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Hardware required to setup VMWare test environment?
I would like to learn more about server virtualization (VMWare and Microsoft) and would like to setup a test environment @ home. Can I do this on a win7 64-bit box with a corei5 processor and 4GB ram or do I need something faster like a server?
thanks!!
- Bobby
thanks!!
- Bobby
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Thx for the suggestions. I am really not sure yet what specifically I will install on it. I am going to purchase a new PC for this - can you recommend one? Can it boot to Win7 then run all of the virtualization apps?
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The VMs do not always use 100% of the memory you allocate. If they are idle or you aren't running SQL sever, it gets returned to the host OS to use.
What else will you be running in Windows 7 while you are testing virtualization? If you plan on running VMs while gaming then the memory upgrade would be required. If you are only going to run one VM at a time, maybe 2 and low usage then depending on the OS you might squeeze them in. You'll just have to power them off before you do much else.
With respect to CPU compatibility, if you go in to your BIOS and look for Intel Virtualization and enable it you will be able to run 64-bit VMs. Otherwise you can still run 32-bit VMs even on older CPUs.
I use an Intel ATOM low power dual core 64bit CPU which does not support Intel Virtualization. I run ESXi 4 on it and 2 32-bit VMs comfortably.
Go for it, it's very cool technology.
What else will you be running in Windows 7 while you are testing virtualization? If you plan on running VMs while gaming then the memory upgrade would be required. If you are only going to run one VM at a time, maybe 2 and low usage then depending on the OS you might squeeze them in. You'll just have to power them off before you do much else.
With respect to CPU compatibility, if you go in to your BIOS and look for Intel Virtualization and enable it you will be able to run 64-bit VMs. Otherwise you can still run 32-bit VMs even on older CPUs.
I use an Intel ATOM low power dual core 64bit CPU which does not support Intel Virtualization. I run ESXi 4 on it and 2 32-bit VMs comfortably.
Go for it, it's very cool technology.
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thanks!!
Please be aware that you can also use VMware Server to install VMware ESX as a Virtual Machine if you are planning to test VMware ESX in a lab.
Hyper-V does not support this type, it needs to be installed directly on the Host itself.
2.Use the Intel Product Specification Page to check whether your Corei5 CPU has the necessary functions related to Virtualization (URL - http://ark.intel.com/)
3.I concur with coolsport00 with respect to RAM (8GB or more would be my bet)