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kamleshmistry

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Should I buy a real server

I am learning Windows 2003;  Should I buy a real server or simply install Windows 2003 Server an a regular high-end computer?

What advantage is there to buying a "True Server" ?

Can't any high-end computer serve as a Server?

I am thinking to go 64 bit AMD processor.

http://www.dell.com/content/products/features.aspx/dimen_c521?c=us&cs=04&l=en&s=bsd
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Lee W, MVP
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The only advantage to buying a true server is when you need a true server to handle the load.
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kamleshmistry

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What if my long term goal was to create a small "True Network" with several servers (domain controller, child domain, active dir)  and several computers, just for sake of education.

I will be able to do all of these things with regular computers serving as servers?

Do I need a special nic card to create a regular computer into a server?

Even regular servers are not that expensive (800, dell), but top of the line reguar computers, I can get for half that price (350).

Thanks,
Kam
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Rob,

This is very interesting.  Thanks for sharing this.

Is this like a "Simulator" type of gui-educational training kit?

Have you used it, do you like it?

Is it totally free?

Thanks,
Kam
I've seen people setup entire virtual networks - running Exchange, SMS, AD, etc, ALL in a virtual machine.  You just need enough RAM.

One advantage to the virtual networks (using Virtual PC or VMWare) - you can backup the installations to a DVD in about 10 minutes and restore them whenever you need to.  Or you can use "differencing" disks so that they can be restored virtually instantly.  Play around, screw it, be fixed in 2 minutes or less.

There's no special NIC, no special CPU, no special anything to run Windows Server.  In a PRODUCTION environment, then you want special hardware to make sure the system doesn't fail and that it performs as fast as possible for all your users.  But in a test/lab environment, it's truly a waste of money using new machines (when it's just yourself doing the studying).  MAYBE you have one or two boxes for experimenting with Deployment Services and/or RIS, but beyond that, there's almost nothing you can't do virtually (with enough RAM).

So I need VMWare, and maybe one top of the line new computer.
Is that free?   Is it straightfoward to configure?  Are there any type of hardware restrictions that can run VM?

I'm getting very good answers here for exploring different avenues.
Thanks a bunch!



VMWare is considered by many to be the better product.  It's pretty straight forward and you can download the server version for free, I believe with Registration, at www.vmware.com

The other free alternative is www.microsoft.com/virtualpc

Virtual PC 2007 is supposed to start taking advantage of enhancements of CPUs to improve Virtual Machine (VM) performance.  I would expect VMWare will be doing the same soon as well.

You should also consider a subscription to Technet Plus - it includes licenses with no time limits for testing/evaluating/learning Microsoft products, including all servers, exchange, SMS, SQL, Office, Project, Visio, and MANY others.

Do you need one new PC?  Maybe - really depends what you have now.  Depending on how many concurrent VMs you want to run, and how much RAM you want to allot them (I would suggest 400-600 MB each), you can run about 5-10 on one system... You probably should look into a Dual Core or multi-CPU (or combination) box if you're running that many VMs.  Note: the VMs are not multiprocessor aware, but the VM software I BELIEVE is.
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Just another though mate.  If you go the Virtual Route grab a free copy of Virtual Server from MS from here

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserversystem/virtualserver/software/default.mspx

Rob
Leew,

Is there any reason you see why I can't create these VM's on a single top-of-the-line laptop.  I don't think so, but I wanted to double check with your expertise.

Thanks,
Kam

It just comes accross odd (installing a server on a laptop...), so I thought I had to double check....
Before I started using virtual machines, I used to multiboot every major Windows Operating System on my laptop.  As well as Linux and BeOS.  The biggest problem with that is that laptops, even top of the line laptops, have mediocre hard drive performance (7200 RPM).  A desktop you can get 10,000 RPM or 15,000 RPM SCSI and can setup RAID 10 for improved performance.  And of the major performance factors, disk performance is the slowest.  But, that said, there's no reason a laptop won't work.  

The idea behind using VMs is that the VM environment is identical (hardware wise) - you can move VMs to completely different systems and never know they were moved.
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