Virtual machine help

liamcrane · 25 Jul 2012 at 20:19

Hi guys

I am looking to learn and understand server's as im pushing for a new role within my current job and this really would give me a lot of confidence in going for it if i could get a real good understanding. I just wanna play with things like active directory and get a feel for how it actually works.

So i thought if i could get my hands on server 2003 or later maybe i could try installing it on a virtual machine. The thing is i have read up on a few different ones but cant decide which one would be the best for me. VMware seem to have a lot of different options but im just looking for something free if i am honest.

Also i would like to maybe setup a domain and add another couple of virtual machines to join to it, im guessing i would need another 2 copies of windows for the extra 2 virtual machines? also how easy would this be to setup for a novice?

Thanks again guys would appreciate any help

theheyes · 25 Jul 2012 at 20:35

I would use VirtualBox (free)

You might consider a TechNet subscription as well, but that's not free.

liamcrane · 25 Jul 2012 at 20:40

Thanks for that mate, what do you actually get with a technet subscription though?

SoundsGood · 25 Jul 2012 at 20:47

Server 2008 R2 Standard 180 day trial key: 4GGC4-9947F-FWFP3-78P6F-J9HDR
Server 2008 R2 Standard ISO: http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=11093

I wouldn't bother with 2003 unless that's what your workplace uses

liamcrane · 25 Jul 2012 at 21:07

Thanks so much for that mate much appreciated!

liamcrane · 27 Jul 2012 at 18:07

Just tried to install server 2008 on vmware on my laptop only to find out my laptop cpu only supports 32 bit

I have a media machine that has a 64 bit cpu, when it comes to setting how much disk space you want to allow for the virtual machine server 2008 states 40gb is there a way to have this allocate to an external hard drive? Its just i dont have much space left on my media machine but i have 500gb of free space on an external HD.

Thanks again

KIA · 27 Jul 2012 at 18:18

You can change the location of the virtual disk when you're creating the virtual machine.

[Darkend]Viper · 27 Jul 2012 at 19:13

I've always found that you can store them whereever you want to. But over a usb connection it's quite slow.

I've always found that if the host os is 32bit it's never let me install a 64bit virtual machine on it.

liamcrane · 27 Jul 2012 at 19:18

KIA said:
You can change the location of the virtual disk when you're creating the virtual machine.

Cool thanks for that mate

[Darkend]Viper;22437411 said:
I've always found that you can store them whereever you want to. But over a usb connection it's quite slow.

I've always found that if the host os is 32bit it's never let me install a 64bit virtual machine on it.

Thats the issue i had, i didnt realize server 2008 R2 only comes in 64 bit so kinda screwed there trying to use my 32 bit laptop

Pho · 27 Jul 2012 at 19:33

Server 2008 has an x86 version you can use instead.

(Server 2008 is the one before Server 2008 R2 and is for the most part exactly the same)

http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=5023

SoundsGood · 27 Jul 2012 at 19:35

32bit 2008 Enterprise also lets you use up to 64GB of RAM

liamcrane · 27 Jul 2012 at 20:39

Thanks so much guys for your help and thanks Pho for the link to server 2008