Multiple Server Operating Systems

[dave766664]

I have been assigned the task of researching products that allow you to keep multiple server operating systems on one machine. Therefore when a customer wants to see a product running on a particular server OS, you can just ghost an image of that server OS onto a new computer and take it to them, instead of installing all the software each time.

The main one that I've come across seems to be VMWARE. Any help would be appreciated, as would any advice about VMWARE.

Dave

P.S. My appologies if this is an inappropriate forum for this question.

 

[Petje]

VMWorkstation is ideal for demonstrations...
or building testing enviorments..

my self I am running 3 windows 2003 machines on top of my win xp machine.. this is for training and testing...

works great.. just make sure you have plenty of memory..
at least 1 gig or so..



Petje
A+, MCP, MCSE on NT4.0 and windows 2000 with messaging specialty and CCEA

 

[catorze]

VMWare is a great solution for not only this type of demonstrations, but for actually running different servers in your environment (think server consolidation - one powerful (hw) server runnning multiple virtual (sw) servers). Many companies are already using this scenario. Support for VMWare may be a little expensive for just demonstrating as you describe, so you might want to consider a means to deploy the Operating Systems (provides a native environment - so customers are not wow'ed by the virtual session). I've heard that VMWare runs Windows more efficiently than native installs (faster), so it might be a little misleading. IBM's Remote Deployment Manager can push cloned or unattended installation of OSes so you demo on native installs.

 

[dave766664]

Thank you for your comments.

I have been researching alternative products to VMWare and so far have come across Microsoft's Virtual Server and Virtual PC for Windows 5. It seems that they bought the rights off a company called Connectix. However, I'm not sure if these products are actually available yet and if they are, how do they compare to VMWare workstation and will they do the job I need them to do.

I have also discovered SWsoft's Virtuozzo, although I can't seem to find a clear definition of what this software actually does and once again if it will do the job I need it to do.

Any further comments would be gratefully appreciated.