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VMware Fusion 12 Now Available With macOS Big Sur Support and More

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Last month, VMware announced the next major version of its virtualization software for Mac, Fusion 12, and as of today, the update is now available.

vmware_fusion_12_pro_player.jpg

As we noted last month, Fusion 12 includes a number of updates and improvements, such as eGPU compatibility, support for container-based applications built with Kubernetes, DirectX 11 and OpenGL 4.1 support, improved security for the sandbox rendering engine, improved accessibility controls, and more.

Fusion 12 has also been optimized for macOS Big Sur, with both host and guest support for Apple's upcoming release. On systems running macOS Catalina, Fusion 12 will continue to run with kernel extensions as it has in the past, but on macOS Big Sur, Fusion will take advantage of Apple's APIs to run virtual machines and containers.

With the launch of Fusion 12, VMware is also restructuring its licensing to bring it in line with Workstation 16, Fusion's sister software for Windows and Linux. The basic level of Fusion is now known as Fusion 12 Player and is free for personal use for the first time. A commercial license is priced at $149, with a $79 upgrade license available. Discounted education pricing will also be available, although many of those users will qualify for free personal licensing.

Fusion 12 Pro, aimed at developers and IT professionals rather than typical consumer and business users, offers some additional features and a license to run on up to three machines. Notably, this is a cross-platform license that allows for any combination of three machines using Fusion 12 or Workstation 16 across Mac, Windows, and Linux. Fusion 12 Pro is priced at $199, or $99 as an upgrade.

In order to keep up with Apple's advancing technologies, Fusion 12 requires macOS Catalina or Big Sur. For users with systems still on macOS Mojave, a Fusion 12 license key will be valid to activate Fusion 11.5.6 on those machines.

Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with VMware. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

Article Link: VMware Fusion 12 Now Available With macOS Big Sur Support and More
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2020/09/15/vmware-fusion-12-available/
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Any mention anywhere of how this might work in a future-state Apple Silicon Mac? I very rarely use Windows apps but sometimes I have had the need (esp. for work).

I realise we're not there yet but I had thought perhaps a roadmap may have been formed.
 
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For users with systems still on macOS Mojave, a Fusion 12 license key will be valid to activate Fusion 11.5.6 on those machines.
Click to expand...

Actually, fun fact, VMWare also lets you straight up downgrade license keys if you need to use an earlier version of Fusion. It’s great. I did it this last November, turning a VMWare Fusion 11 key into a VMWare Fusion 8 key, which I use with OS X Mavericks.

Edit: ...but it doesn't look like you can do it with the new free license keys. Maybe the paid keys still allow it, but those are almost twice what they used to cost. This actually kind of sucks...
 
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alba_83 said:
Any mention anywhere of how this might work in a future-state Apple Silicon Mac? I very rarely use Windows apps but sometimes I have had the need (esp. for work).

I realise we're not there yet but I had thought perhaps a roadmap may have been formed.
Click to expand...
Roadmap: No Windows on Apple Silicon Macs.
May run ARM Linux if VMWare release an Apple Silicon version.
 
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If a software as big as Vmware fusion can deploy arm support this fast, the arm macs will have a bright future for sure.
 
Takes a bit of digging to download, but seems the page for registering for the personal license isn't live yet
 
Aston441 said:
can someone explain to me why the paid VMs are so much better than VBox?

I've been running VBox for years and it's fine. Why should I pay?
Click to expand...

My experience (admittedly from 3-4 years ago, but confirmed by a friend's recent tests) was that VBox was quite a lot slower than VMWare, especially for anything that makes use of the GPU. YMMV.
 
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rmcq said:
Roadmap: No Windows on Apple Silicon Macs.
May run ARM Linux if VMWare release an Apple Silicon version.
Click to expand...
Darth Tulhu said:
We can speculate all day, but if you NEED Windows on a Mac, I recommend y'all to wait this out until at least one AS Mac is released and people have TESTED the bejesus out of it.
Click to expand...

I don't know how many times we have to go over this. Apple Silicon Macs will NOT RUN WINDOWS as you know it. They will probably (no guarantees) be able to run the ARM version of windows, which is NOT COMPATIBLE with most Windows software aside from Office, in one form or another (likely virtualization), but this will NOT be like running x86 Windows in a VM today (and won't hold a candle to Bootcamp).

If running Windows in one form or another is a requirement for you, you need to buy an Intel Mac, a Windows PC, or a hackintosh. Period.
 
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Probably a basic question, but I have a subscription to parallels currently. Is the free fusion software good enough to stop renewing my paid parallels subscription?
 
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Aston441 said:
can someone explain to me why the paid VMs are so much better than VBox?

I've been running VBox for years and it's fine. Why should I pay?
Click to expand...
I find vbox incredibly slow and almost useless. Thats on a 16" MBP top spec.
Unless I have not set it up correctly.
 
Is this working for others on Big Sur Beta 11 (macOS 11.0 (20A5364e) ? I just updated from previous Big Sur beta and now broken.

I was running Fusion preview version - So I updated Fusion to 12 and it still doesn't work.

Could not connect 'Ethernet0' to virtual network '/dev/vmnet8'

I've tried uninstalling and reinstalling. Rebooting. uninstalling rebooting reinstalling.
 
Would VMWare provide a patch for older Fusion (I'm still on 8.5.10) to work under Big Sur? I didn't feel the need to upgrade Fusion over the past few years with MacOS upgrades and am a little bummed that I have to for Big Sur.
 
rmcq said:
Roadmap: No Windows on Apple Silicon Macs.
May run ARM Linux if VMWare release an Apple Silicon version.
Click to expand...

Indeed.
But for some, Linux would be enough. For them, the question whether or not VMWare will work on ARM for Linux VMs is still up in the air. Hopefully we will know sooner rather than later...
 
bkaus said:
Is this working for others on Big Sur Beta 11 (macOS 11.0 (20A5364e) ? I just updated from previous Big Sur beta and now broken.

I was running Fusion preview version - So I updated Fusion to 12 and it still doesn't work.

Could not connect 'Ethernet0' to virtual network '/dev/vmnet8'

I've tried uninstalling and reinstalling. Rebooting. uninstalling rebooting reinstalling.
Click to expand...

Hey, I'm seeing the same thing! No idea how to fix, hope somebody finds a way. The article on it isn't much help, though I didn't find the entries it mentions here.
 
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