VMWare question 1

[bustamove]

Hi,

we have 5 web applications, they need their own server but don't need much horsepower to run (512MB RAM /4GB disk). I am thinking to squeeze them onto 2x 2GB RAM servers using VMWare, so my questions are:

1. which kind of VMWare should we go for? workstation/GSX/ESX
2. is it possible to backup the virtual disk (as large file) w/ changes for disaster recovery, if so, can we automate it daily when the guest OS is running?

many thanks

 

[Chacalinc]

VMWare question

this is the VMWare forum, doesn't it?

1. which kind of VMWare should we go for? workstation/GSX/ESX

Workstation is for personal productivity, so it is out of a solution. GSX depend of a Base OS, but is cheaper than ESX. ESX is for production, but it can be expensive. If you don't need too much horsepower, then I think GSX is the right solution for you. (obviously, ESX is the best one, but GSX will fit perfectly).

2. is it possible to backup the virtual disk (as large file) w/ changes for disaster recovery, if so, can we automate it daily when the guest OS is running?

yes, you can. RTFM about snapshots. BTW, if they are web applications, do they change when they are online? you could configure the virtual disks as "no persistent", so when you power off the VM, all writes to virtual disks are not written and the virtual disk remains as original.

Cheers.



Chacal, Inc.