VMware server help

[kostasko]

Hi all,

I am after some advice on how I can use the VMware server to its maximum potential. I would like to install a training software to 10 pcs so to train people. I have to tell you that the software is quite demanding and the use of an Oracle database is necessary as well.

I thought that the VMware solution might be a good idea so to keep all pcs clean (by going back to an original snapshot) after every training session. However, I am a little bit confused.

I am also thinking of installing the VMware server to my physical server where I can create 10 partitions running windows XP professional. I will have to install the software+database to one of the virtual pcs partitions and then import this to all the rest of the virtual machines. The trainees can then log into those 10 virtual machines of the server. I am quite worried about the speed of the network and how this can respond to all the simultaneous requests from the trainees. Do you think that this can be an issue?

Another idea would be to install 10 VMware servers (since it is free) to each trainee's pc and make snapshots so that when the virtual pcs are rebooted they can all go back to an original configuration. I do not know.....I am a little bit confused.

My aim here is to always go back to an original project/database configuration. I may be wrong in the approach I am taking.

I would also like to make a "global solution". I mean to be able to distribute the virtual machine to all other pcs in my company. However, the rest of the pcs might not have the same hardware installed. Does that mean that the image will not be compatible? How can I get around this problem as well? How can I make a global image irrespective of the hardware being used?

Any suggestions?

Your help will be very much appreciated.

Thanks

 

[paintballer]

Another option that you have is to use VMware Workstation (ther Server version may also work) to create the desired guest OS files and then use "VMware Player" on the local workstations to run that disk file. If they all have dvd drives, and you make the OS disk small enough, you can even put it on DVD, thereby always having a gold image to start off with.

As to your last question, VMware IS the tool that will allow you to get away from the problem of incompatable hardware, as the guest OS's will see the hardware presented as a very basic set of identicle hardware. The VMware software handles the driver translation, thereby creating the "Vituralization Layer" that they use to actually run the guest OS's in. The different products all do it slightly differently, but in a nutshell you're running the guest OS's on the same virtual hardware reguardless of the physical hardware.

VMware Player is given away free, and can be found here.

http://www.vmware.com/download/player/

You will still need to build the disk files for the OS's in a different VMware product, unless one of the Virtual Appliances can fit your needs. Something like the browser appliance.

http://www.vmware.com/vmtn/appliances/directory/browserapp.html

Of course, there are hundreds of other appliances on their website that may do the trick for you, however most of them are based on Linux. They have a nice search page for them here:

http://www.vmware.com/vmtn/appliances/directory/cat/48/

I hope that helps your efforts,
Paintballer

 

[Blithespirit]

The simplest way to accomplish your task is to use VMWare workstation in undo mode.
this will give you the option of having a disk that once powercycled will keep the clean image you started with and ignore anything else you have done.
VMWare server will be too intensive for your requirements and you will need too much on the hardware requirements.
VMware server does not really like XP either, it was designed for Server OS and I found it quite a unstable and unpredictable OS(XP) on this software.

Hope this helps