Re: [NF] Experience with free version of VMware?
I was introduced to it by a client and found it to be really good, especially for a free product. I did actually go ahead with the Workstation version because of the multiple snapshot ability and for making linked clone images that was not available in the free server product. In the end, I didn't really make usage of the multiple snapshot capability that much, but I have made large use of the linked clone ability. With it, I made a fresh WinXP image (nothing else loaded), and from that, I can generate new "copies" of the winxp image for different usages, within in seconds. If a friend comes over and wants a computer to access, I simply create for them a new virtual pc from my parent image as a clone. This can then become their own pc for good. The great part is, the disk image size only goes up from what he does. So if the parent image is 2GB ( i think that's the size of a minimal XP install), the linked clone does not copy the 2GB data, but reads from it. Thus, if he installs say an 800K application, his virtual pc image is 800K, not 2GB+800K. This allows you to generate an insane # of linked clones with almost no loss of disk space, other than what is 'added to' that virtual pc's harddrive. The parent image is never modified by the linked clone, so it remains stable. I have not tried to see what happens if I add applications to the parent, after the fact, to see if the linked clones 'inhereit' them also. I've tested a variety of different linux builds, as well as Win98, Win XP, Win Media Center, and haven't run into many problems. I think it's a terrific way to test and even develop on linux, without needing to have a dedicated new box to do it. I would have otherwise not had an opportunity to get my hands dirty with linux if not for the vmware products. I will say that having a dual core or at least a cpu with hyperthreading is a big plus for performance when running the emulated machine, as well as having lots of RAM, otherwise, the real pc's OS becomes sluggish. There is a slight performance hit running the virtual os, ie, while you are in it, but you get used to it pretty quick, and can almost forget your not directly on a real pc. My biggest complaint is that none of virtual products I've had access to work with DirectX based applications so you can't test out 'fancy screen savers' for viruses, for example. or other multimedia applications that often screw up pc's and would be ideal to run in a safe virtual pc environment. I can't think of one good reason not to use the vmware server, and once you get comfortable, you'll be able to see if you want to spend the $ to go with workstation. -Steve At 10:12 PM 12/29/2006, you wrote: >Anyone have any experience with the free version of VMware Server? > >Background: >http://www.vmware.com/products/server_comp.html >http://www.vmware.com/products/server/overview.html >http://www.vmware.com/products/server/faqs.html > >I'm curious how you're using this, any gotchas or warnings, and why you >decided to or not to purchase the Workstation Edition of VMware. > >Thanks, > >Malcolm > > [excessive quoting removed by server] ___ Post Messages to: ProFox@leafe.com Subscription Maintenance: http://leafe.com/mailman/listinfo/profox OT-free version of this list: http://leafe.com/mailman/listinfo/profoxtech ** All postings, unless explicitly stated otherwise, are the opinions of the author, and do not constitute legal or medical advice. This statement is added to the messages for those lawyers who are too stupid to see the obvious.
RE: [NF] Experience with free version of VMware?
Probably the biggest difference between VMWare Server and Workstation is that you can have Server automatically startup virtual sessions when your host machine boots up. There are some other little differences between WS and Server, but for most people not anything to worry about. BTW you don't need two machines to run server. Regards Rodney > -Original Message- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > On Behalf Of Whil Hentzen (Pro*) > Sent: Saturday, December 30, 2006 12:09 AM > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Subject: Re: [NF] Experience with free version of VMware? > > Malcolm Greene wrote: > > Anyone have any experience with the free version of VMware Server? > > > > Background: > > http://www.vmware.com/products/server_comp.html > > http://www.vmware.com/products/server/overview.html > > http://www.vmware.com/products/server/faqs.html > > > > I'm curious how you're using this, any gotchas or warnings, and why you > > decided to or not to purchase the Workstation Edition of VMware. > > I spent part of a day working with the free workstation because from the > docs, it seemed you were required to have two machines to run vmware > server. But then reading and networking have never been my forte. > > Ran the ws version on a 1 GB Thinkpad and it was a tad sluggish. > > I'd be interested in hearing other folks are doing. It wasn't > immediately apparent how to get the vmware client (XP running inside > vmware) to talk to the hardware, such as a printer or a USB Thumbdrive. > But like I said > > Whil > > [excessive quoting removed by server] ___ Post Messages to: ProFox@leafe.com Subscription Maintenance: http://leafe.com/mailman/listinfo/profox OT-free version of this list: http://leafe.com/mailman/listinfo/profoxtech ** All postings, unless explicitly stated otherwise, are the opinions of the author, and do not constitute legal or medical advice. This statement is added to the messages for those lawyers who are too stupid to see the obvious.
RE: [NF] Experience with free version of VMware?
We are using the free version of vmware for development and test environments. It is working quite well. We are saving a lot of money, not having to buy servers. As to why we are not using the version you have to pay for, well, you have to pay for it. From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] on behalf of Malcolm Greene Sent: Fri 12/29/2006 10:12 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [NF] Experience with free version of VMware? Anyone have any experience with the free version of VMware Server? Background: http://www.vmware.com/products/server_comp.html http://www.vmware.com/products/server/overview.html http://www.vmware.com/products/server/faqs.html I'm curious how you're using this, any gotchas or warnings, and why you decided to or not to purchase the Workstation Edition of VMware. Thanks, Malcolm [excessive quoting removed by server] ___ Post Messages to: ProFox@leafe.com Subscription Maintenance: http://leafe.com/mailman/listinfo/profox OT-free version of this list: http://leafe.com/mailman/listinfo/profoxtech ** All postings, unless explicitly stated otherwise, are the opinions of the author, and do not constitute legal or medical advice. This statement is added to the messages for those lawyers who are too stupid to see the obvious.
Re: [NF] Experience with free version of VMware?
One other thing I forgot to mention. Once I had Windows XP Pro running, I received a message that I had to contact Microsoft to verify my registration number. When I called Microsoft, I told them I had installed my Window XP Pro in a VMware Virtual Machine hosted in FC4. The Microsoft representative was nice and gave my a new license number to register my Window XP Pro OS. Microsoft tracks the number of times a CD has been installed, and it is my understanding that every third install requires contact with Microsoft. Regards, LelandJ Whil Hentzen (Pro*) wrote: >Malcolm Greene wrote: > > >>Anyone have any experience with the free version of VMware Server? >> >>Background: >>http://www.vmware.com/products/server_comp.html >>http://www.vmware.com/products/server/overview.html >>http://www.vmware.com/products/server/faqs.html >> >>I'm curious how you're using this, any gotchas or warnings, and why you >>decided to or not to purchase the Workstation Edition of VMware. >> >> > >I spent part of a day working with the free workstation because from the >docs, it seemed you were required to have two machines to run vmware >server. But then reading and networking have never been my forte. > >Ran the ws version on a 1 GB Thinkpad and it was a tad sluggish. > >I'd be interested in hearing other folks are doing. It wasn't >immediately apparent how to get the vmware client (XP running inside >vmware) to talk to the hardware, such as a printer or a USB Thumbdrive. >But like I said > >Whil > > [excessive quoting removed by server] ___ Post Messages to: ProFox@leafe.com Subscription Maintenance: http://leafe.com/mailman/listinfo/profox OT-free version of this list: http://leafe.com/mailman/listinfo/profoxtech ** All postings, unless explicitly stated otherwise, are the opinions of the author, and do not constitute legal or medical advice. This statement is added to the messages for those lawyers who are too stupid to see the obvious.
Re: [NF] Experience with free version of VMware?
Whil Hentzen (Pro*) wrote: >Malcolm Greene wrote: > > >>Anyone have any experience with the free version of VMware Server? >> >>Background: >>http://www.vmware.com/products/server_comp.html >>http://www.vmware.com/products/server/overview.html >>http://www.vmware.com/products/server/faqs.html >> >>I'm curious how you're using this, any gotchas or warnings, and why you >>decided to or not to purchase the Workstation Edition of VMware. >> >> > >I spent part of a day working with the free workstation because from the >docs, it seemed you were required to have two machines to run vmware >server. But then reading and networking have never been my forte. > >Ran the ws version on a 1 GB Thinkpad and it was a tad sluggish. > >I'd be interested in hearing other folks are doing. It wasn't >immediately apparent how to get the vmware client (XP running inside >vmware) to talk to the hardware, such as a printer or a USB Thumbdrive. >But like I said > > It's really very easy. I'm running VMware hosted in FC4. Once the vmware rpm is installed, I just type vmware in a command window to run it. The first time I typed vmware in the command window, VMware told me to run vmware-config.pl. I ran vmware-config.pl, accepting all the defaults, and once it finished, I received a success and enjoy message. Next time I typed vmware in the command window it came up. I click on "Install a New Virtual Machine", and filled out a simple dialog about how big of a folder I wanted for my Virtual Machine. I slected a 12 gig folder for Windows XP Pro. After creating the folder, I had to reboot the computer, and when it came up, I was instructed to insert my windows XP Pro CD, and from there it was just like installing windows XP Pro on a fresh computer, including the Internet searches for most current drivers and entering my registration number. I didn't need to do anything from VMware to insure window XP Pro found all the hardware on the computer. Next time I started VMware it came up with an option to select windows XP Pro to start it in a Virtual Machine. Once Window XP Pro was running, I clicked on an option to install VMware tools ,which is used with certain devices, like the mouse. After installing the VMware tools form the VMware menu option, the mouse was a lot faster, and I have been very happy with the system. The virtual machine is easy to back up. All I have to do is back up the Window XP Pro VM folder, and its done. The VM folders can be moved around, and I can browse to it from VMware to open it up, after the VM has been moved, or to open a backup VM folder. I can cut and paste between FC4 and the VMware Virtual Machine. Regards, LelandJ >Whil > > [excessive quoting removed by server] ___ Post Messages to: ProFox@leafe.com Subscription Maintenance: http://leafe.com/mailman/listinfo/profox OT-free version of this list: http://leafe.com/mailman/listinfo/profoxtech ** All postings, unless explicitly stated otherwise, are the opinions of the author, and do not constitute legal or medical advice. This statement is added to the messages for those lawyers who are too stupid to see the obvious.
Re: [NF] Experience with free version of VMware?
On 12/29/06, Malcolm Greene <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > I'm curious how you're using this, any gotchas or warnings, On a previous laptop, ThinkPad A31p, Pentium-M-2GHz, 2Gb RAM, running Ubuntu, I installed and configured the VMServer and WinXPPro to evaluate its usefulness for the occasional need for Windows: IE6 web site testing, QuickBooksPro, xCase. It worked quite well. I put it aside when the laptop "Lucky" was retired due to a bad LCD. (Lucky now has a happy second life as a MythTV front end in the entertainment center.) I plan to set it up again on my current workstation when time allows. Gotchas and warnings? Few. Read the Internet. The Answers Are Out There. http://article.gmane.org/gmane.org.user-groups.linux.gnhlug/7605 > and why you > decided to or not to purchase the Workstation Edition of VMware. No need, as far as I can tell. Workstation may have some nice features for enterprises, but few I need. -- Ted Roche Ted Roche & Associates, LLC http://www.tedroche.com ___ Post Messages to: ProFox@leafe.com Subscription Maintenance: http://leafe.com/mailman/listinfo/profox OT-free version of this list: http://leafe.com/mailman/listinfo/profoxtech ** All postings, unless explicitly stated otherwise, are the opinions of the author, and do not constitute legal or medical advice. This statement is added to the messages for those lawyers who are too stupid to see the obvious.
Re: [NF] Experience with free version of VMware?
Malcolm Greene wrote: > Anyone have any experience with the free version of VMware Server? > > Background: > http://www.vmware.com/products/server_comp.html > http://www.vmware.com/products/server/overview.html > http://www.vmware.com/products/server/faqs.html > > I'm curious how you're using this, any gotchas or warnings, and why you > decided to or not to purchase the Workstation Edition of VMware. I spent part of a day working with the free workstation because from the docs, it seemed you were required to have two machines to run vmware server. But then reading and networking have never been my forte. Ran the ws version on a 1 GB Thinkpad and it was a tad sluggish. I'd be interested in hearing other folks are doing. It wasn't immediately apparent how to get the vmware client (XP running inside vmware) to talk to the hardware, such as a printer or a USB Thumbdrive. But like I said Whil ___ Post Messages to: ProFox@leafe.com Subscription Maintenance: http://leafe.com/mailman/listinfo/profox OT-free version of this list: http://leafe.com/mailman/listinfo/profoxtech ** All postings, unless explicitly stated otherwise, are the opinions of the author, and do not constitute legal or medical advice. This statement is added to the messages for those lawyers who are too stupid to see the obvious.
Re: [NF] Experience with free version of VMware?
Malcolm Greene wrote: > Anyone have any experience with the free version of VMware Server? > > Background: > http://www.vmware.com/products/server_comp.html > http://www.vmware.com/products/server/overview.html > http://www.vmware.com/products/server/faqs.html > > I'm curious how you're using this, any gotchas or warnings, and why you > decided to or not to purchase the Workstation Edition of VMware. > I have been using vmware server on an experimental basis, so far. As far as I can tell, it works excellent. There may be some functionality in the Workstation edition needed for enterprise applications and for production environments, but I think it works great. I have installed Vista RC1, Windows XP Home, Radrails CD, MS DOS 6.22, MS DOS 7.1, Windows 98. I have used it to get files from Win98 that I needed for software repair on another machine, also for customer support. I have installed it (host) on WinXP and Ubuntu 6.06, copied vm's onto a CD made in Linux and copied into vmware server on XP and run them. Regards, Chester Friesen ___ Post Messages to: ProFox@leafe.com Subscription Maintenance: http://leafe.com/mailman/listinfo/profox OT-free version of this list: http://leafe.com/mailman/listinfo/profoxtech ** All postings, unless explicitly stated otherwise, are the opinions of the author, and do not constitute legal or medical advice. This statement is added to the messages for those lawyers who are too stupid to see the obvious.
