VMware's New Virtualization of Snow Leopard and Leopard Allowed in Error

Over the weekend, we noted that the new VMware Fusion 4.1 release added the ability for users to virtualize Mac OS X Snow Leopard and Leopard client versions. Previous virtualization options had been limited to the client version of OS X Lion and server versions of Lion, Snow Leopard, and Leopard.

vmware licensing verification box
VMware now reports in a blog post, however, that the change was an error in a new license verification implementation and that the company is developing an update to properly disallow virtualization of Snow Leopard and Leopard client versions.

VMware Fusion 4.1 was released late last week and includes many great improvements. One change was the introduction of a new license verification step for users to verify they are in compliance with the OS licensing terms.

When the license verification step was added in VMware Fusion 4.1 the server edition check was omitted. We are preparing an update.

VMware has offered no timeframe for the release of the patched version of Fusion 4.1, and it is unclear whether Apple itself has been involved in pushing VMware to fix its error. Apple's official statement on the initial discovery, provided to Macworld, reiterated that client versions of Snow Leopard and Leopard are not included on the list of operating system versions for which virtualization is allowed, but did not directly address VMware's error in license verification in Fusion 4.1.

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Top Rated Comments

jayducharme Avatar
175 months ago
Unless they force me to update, I'll stick with their "mistake." :)
Score: 16 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Consultant Avatar
175 months ago
They should work out a licensing deal with Tim Cook.
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
acurafan Avatar
175 months ago
Unless they force me to update, I'll stick with their "mistake." :)
Lol, note to self: do not apply update. :D
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
slrandall Avatar
175 months ago
So ... buy it now?
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
SimonTheSoundMa Avatar
175 months ago
I know VMware, why not give us the option to what we want to run in a VM, and not for you to be kissing Apple's feet and blocking it.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
thertrain Avatar
175 months ago
Wow, all the more reason to save that .dmg file of 4.1 and never lose it. It's a once in a lifetime opportunity to virtualize client versions with no hacking. Thank god for back up drives :) :apple:
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)