Virtual working from the start (or not)

[happyhacker]

If I configure a second server or I'm thinking of running Windows 7 for a User in our SBS server I think I need VM-Ware installed first (or maybe SBS comes with virtual mode). Should I start from the word go (before I install the server) or can I go virtual later?

Thanks for your time.

 

[ShackDaddy]

It's not totally clear what you're trying to do, but I assume you are wanting to run a virtualized copy of Windows 7. If you are going to use VMWare instead of HyperV, you have two options: you can either install a base-level virtualization platform (HyperV or VMWare ESX) that basically IS an OS and run SBS and Windows 7 both as guests, or you can install SBS 2008 as the host and then install VMWare on top of that and run Windows 7 as a guest.

So you can either start virtual and virtualize SBS, or you can add virtual later and only virtualize the Windows 7.

Dave Shackelford MVP
ThirdTier.net
TrainSignal.com

 

[happyhacker]

Thanks ShackDaddy, I will go for the first option to save me time and learning. Does this mean VMWare is running as an application of SBS or is SBS moved to a different mode of working?

Thanks for your time.

 

[ShackDaddy]

The first option would mean that VMWare is running almost as a base OS, and SBS is installed on top of that, almost like an application. The "host" OS would be VMWare ESX. The "guest" would be SBS. You'd also install Windows 7 as a guest.

The easiest thing would actually be to just install SBS 2008 normally and then load virtualization software later and virtualize Windows 7. Then you'd only be having to try to figure out how to virtualize Windows 7, and you'd already have an operating system (SBS 2008) to build on. If you've never virtualized, you may not want to start by using VMWare as the host foundation.

Just because it's easiest, doesn't mean it's awesomest, since once you get familiar with virtualization, you will have wished that you'd virtualized both SBS and Windows7.

Dave Shackelford MVP
ThirdTier.net
TrainSignal.com

 

[happyhacker]

Yes, I see what you say. But I think that having to deal with getting my USB backups working and other issues (I thought I read somewhere SBS running as a guest would loose sight of some of it's drivers or does that only apply to the MS one) may give me some grief. I can see me doubling the time to online for SBS.

I read somewhere the Premium version comes with a virtual OS so it has an automatic install to include both.

Thanks for your time.

 

[ShackDaddy]

Premium simply comes with an additional license for Windows 2008 Standard. That's all. No automatic install for virtualization.

You'd have to set up HyperV in the same way that I mentioned setting up ESX. The process is almost identical, just swap out the vendor.

I've gotten USB backups working with a virtualized version of SBS 2008 before. It wasn't that difficult. But if you are virtualizing, you probably want to use ShadowProtect to protect your virtual machines.

Dave Shackelford MVP
ThirdTier.net
TrainSignal.com