Re: Virtualization

Make sure you've installed VMWare tools in the guest OS, that helps
responsiveness a lot under VMWare.

Xen is kind of cool, but the included viewer is almost unusable if you
need the mouse.  I'd recommend using RDP for interaction with windows
guests and ssh/nxserver for interaction with linux guests.  And yes,
it requires a Linux host, and if you want to run Windows as a guest
you'll need a chip that supports the VT or Pacifica extensions.

VirtualBox is fairly similar to VMWare, but is only free for "personal
and evaluation use", although there is an Open Source Edition.

We have several virtual servers running under both Xen and VMWare
Server and both work fine.  I haven't tried the latest VMWare Server 2
beta yet, but it looks promising.  For what you are planning on using
it for, I'd say stick w/ VMWare Server, and make sure to install
VMWare tools whenever possible.



On Feb 12, 2008 11:21 AM, Aaron <[email protected]> wrote:
> I have played a bit with VMWare, mostly the free server.
> It seems to do what I need, but I do prefer OSS over Free whenever possible.
>
> My main complaint is that it is unresponsive to the screen.
> Mouse movements, window placement, are all clumsy.
> I guess the commercial workstation product is better in this respect,
> but still not like running directly on the hardware.
>
> I have also not yet gone all the way to configure a proper virtual
> network, and share disks as I would want on a production configuration.
> I am wanting the guest OS to share files with the host.
>
> Xen seems pretty popular, but it seems to demand a LINUX host.
> It also wants a custom kernel for max performance.
> I'm happy to make custom kernels/patches for LINUX host and guest,
> but I fear that it, too, will be too clumsy to use interactively with
> a windows guest.
>
> VirtualBox seems to run under both Windows and LINUX hosts (i think).
> At least it will work with a Windows host.   I'm seeing less press on
> this one.
>
> Does anybody on this list have experience with more than one of these,
> and care to compare?
>
> My main use is to make applications designed to run on several boxes,
> windows front-end, LINUX back-end, run on a single box.
> On a more personal side, I'd be interested in seeing if I can throw
> out my mandatory windows development/testing box for a VM.
> I do have interest in both Windows and LINUX host OS's.
> Windows host for deliveries.
> LINUX host for personal and in-house use.
>
>               aaron
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> [email protected]
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>



-- 
Matthew Bowie
Programmer/IT Consultant
[email protected]
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