VMware has announced a new version of its virtualisation software for desktop Windows and Linux systems, including new features aimed at enterprise IT developers.

VMware Workstation 4.5, available now, lets developers build and test enterprise applications for Windows, Linux, or Novell NetWare in a virtual environment hosted on a workstation.

New features include support for Longhorn - the next version of Windows - as a guest operating system. The experimental support means that developers can install and run the Longhorn beta under VMware for development purposes.

Version 4.5 also adds the ability to boot virtual environments from a server using the Preboot Execution Environment (PXE) supported by most LAN adapters.

Virtual machines created with VMware Workstation can be deployed to VMware's enterprise-class GSX Server and the datacentre-class ESX Server platforms.

The software also features improved support for guests using the newer Linux 2.6 kernel.

"VMware Workstation is the most flexible and widely deployed virtualisation product on the market. Workstation 4.5 now offers powerful new features for both developers and enterprise IT departments," said Michael Mullany, vice-president of marketing at VMware.

The new version allows virtual machines to have up to 3.6GB of memory, up to a total of 4GB for all concurrently running virtual machines, VMware said. Virtual machine guests can now access USB devices such as Flash storage key fobs that are connected to the host system.

VMware Workstation 4.5 costs $189 (£105) from VMware's web site.