Host Linux or host Windows

[pk_fox]

Hi all, I'm in the market for a new PC and need the capability to create virtual machines as I have to use Windows for my job. I have two questions. 1) Do I make Linux or Windows the host ? And 2) What sort of spec PC do I need to create VM's ( completely new to all things virtual )

[Dutch_Master]

As you'd expect here, we recommend Linux as the host platform

As for the spec's: depending on other requirements, any PC with >2 GHz clock speed and 3 GB RAM will run a Win-OS guest. However, mind that Vi$ta requires a minimum of 2 GB RAM to work, so the more RAM you put in, the better it'll perform, for M$ standards of course

FYI: my 'normal' supplier of PC components also has "upgrade kits". One has an Asus mainboard (FM1 socket), a top-end (-ish) AMD proc and 8 GB RAM (1333, IIRC) for under 200 Euro. Add enclosure, PSU (if not included in enclosure) and harddrive and basically, you'd be done for under 350 Euro.

[pk_fox]

As you'd expect here, we recommend Linux as the host platform

As for the spec's: depending on other requirements, any PC with >2 GHz clock speed and 3 GB RAM will run a Win-OS guest. However, mind that Vi$ta requires a minimum of 2 GB RAM to work, so the more RAM you put in, the better it'll perform, for M$ standards of course

FYI: my 'normal' supplier of PC components also has "upgrade kits". One has an Asus mainboard (FM1 socket), a top-end (-ish) AMD proc and 8 GB RAM (1333, IIRC) for under 200 Euro. Add enclosure, PSU (if not included in enclosure) and harddrive and basically, you'd be done for under 350 Euro.

Sorry my bad, I meant laptop not desktop, thanks for the spec though at least I know now

[Ram]

Same goes for Laptops.

[wyliecoyoteuk]

Using Linux as the host has the advantage that you can run multiple instances of the same windows license (just not at the same time) for testing purposes, as the virtual and actual hardware remain the same.
I do this to maintain a software demo suite for incompatible applications.

[pk_fox]

Using Linux as the host has the advantage that you can run multiple instances of the same windows license (just not at the same time) for testing purposes, as the virtual and actual hardware remain the same.
I do this to maintain a software demo suite for incompatible applications.

Hi, thanks for your help, I can see I need to read some more on VM's - will Google for a tutorial.

[wyliecoyoteuk]

Yeah, make a windows VM, activate and then clone it.
Because the hard disk, processor, gfx, and network card MAC address remain the same, it is effectively the same PC.
Just don't try to run more than one copy at a time.

[reklan]

OR look at dual boot...

If you need to use Windows for work purposes and Linux for personal use.. consider dual booting..

if the only reason was to use a VM for having the second OS.. with a dual boot setup. you can both OS's to their max ability and use your hardware to it fullest

[wyliecoyoteuk]

Only problem with dual boot is that you can only access one OS at a time.
Most modern PCs can easily support 2 or more OSes in VMs.
I have a 4 core AMD processor with 8Gb of memory, and it can happily run several VMs simultaneously.
My dual core 4 GB laptop can run 2 without a problem.

[reklan]

Very true..

I must admit, I dual boot and use virtual machines.. I do however find that under Linux they do seem to run a tad faster than under windows..

but maybe its because i have moved to Virtual Box rather than Virtual PC/VM Workstation...

[pk_fox]

Only problem with dual boot is that you can only access one OS at a time.
Most modern PCs can easily support 2 or more OSes in VMs.
I have a 4 core AMD processor with 8Gb of memory, and it can happily run several VMs simultaneously.
My dual core 4 GB laptop can run 2 without a problem.

Hi there, what laptop do you have ? I need to be able to run Visual Studio 2008 on the windows side of things and Fedora as my main OS. Thanks for your help.

[Ram]

I have an HP G62, 3 gig, I3 Quad core running Ubuntu 10.04 LTS and Virtualbox Ver 4.1.10r76795 running XP with 500 MB of Ram

This for testing / dev work.

MS SQL Server 2005
MS Visual C# 2008 & 2010 Express Editions
MS XNA Game Studio 3.0

If that helps

[wyliecoyoteuk]

Its a Lenovo core i5@2.3 GHz with 4Gb of memory

[pk_fox]

I have an HP G62, 3 gig, I3 Quad core running Ubuntu 10.04 LTS and Virtualbox Ver 4.1.10r76795 running XP with 500 MB of Ram

This for testing / dev work.

MS SQL Server 2005
MS Visual C# 2008 & 2010 Express Editions
MS XNA Game Studio 3.0

If that helps

It does help thank you.

[pk_fox]

Its a Lenovo core i5@2.3 GHz with 4Gb of memory

Thanks.