Re: run multiple operating systems at the same time on the same physical computer

From: Michael Thomas <mhthomas_at_yahoo.com>
Date: Thu, 4 Mar 2004 19:20:01 -0800 (PST)
Message-ID: <20040305032001.48277.qmail@web60510.mail.yahoo.com>

I have an MSDN subscription (paid about $1400USD before DVD rebate this year) and got this program a couple weeks ago with the DVD distribution.

By now, I have these virual PC's setup:
Windows NT4 SP3 with Oracle Server 7.3.4.5 Windows 2000 SP6 with Oracle Server 8.1.7.4 Windows XP Professional SP1a with Oracle Server 9.2.0.4
Fedora 1.3 with Oracle Server 10g

I use an Oracle 8.1.7 client SQL*Plus to query all four databases running simultaneously on a single PC with fast CPU and 3G RAM. Cool. Hehehe. ;-)

The only error I've seen so far was something like 'hard drive not found'. I adjusted the power cable on my SATA HD yesterday and the system has been working great since. No more crashes, so far. Its funny because a host PC system crash (BSOD) did not damage any of the virtual PCs. When I restarted the host PC and Virtual PC console, the previously running and crashed VMs automatically restarted (all of them), rebooted and did the windows disk repair thing we all know and love.

The main thing I "don't" like about Virual PC 2004: 1) Unlike VMware the virual hard drives get compressed into _one_ large file each (up to 16gb in size). If you don't like this you have to live with up to four x 4G HD so you can do backup on DVD-RW.
2) The host PC does not display the running VMs in task manager (now that is a M$ trick), but the host does show the overall RAM usage in the task manager graphic.
3) The working VM has priority over the background VMs but that is configurable in Virtual PC.
4) Absolutely no version of RedHat LINUX works on Virtual PC except Fedora 1.3. I tried 'all' of them from v3 enterprise back to 7.x, except v2.1 enterprise so v2.1 enterprise might work. Some of them installed and appeared to work until they actually failed on final boot. I did not try any non-RedHat, but that may burn someone else's time than me, thank you. Just a warning.
5) MS is developing an Virtual Server 2004 in beta now. Of course there is no concept of 'support' for any LINUX on Virtual XYZ 20xx from Microsoft.

Good luck.

Regards,

Mike Thomas

• Juan Cachito Reyes Pacheco <jreyes_at_dazasoftware.com> wrote:
  > For people who works in heterogehous networks
  >
  > Virtual PC 2004 Product Overview
  > ===============================
  > Use Microsoft® Virtual PC 2004 to run multiple
  > operating systems at the same
  > time on the same physical computer. Switch between
  > virtual machines with the
  > click of a button. Use virtual machines to run
  > legacy applications, provide
  > support, train users, and enhance quality assurance.
  >
  > Virtual PC lets you create separate virtual machines
  > on your Windows®
  > desktop, each of which virtualizes the hardware of a
  > complete physical
  > computer. Use virtual machines to run operating
  > systems such as MS-DOS®,
  > Windows, and OS/2. You can run multiple operating
  > systems at once on a
  > single physical computer and switch between them as
  > easily as switching
  > applications-instantly, with a mouse click.
  >
  > Virtual PC is perfect for any scenario in which you
  > need to support multiple
  > operating systems, whether you use it for tech
  > support, legacy application
  > support, training, or just for consolidating
  > physical computers.
  >
  > Benefits
  > Virtual PC provides a time-saving and cost-saving
  > solution anywhere users
  > must run multiple operating systems. Use Virtual PC
  > in the following
  > scenarios:
  >
  > Ease Migration: Run legacy applications in a virtual
  > machine instead of
  > delaying the deployment of a new operating system
  > just because of
  > application incompatibility. Test your migration
  > plans using virtual
  > machines instead of actual physical computers.
  >
  > Do More in Less Time: Support staff can run multiple
  > operating systems on a
  > single physical computer and switch between them
  > easily. They can also
  > restore virtual machines to their previous state
  > almost instantly. Train
  > students on multiple operating systems and virtual
  > networks instead of
  > purchasing and supporting additional computers.
  >
  > Streamline Deployment: Test software on different
  > operating systems more
  > easily. One crashing application or operating system
  > doesn't affect others.
  >
  > Accelerate Development: Increase quality assurance
  > by testing and
  > documenting your software on multiple operating
  > systems using virtual
  > machines. Decrease time-to-market by reducing
  > reconfiguration time.
  >
  >
  >
  

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Received on Thu Mar 04 2004 - 21:16:57 CST