Virtual machine image compatibility between VMware Server and VMware Player

I'm trying to minimize the number of different product versions used on my PC's both at work and at home. So far I have a mixture of:

• VMware Server 1.0.7
• VMware Server 2.0.2
• VMware Player 2.5.3
• VMware Player 3.0.0

and I would love to upgrade each product family to the latest version.

Since Virtual Machine Mobility Guide is marked as deprecated, can anyone point me to some fresh information about virtual machine compatibility between VMware Player and VMware Server, in order to still be able to move virtual machines back and forth between the mentioned products?

Update What I'm looking for is an updated document with virtual machines hardware versions, and the VMware products that are able to use that specific hardware version, so I can know - given the products that are using a specific virtual machine - what is the maximum hardware version that I can update the virtual machine to.

What is important for vmWare products is the hardware version of the virtual machine. You can obtain that version if you look in the compatibility options in settings on many vmWare products. Also see the link for a list of products and hardware versions they support.

vmWare hardware versions

You can always use VMware vCenter Converter to update your virtual machines compatibility and use them with the newer products.

I'd suggest two different things:

(1) Update all VMs to the most current version of Player / Workstation

(2) Abstract your interface to the VMs so you only need use one server (ESXi) ?

(3) Do not go with the present version of VMware server, as it is horrible.