VMs - server + workstations

TriedandTested

TriedandTested

TriedandTested

Soldato
Joined
11 Jul 2004
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16,147
Location
Neptune
I would like to be able to test a server/workstation setup using Win2003 and two XP machines. Rather than having the physical machines all strewn across my office, i'm thinking about trying VMs. Can anyone suggest a good place to start (guide, software)?

Thank you
 
I use VMWare (both workstation and ESX) and I would recommend it as a good place to start. You can get a trial of it by going HERE and signing up. I can't think of a guide that I've seen as its very intuative to use and mostly wizard driven. You basically create a VM in 2 stages:

1) You create a VM config inside VMWare workstation, where you decide how much memory, disk space a machine is going to have.

2) You power on the VM and then build it like you would a normal desktop, using the CD in your drive or an ISO you have on your machine (ISO is quicker).


When you install workstation it will automatically create a virtual network adapter and bridge it to your physical one so all your images will be viewable on your network and be able to get DHCP leases. But if you don't want this, you can edit the config of the VM image to use a separate network which only the VMs can see.

One piece of advice is to not make the disks too big for your VM's (unless you have loads of free space). You can always add extra disks to your VM's alter if needed and a standard XP or 2003 install will take up under 5GB.
 
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virtualbox and virtualpc are free alternatives

vpc is made by ms
vbox is the fastest of all of them
 
Just as a side note... once you've built your VM's as you like them using workstation, you can use VMWare Player to just open the images. This is the free tool they give away.
 
a little tip..... save your setup cd/dvds as iso images. they install so much faster in a virtual machine as opposed to using the physical media. :)
 
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