VMware Workstation Pro 16: Why GitHub is Your Best Resource (Besides the Software Itself)
Prereqs: VMware Workstation Pro 16, Packer >=1.7, bash, git
Build: packer build packer.json
Import: In Workstation: File → Open → select generated .ova → Import
Provisioning: Provisioning runs automatically during Packer build; additional scripts located in /scripts.
VMware Workstation Player: Version 16 is free for personal, non-commercial use. While it lacks snapshots and multiple networks, it runs VMs perfectly.
VMUG Advantage (VMware User Group): For $200/year, you get access to all VMware products (including Workstation Pro, Fusion, and vSphere) for home lab use. This is the best deal for enthusiasts.
Student Licenses: VMware used to offer free licenses for students. Since the Broadcom acquisition, this has changed, but check your university’s Azure Dev Tools (formerly Imagine) portal.
Bridged: VM appears on same network as host; gets IP from LAN DHCP.
NAT: VM shares host IP; Workstation provides NAT and DHCP.
Host-only: Isolated network between host and VMs with no external access (good for testing).
Custom VMnets: Create VMnet interfaces (VMnet0, VMnet1, VMnet8 and additional) for complex topologies.