We use three mechanisms to provide bug fixes:
(1) Maintenance Releases or Updates
A maintenance release is provided on an as needed basis, for example when a bug or a set of bugs are affecting a number of customers severely and one cannot wait for the next product update. Maintenance releases go through full quality assurance (QA) testing, and are scheduled on an as needed basis. A maintenance release is identified by a change in the "z" position of the product version, e.g., VMware GSX Server 1.0.3 for Linux is a maintenance release that supersedes VMware GSX Server 1.0.2 for Linux.
(2) Minor Releases or Updates
Minor Releases are released regularly to provide fixes for bugs identified in current releases, and may include some minor enhancements. These minor releases go through full QA testing. Such minor releases are cumulative, so you only need to install the latest minor release to benefit from all the available bug fixes. They are usually limited to high severity bug fixes. The number in the "y" position changes in the versioning of a minor release e.g., VMware Workstation 3.1 is a minor release for VMware Workstation 3.0, and contains a number of bug fixes and support for Japanese localization and some other features. The licensing scheme typically remains the same for minor releases, e.g., your license key for 3.0 works with 3.1.
(3) Major Releases or Upgrades
A major release will normally include all the bug fixes provided by releases for the previous version. In addition, it will contain fixes for critical and serious bugs discovered since the last release, and as many fixes for non-critical bugs as is feasible within our development schedules. As appropriate, bugs identified and not fixed in the release will be documented in the Release Notes. Major Releases also provide functional enhancements. Our Product Managers are alerted to all product enhancement requests, and are responsible for setting the priorities by which requested new features are implemented (also subject to technical feasibility). The version for a major releases is identified by a change in the "x" position to the product version number, e.g., VMware Workstation 4.0 will be a new major release from VMware Workstation 3.x. Your license key for version 3.x will not work with version 4.0. Customers on full Support and Subscription are entitled to major releases as a feature of their support service. VMware Infrastructure customers, with licenses supported under Limited Support and Subscription variants of Platinum and Gold Support, must purchase major releases separately.
We do encourage you to install our major releases as soon as it is feasible.
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