Many people here use VMware Workstation (like me) and many people use Oracle's VirtualBox. I don't think you go wrong either way. I don't think too many are using Microsoft Hyper-V based product as it is more geared towards servers rather than individual users.
I use one RA VM regularly with all the software I need. But I have others that I use when I need older versions (usually for FactoryTalk View).
You do need to be careful about Windows licensing. Each VM is the equivalent to a physical machine and require its own Windows licenses. There is some debate as to whether each VM needs a license, or if each running VM needs a license. I'm not a lawyer, nor do I play one on TV.
Both VirtualBox and VMware have free offerings. But VMware is only free for non-commercial use. Which means we must buy it if we are using it for work-related tasks. They will see you a license for VMware Workstation Pro Player
VirtualBox is free too, sort of. The base package is free even for commercial use. They also have something called an "Extension Pack". This adds support for features like USB 2.0 and 3.0, Remote Desktop (RDP) support, and encryption. To me, that is a must have. But that requires a license for commercial use. And they only sell those licenses in a minimum quantity of 100. But, because they operate on a trust basis, they do not prevent you from using it without having the license. Using the software with this extension pack and without a license may get you in trouble with your corporate overlords. But to me, it seems like Oracle would rather not deal with selling single licenses, but they reserve the right to sue you at a later date. I have always been hesitant to use VirtualBox beyond just trying it out (non-commercial). If they sold individual licenses, I would give them a serious look. But in my company environment, I'm not going to risk it.
OG
