Zings mini Virtual machine guide

Originally Posted by funkyCable

I'm giving it a try. At first I thought it would be a pain opening the server home page to start and then open the console but once I found the "create shortcut" link it was well worth it.

How do you change the hdd to be dynamic? I used the free converter and vmware server 2.0. I would like to change my converted hdd to dynamic.

Is there a way to change the size of the hdd that the guest OS sees eg from a 60gig to 200gig ?

Can you not use VMware converter to do it?

---------- Post added at 11:09 ---------- Previous post was at 11:00 ----------

Just opened my vm in converter run through some settings and it looks like it can be set to dynamic by just selecting not pre allocated in the settings. Mine is set maximum 15 gig and the size now is 2 so in theory if you can change a fixed 200 gig to not preallocated it would only use the data size. Worth a go perhaps

---------- Post added at 12:14 ---------- Previous post was at 11:09 ----------

I just run a test again and the converter seen my 74 for gig raptor as 69 gig which is correct I set the converted images disk with settings of not pre allocated and my vm is now dynamic and the size is 31 gig again correct

[mischievious]

Originally Posted by zing

you can do that with VMware also
Maybe if you try VMware as imo it far surpasses its rivals

Bit harsh zing... VMware is definitely very shiny on windows client side and to be fair if I want shiny I go for windows but if I want power I go for linux. VMware ESX/ESXi runs on linux natively, hence my "harsh" comment. VMware have essentially embraced the fact that a linux as a server is better while linux is not going to be the client of choice for most. Note I didn't say better, as windows is simply more compatible. If you want raw power linux is your friend.

IMHO VMware are actually in a lot of areas playing catchup because of their business focus. Vbox now developed by Sun is ahead on paravirtualization and scope. Citrix are stirring up trouble with Xen... ooh! that is getting pretty awesome as well! Then you have Microsoft HyperVisor! Everyone loves to try to rule M$ out... but.... It really is a minefield and that is the core commercial big boys.

Nice post as an introduction to this tech for windows users though. Well done!

I put together a guide for the average user. Anyone experienced in Linux is not the average user. Vmware for the average user does far surpass its rivals. I think you coming here and spouting Linux and server alternatives when I posted this helpful guide a good while ago now is what is harsh

[Sirius]

Originally Posted by zing

I put together a guide for the average user. Anyone experienced in Linux is not the average user. Vmware for the average user does far surpass its rivals. I think you coming here and spouting Linux and server alternatives when I posted this helpful guide a good while ago now is what is harsh

[mischievious]

Originally Posted by zing

I put together a guide for the average user. Anyone experienced in Linux is not the average user. Vmware for the average user does far surpass its rivals. I think you coming here and spouting Linux and server alternatives when I posted this helpful guide a good while ago now is what is harsh

Like I already said nice guide for the average user.

I haven't been on for some time, saw your post and since virtualisation has a special place in my heart thought that I might add a bit of depth for anyone that may like something extra.

I just didn't agree that VMware is far superior to products like VirtualBox generally. VirtualBox runs on windows as well and they both have their strengths and weaknesses.

Checking your stats the last time you visited was October 3 months after I poted the guide

[Stuart]

Originally Posted by mischievious

Like I already said nice guide for the average user.

I haven't been on for some time, saw your post and since virtualisation has a special place in my heart thought that I might add a bit of depth for anyone that may like something extra.

I just didn't agree that VMware is far superior to products like VirtualBox generally. VirtualBox runs on windows as well and they both have their strengths and weaknesses.

I tried VirtualBox on a Mac before settling on VMWare fusion. We have an ESXi cluster at work, so I am well aware of the pros and cons of that (it doesn't like any thing particularly graphics intensive for instance). The ESXi cluster, incidentally, supports 100 Virtual Machines accessed by RDP (which is why it doesn't like graphically intensive stuff).

Anyhow, I found VirtualBox to be a perfectly capable product. A little rough around the edges (3d support did not work well on OSX and it didn't integrate well with the host OS). It also did not support using Bootcamp drives directly (which would have meant had I used it for what I need it for, I'd have needed two installations of Windows). Fusion has none of those flaws. It integrates with OSX well, can use bootcamp drives (with some documented mucking around with activation, as Windows picks up the Fusion VM as a new machine).

---------- Post added at 21:29 ---------- Previous post was at 21:28 ----------

Originally Posted by zing

Checking your stats the last time you visited was October 3 months after I poted the guide

In fairness Zing, that doesn't mean he read your guide at that point.

[mischievious]

I absolutely agree that on the Mac Fusion is your kiddy.

Originally Posted by Stuart C

In fairness Zing, that doesn't mean he read your guide at that point.

ever wonder why I do not bother offering support like I used to?

In all fairness I didnt write it for this forum anyway I did for another and just posted it here as thought it may have been of interest for some. It took a fair amount of time and effort when I did put it together. I am sorry but I did not appreciate his post and he used the fact he hasnt been here for a while as a reason to come in 6 months later and belittle it somewhat

[Hiroki]

Just to say I have followed your guide more than once and I have passed it onto friends and we appreciate the trouble you went to in producing this guide zing, it's idiot proof and much appreciated.