Best way to run Windows and Linux along side each other?

[Hamish]

I'm getting a new server/workstation soon and want to run Linux as the main OS but also need some windows functionality, Wondering if I should be running Windows with a VM running Linux or vica versa?

Requirements:

Windows (server 2003)
iTunes (as server for an Apple TV + for Airtunes remote speakers/printing)
Outlook 2007
Several VMs running Windows XP (made on VMware workstation)
SQL Server 2005
Oracle
LCD screen software for USB LCD screen (with no known Linux support)

Linux (Ubuntu)
Compiz
LAMP server
Azureus (torrents)

Ideally I'd run Linux with a VM/WINE running the rest but will Linux run VMware workstation VMs? Will my LCD screen software under WINE or be able to use the USB in a VM? I've heard iTunes can be run under WINE and the rest could probably just be stuck in a VM. If You could run Compiz in a VM that would be ideal but AFAIK you can't??

I would preferably like it to be up 24/7 so a dual boot isn't really great.

Hamish

 

[PhilGQ]

Currently you can not run compiz from within a VM, but to be honest while it's neat, its hardly essential and doesn't provide any functionality.

Your Windows VMs should run under VMware under Linux OK. I have found however that VMware does not install from the repo with the 32bit version of feisty or gutsy (this may now have changed) I don't know about the 64bit version which I assume you will be using so you can have more than 4GB memory in your server.

Wine I don't know anything about except that when I tried it it was about as much use as a paper umbrella and half as intuitive. You may get iTunes and Outlook working but I doubt you will get the monitor utility going.

From what you have said your requirements are, your day too day apps are mostly Windows. So use Server 2003 as you base system and set up Ubuntu server as a LAMP in its own VM. You can find a Windows torrent thingy or use a Desktop Ubuntu VM.

If you try to do the other way you will just be asking for problems, but you would get Compiz which is very pretty, even if it does drain resources.

Having the LAMP server as a VM means you can role back to a working setup if disaster strikes and you can move it to a new server in the future with minimal disruption.

Just make sure you have plenty of RAM in your new Server.

 

[Grimbough]

Ubuntu shouldn't have any problems running Windows in VMWare Workstation, it certainly works on my machine. As PhilGQ says the install isn't quite a simple as using Synaptic, but it's not exactly complex. There's loads of guides that you can find on google, but basically you have to download a tar and then run a script that comes with it to compile everything on you machine.

However I'd agree with PhilGQ, it sounds like most of the apps you want are Windows based, so I'd have that as my primary OS. Compiz is nice, but I've had to turn it off since the ATi drivers are rubbish so it doesn't get a full thumbs up from me, and you can use Azureus under Windows too.