Most of our readers have probably experimented with virtual environments at some point. Running a complete operating system in parallel is ideal for evaluating software or exploring riskier configurations, but whether Windows runs virtually or on bare metal, it can benefit from specific optimizations designed for virtualization. That brings us to the dedicated tool VMWare OS Optimization Tool.
I have always recommended using virtual environments to test software, and I still do. Personally, I try to get good results twice over (read: 'virtual' and 'native'), and I admit I have some leeway in case the computer decides to go up in flames (?), but the average user does not have that advantage. Now, both virtual environments and the operating systems they run on need to be optimized, or the overall experience will be quite poor. If an individual user can lose patience, imagine someone who has to manage multiple sessions at once. With that kind of person in mind, VMWare offers a small tool under its Flings program called VMWare OS Optimization Tool, whose goal is to apply various adjustments and optimizations across the entire operating system.
VMWare OS Optimization Tool is suggested for those running VMWare Horizon View, but that does not prevent you from running the optimizer on standard installations or virtualized with other tools (VirtualBox, for example). The list of adjustments is quite extensive, and it is recommended to read the description of each item, because VMWare's suggestions are not necessarily the best for every computer. In some cases it recommends changing Windows Update behavior, while in others it interferes with wireless network detection. The only thing you need to do to avoid a 'tweak' is to uncheck it, and once you have customized the entire list, you can save it as a kind of 'preset', or download others that VMWare offers online for free.
In short, VMWare OS Optimization Tool is very powerful software, but it demands respect. We should also mention that all resources obtained under the Flings program are considered experimental, so it would not be a bad idea to view the program as a kind of alpha. Compatible with Windows 7 or higher, and it requires the .NET Framework version 3.5 SP1.
