VMware Fusion 2 and Mac OS X Snow Leopard: Even Better
Many VMware Fusion users have been wondering how VMware Fusion 2.0.5 fares on Snow Leopard, and we’re proud to report that VMware Fusion 2.0.5 now offers experimental support for the Snow Leopard when running the default 32-bit kernel!
Of course, we kept up with the pre-release seeds of 10.6 and done a great deal of testing of VMware Fusion 2.0.5 and found that it worked well on the default Snow Leopard install (the 32-bit kernel which runs both 32-bit and 64-bit applications). However, there was always the minor chance that something could change before the final version of Snow Leopard.
Our initial testing of VMware Fusion 2.0.5 with the final release of Snow Leopard has gone very well, but we are still running our full suite of tests on the final Snow Leopard release just to be sure.
Just so you know, I’m writing this blog post in Windows XP virtual machine on an iMac running VMware Fusion 2.0.5 on Snow Leopard and it works great.
If you are using an older version of VMware Fusion, download the FREE upgrade to VMware Fusion 2.0.5 in order to run your virtual machines on Snow Leopard
UPDATED : So, what is the story with 64-bit Snow Leopard?
Apple is promoting the 64-bit transition in Snow Leopard now that all Apple applications included with Snow Leopard, like Calculator, to Finder, and Windows Server are ported to 64-bit. According to Apple, all included Apple applications are now 64-bit for higher performance, but the default kernel for every Mac except the Xserve is the 32-bit kernel. So, even though you are running the 32-bit kernel by default, the rest of Mac OS X Snow Leopard is running in 64-bit mode for better performance.
VMware Fusion 2.0.5 offers experimental support for the default install of Snow Leopard, which runs both 32-bit applications and the new faster 64-bit applications on the default 32-bit kernel.
In addition to the default Snow Leopard install, which is the 32-bit kernel with support for 32-bit and 64-bit applications, Snow Leopard now offers a 64-bit kernel option that is available by default for Snow Leopard Server on 2008 and 2009 Xserves. The 64-bit kernel can be enabled optionally on a number of 2008, 2009 Macs
However, VMware Fusion 2.0.5 is NOT compatible with the optional 64-bit kernel of Snow Leopard and Snow Leopard Server. For most users, this will not be a problem, as the 64-bit kernel of Snow Leopard only starts up by default only for Snow Leopard Server on 2008 and 2009 Xserves.
The transition to the 64-bit kernel of Snow Leopard is a major undertaking and something that we are taking seriously as we plan future products. If you are interested in beta testing future versions of VMware Fusion, click here to sign up.
Checking if Snow Leopard is running the 32-bit or 64-bit kernel
If you are not sure which version of Snow Leopard you are running, it’s really easy to check:
1) Select About this Mac from the Apple menu
2) Click on More Info to open System Profiler
3) Click on Software and check the “64-bit Kernel and Extensions” option. If you are running the 64-bit Kernel, it will say “Yes”, if you are running the 32-bit Kernel it will say “No”.
How to Switch from 64-bit to 32-bit Snow Leopard
If you found that your computer is running the 64-bit version of Snow Leopard and you need to run your virtual machines, it’s really easy to switch it to the 32-bit kernel. Simply restart your computer holding down the “3” and “2” keys on the keyboard
Enjoy VMware Fusion 2.0.5 on Snow Leopard
Apple has worked hard on this revolutionary software, and we know many of you have been waiting eagerly for Snow Leopard (I've personally been waiting for the new Easy Text Selection feature in Preview to make highlighting text in PDF’s much easier). We always want our customers to be able to use the newest software available, so we are pleased VMware Fusion 2.0.5 works well (though still experimental support for now) on Snow Leopard.
If you don’t have VMware Fusion yet, the VMware online store is having a limited time “10% Off” sale on VMware Fusion 2. Save 10% instantly when you buy VMware Fusion today – offer expires 8/31/09!
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Cool. But is VMWare working on a 64-bit clean version of Fusion? If so, when can we expect see it hit beta?
Posted by: George | August 27, 2009 at 07:30 PM
This is great! So VMware Fusion can now host both Snow Leopard Server and Snow Leopard Client OSes? Was the OS installation pretty straightforward?
Posted by: Robert Brennan | August 28, 2009 at 02:52 AM
Do you mean "VMware Fusion 2.0.5 _already_ offers experimental support for the 32-bit version of Snow Leopard"? In which case my existing installation will work fine. Or do you mean there's a _new_ 2.0.5 which offers experimental support?
Posted by: Charles Wise | August 28, 2009 at 05:15 AM
Forget about 64bit until you can get the 32bit vmware fusion working perfect on Snow Leopard.
Fix copy and paste, Fix the leaks and glitches in 10.6
Posted by: Issac Osis | August 28, 2009 at 07:27 AM
"The transition to 64-bit Snow Leopard is a major undertaking and something that we are taking seriously as we plan future products."
So, maybe, at some point in the future ....
Posted by: Fred | August 28, 2009 at 09:14 AM
This is not at all Even Better as the title states! This is bad news for me.
Posted by: Carlton Clifford | August 28, 2009 at 09:37 AM
"we are taking seriously as we plan future products"
This sounds like you're going to support 64bit Snow Leopard on the next major version of Fusion only.
I hope I'm wrong, though.
Posted by: Matteo Panella | August 28, 2009 at 10:19 AM
It would be helpful to know the anticipated timetable for full rather than just experimental support for 32-bit Snow Leopard.
As a software developer, I understand that if unexpected problems crop up during testing, that could push back the date for full support. But at a minimum it'd be helpful to know the date by which full regression testing should be completed, such that we'll either have full support, or a better idea of how long that's likely to take.
Posted by: David | August 28, 2009 at 10:25 AM
I keep hoping I'm misreading this. As someone that uses VMWare everyday to utilize my Windows work apps, are you saying that I will not be able to use Snow Leopard in 64 bit mode for the forseeable future and only in 32bit mode experimentally?
I'm confused, it's not like Apple snuck up on anyone with this release...
Posted by: Doug | August 28, 2009 at 01:27 PM
So what's "even better"? The fact that it /seems/ to work as advertised?
One of the biggest reasons to upgrade to 10.6 is not supported (64 bit)?
Posted by: Brett | August 28, 2009 at 01:31 PM
Before everyone starts having a hissy fit you need to get yourself educated on the difference between 64-bit applications and 64-bit kernels.
Running the 32-bit Snow Leopard kernel still fully supports 64-bit applications...as does the 32-bit Leopard kernel.
I highly doubt that any of you have any real need to run a 64-bit kernel.
Posted by: Jeff | August 28, 2009 at 01:55 PM
So, to really take advantage of Snow Leopard's advances and speed, I'll need to run in 64 bit, but to use Fusion I need to reboot into 32 bit. Might as well go back to using Boot Camp.
Posted by: Bryan | August 28, 2009 at 02:00 PM
Walt Mossberg of the WSJ says that you provided him with a yet to be released version of Fusion that worked perfectly with SL. Is he referring to 2.0.5 or a newer version?
Posted by: James | August 28, 2009 at 02:17 PM
I cannot install Fusion 2.0.5 in Snow Leopard. When I start the installer, it says:
VMware Fusion can't be installed on this computer.
A system reboot is required before installing VMware Fusion.
I reboot and I get the same message. I am running the 32 bit kernel.
Any ideas what can I do?
Posted by: Stelian Iancu | August 28, 2009 at 04:06 PM
What about the new BootCamp-Drivers, should I update them in my Virtual Machine?
Posted by: Wilken Hustedt | August 29, 2009 at 12:44 AM
According to Apple the 64-bit kernel can run 32-bit applications like VMWare Fusion if the kernel extensions are updated to 64-bit. So why is it such a huge undertaking if all you have to do is update the kexts? Also why have you waited so long to get this done? The betas have been available to developers for a very long time.
Posted by: EW | August 29, 2009 at 07:08 AM
Am I slow? So Fusion is a 64-bit program that can run 64-bit operating systems on 64-bit processors, but won't work *in* an operating system with a 64-bit kernel? Maybe I can use another emulator to boot into a dumbed-down version of Mac OS X to use Fusion.
Posted by: Andy | August 29, 2009 at 10:24 AM
I have a new Macbook and I installed Snow Leopard on it. Fusion runs like a pooch with it... it is unbearably slow.. painful. The only program I really use on it is Quicken 2009 - and it takes (literally) minutes to load up. I'm not sure who has been testing this on the Mac OS but aye - its painful.
Posted by: Paul SMITH | August 29, 2009 at 11:33 AM
Why is this so hard to understand for so many people, maybe because VM Ware's press release (blog entry) uses way to many words to camouflage what doesn't work.
Experimental is sort of VM Wares way of saying "beta", or not fully supported. Frankly it's a better term than "beta" since it seems damn stable.
- VM Ware 2.0.5 has experimental support for running on the default (32-bit kernel) Snow Leopard Client. In my experience this is as solid as it has always been.
- VM Ware 2.0.5 will not run under the optional 64-bit kernel (hold down 6&4 at startup) of Snow Leopard, nor on the default 64-bit kernel of Snow Leopard Server.
- VM Ware 2.0.5 will NOT HOST Leopard or Snow Leopard as a GUEST OS. This would violate Apple's Licensing terms.
VM Ware 2.0.5 will HOST Leopard SERVER and Snow Leopard SERVER. I think this is still labeled "experimental" however.
Once again... Snow Leopard's DEFAULT kernel is 32-bit. This is how Apple intends MOST people to run SL. You get all the intended benefits of Snow Leopard while still running the 32-bit kernel. This starts to change if you're running 8GB+ of RAM and kernel intensive apps). Running 64-bit apps makes a much bigger difference in performance than running a 64-bit kernel.
I recently did a test using Lightroom 2.4, I trust you can sort out the results:
OS X 10.5 32 bit kernel
LR32 : 4:20s
LR64 : 3:26s
OS X 10.6 32 bit kernel
LR32 : 4:10s
LR64 : 3:08s
OS X 10.6 64 bit kernel
LR32 : 4:00s
LR64 : 3:05s
Note, this was working with exactly the kind of large files that benefit from 64-bits, apps dealing with small files will have less benefit.
Posted by: Jon | August 29, 2009 at 03:15 PM
Dear VMware, please note that the default for a clean install of 10.6 is 64-bit. PLEASE don't try to pad things with PR twists. We know the truth. Now.. we are willing to wait.. and be with you... but just don't insult us like this.
now if only the build available on beta can get refreshed instead of working with this really horribly unstable one :(
Posted by: Michael | August 29, 2009 at 04:38 PM
Dear Michael, please note that the default Kernel for 10.6 on ALL Macs (except the XServe) is 32 bit whether you are on a clean install or upgrade from Leopard.
This doesn't mean you can't run 64 bit apps (indeed 64 bit apps worked in Leopard) and actually a 64 bit Kernel has practically no advantages on a system unless you have more than 8GB of RAM.
Refreshing builds can take time, as most software houses go through a quality assurance phase before release (even in Beta).
And no I don't work for VMware FYI.
Posted by: Chris Mills | August 30, 2009 at 12:26 AM
I've got an iMac with Fusion running Vista Ultimate and a MacBook Pro (unibody version) with Fusion running WinXPSP3. Both run just fine. In fact the Vista VM is a bit faster than it was. The MacBook XP VM had MS Office 2007 running without problems,
The real test will be on Monday when I try the MacBook in the office to see how the MacBook's XP VM handles the day to day stuff. I'll pass along any lessons learned.
No, I don't work for VMWare.
Posted by: John | August 30, 2009 at 04:58 AM
So can I just keep my 2.0.4 version of VM Ware Fusion and upgrade to Snow Leopard? Will 2.0.4 still work if I go to Snow Leopard?
Posted by: benny | August 30, 2009 at 08:23 AM
iTunes is not 64 bit still.
Posted by: Mark | August 30, 2009 at 01:38 PM
Michael you couldn't be more wrong. Only SL Server is 64-bit by default, everything else is 32-bit.
Fusion is not alone in not working with the new 64-bit kernel.
@ benny - Not sure if 2.0.4 runs on SL, but 2.0.5 is a free upgrade and was the first build to say in the release notes that it had experemintal support for 10.6
http://www.vmware.com/support/fusion2/doc/releasenotes_fusion_205.html
Posted by: Jon Brown | August 30, 2009 at 02:19 PM