Thanks in advance

  Alex

  Hello

  What operating system is tryining install you?

  Take a minute to watch in VMware Compatibility Guide: search guest conductor /and try to upgrade to a version 3.1.4 If your system does not support the direct execution of 64-bit.

  Concerning

• Guest operating system (FreeBSD 8.2) restarts randomly

  I'm under Fusion 4.1.1 on a MacBook Pro.  I'm running FreeBSD 8.2 (i386) in a virtual machine.  It looks good for a few hours and then the virtual machine will restart just randomly.  I was running on Fusion 3.x, but just updated in the hope that he could solve this problem.  But, that just after the installation again.  Any ideas?

  I allocated 2 carrots and 3 GB of RAM to the virtual machine.

  Model name: MacBook Pro
  Model identifier: MacBookPro8, 2
  Processor name: Intel Core i7
  CPU speed: 2 GHz
  Number of processors: 1
  Total number of Cores: 4
  (By heart) L2 cache: 256 KB
  L3 Cache: 6 MB
  Memory: 8 GB
  Boot ROM version: MBP81.0047.B24
  Version of the SCM (System): 1.69f3

  Hi DanDaley,

  Here is a possible culprit: FreeBSD seems to have problems with our virtual CD/DVD drive IDE... guest tent to manage an IDE answer twice, causing the kernel crash comments and the OS to restart guest.  Even with no disk in the drive, the guest operating system will probe the disc every few seconds, which is enough to trigger the panic from time to time.

  Try to remove the CD/DVD of the configuration of the VM player and see if that resolves the panic.  This other thread processes the same question and its resolution.

  See you soon,.

  --

  Darius

• Player VM and Oracle Ent. Linux as a guest operating system disorders

  My VM Player is version 3.0.0.

  The host is Windows XP SP3, disconnected from the outside world, a static address on VM 2 192.168.192.2 adapter firewall disabled.

  Guest operating system is Oracle Enterprise Linux 4 - it has a static address 192.168.192.72. Both machines have DNS server, and default gateway.

  The client is running Oracle 10 g, oracle emctl provides db console on port 1158 and listener SQL expects the requests on port 1521

  windows back can ping 192.168.192.72 - and linux can ping 192.168.192.2. Windows: back ftp can connect to linux server on the standard port 21 ftp and windows IE can see properly http://192.168.192.72/ -> default page for linux apache (on the standard port 80)

  Here is the problem: Windows I can't establish connection on one of the ports of this: 1158, 1521-> as a result, I can not connect to sqlplus or no other customers oracle to work. Oralce works very well within the Linux prompt: emctl dbconsole opens correctly, sqlplus connect very well.

  Pls help

  Your config is exactly what I've been running for a while.

  You have probably not open ports in the firewall linux.

  Here are the commands to add port 1158.

  iptables - I have RH-Firewall-1-INPUT - m state - state NEW-m tcp tcp - dport 1158-j ACCEPT Pei
  service iptables restart
  Service iptables status

• Free virtualization software takes supported Windows 7 as operating system host and Windows Server 2003 as a guest operating system?

  People,

  Hello. I need to install the Windows 7 host virtualization software, and then install Windows Server 2003 as a guest operating system.

  VMware Workstation supports Windows 7 as operating system host and Windows Server 2003 as a guest operating system, but it's not free download.

  People know that supports virtualization software free Windows 7 as operating system host and Windows Server 2003 as the operating system invited?

  Thanks in advance.

  As I said in your previous post, VMWare Player is a free download and does not support Win7 as host and Win2k3 as a guest.  VMWare Player is also included with VMWare Workstation, you can imply that most of the time something that supports VMWare Workstation as a guest operating system is also a guests supported for the reader.

  And unlike previous versions, player 3 includes the ability to create virtual machines base.  For many people, especially those who are starting just in virtualization, player is sufficient.

  VMWare Workstation, although not free, can be installed as a 30 day trial.  After the trial, you can not start your virtual machines in my computer, but because the player is included in the installation, you can still run your virtual machines in the drive without having to uninstall anything.  So just install Workstation.  After the trial expires, if you wish that the advanced features of the workstation, then buy it.  If not, just continue to use the drive.