Windows 7 and virtualization

I'm currently testing Windows 7 and the new Windows Virtual PC, and I
discovered it doesn't support server OSes as guests.

I use virtualization heavily for test labs, and I don't want to install
Windows Server 2008 R2 on my computer to be able to use Hyper-V.

What has Microsoft to offer to a professional who needs to create virtual
labs on his computer, if he would like to stick with a Microsoft solution
(as opposed to, say, VMWare)?


Massimo

Massimo,

I am afraid you may be limited to using VPC on Windows 7 if you are looking
for a support Microsoft solution. There is a way to configure Windows 7 to
install and run Virtual Server 2005 for running the server platforms that you
require, but keep in mind that this is considered an unsupported
configuration by Microsoft.

http://social.technet.microsoft.com/...c-630c98074436


"Massimo" wrote:

> I'm currently testing Windows 7 and the new Windows Virtual PC, and I
> discovered it doesn't support server OSes as guests.
>
> I use virtualization heavily for test labs, and I don't want to install
> Windows Server 2008 R2 on my computer to be able to use Hyper-V.
>
> What has Microsoft to offer to a professional who needs to create virtual
> labs on his computer, if he would like to stick with a Microsoft solution
> (as opposed to, say, VMWare)?
>
>
> Massimo
>
>

"Roger Johnson, MCITP (SA, EA)"
< > ha scritto nel messaggio
news:2D04B8BF-7D96-4F47-9E5C-...

> Massimo,
>
> I am afraid you may be limited to using VPC on Windows 7 if you are
> looking
> for a support Microsoft solution. There is a way to configure Windows 7 to
> install and run Virtual Server 2005 for running the server platforms that
> you
> require, but keep in mind that this is considered an unsupported
> configuration by Microsoft.

I was afraid of the same thing.

More score points for VMWare, I suppose... :-/


Massimo

On Mon, 10 Aug 2009 08:36:33 +0200, "Massimo" <>
wrote:

>"Roger Johnson, MCITP (SA, EA)"
>< m> ha scritto nel messaggio
>news:2D04B8BF-7D96-4F47-9E5C-...
>
>> Massimo,
>>
>> I am afraid you may be limited to using VPC on Windows 7 if you are
>> looking
>> for a support Microsoft solution. There is a way to configure Windows 7 to
>> install and run Virtual Server 2005 for running the server platforms that
>> you
>> require, but keep in mind that this is considered an unsupported
>> configuration by Microsoft.
>
>I was afraid of the same thing.
>
>More score points for VMWare, I suppose... :-/
>

It depends....
The "supported" item refers to the possibility to call to Microsoft
Support and get help if you get into trouble using a virtual machine
with a "supported" operating system. This requires a "supported"
combination.

But in principle all Windows versions will run just fine on both
VPC2007 and VS2005. You may even use both at the same time; VS2005 for
the servers, which will autostart with the host system so they are
always on (if so configured) and VPC2007 for the workstations, which
are started manually.

I very much doubt that VMWare will give much in the way of Windows
support if you go that route....

So are you *really* planning to call Microsoft Support and spend money
chasing down solutions to problems you *might* face down the road?

Or did you simply misinterpret the "supported" specifier as
"working"?????

--

Bo Berglund (Sweden)

"Bo Berglund" <> ha scritto nel messaggio
news:...

> But in principle all Windows versions will run just fine on both
> VPC2007 and VS2005.

Yes, but do they work on Windows 7?
And, even if they do, aren't they one big step behind more recent Microsoft
virtualization solutions (Hyper-V and WVPC)?


Massimo

On Mon, 10 Aug 2009 18:59:47 +0200, "Massimo" <>
wrote:

>"Bo Berglund" <> ha scritto nel messaggio
>news:.. .
>
>> But in principle all Windows versions will run just fine on both
>> VPC2007 and VS2005.
>
>Yes, but do they work on Windows 7?

If you mean will VPC2007 and VS2005 install on Windows7 or not, the
answer is yes (as seen here in other posts, I have no Win7 machine
myself to test on).

>And, even if they do, aren't they one big step behind more recent Microsoft
>virtualization solutions (Hyper-V and WVPC)?
>

I am losing you now. What do you mean by this question?
VPC on Win7 is basically VPC2007 with some upgrades (for USB support)
used in Win7 as an XP compatibility gadget. You do not need to install
it (and you may not be able to if your hardware lacks VT support),
instead you can use VPC2007 and/or VS2005. But you cannot install
WVPC7 *and* VPC2007/VS2005. You have to choose.
Hyper-V is a Windows Server 2008 role and has nothing whatever to do
with Windows 7....

--

Bo Berglund (Sweden)

"Bo Berglund" <> ha scritto nel messaggio
news:...

>>And, even if they do, aren't they one big step behind more recent
>>Microsoft virtualization solutions (Hyper-V and WVPC)?
>>
>
> I am losing you now. What do you mean by this question?

WVPC and Hyper-V make use of Intel VT, so I'm assuming they are something
more (and perform better) than "older" virtualization technologies like
VPC2007 and VS2005.


Massimo

VPC2007 SP1, and VS2005 R2 SP1 both use VT as well, and probably
earlier version as well, but I don't remember exactly when it was
phased in. They just didn't require it...

--
Bob Comer

On Tue, 11 Aug 2009 02:38:48 +0200, "Massimo" <>
wrote:

>"Bo Berglund" <> ha scritto nel messaggio
>news:.. .
>
>>>And, even if they do, aren't they one big step behind more recent
>>>Microsoft virtualization solutions (Hyper-V and WVPC)?
>>>
>>
>> I am losing you now. What do you mean by this question?
>
>WVPC and Hyper-V make use of Intel VT, so I'm assuming they are something
>more (and perform better) than "older" virtualization technologies like
>VPC2007 and VS2005.
>
>
>Massimo

"Massimo" <> wrote in message
news:...
> "Bo Berglund" <> ha scritto nel messaggio
> news:...
>
>>>And, even if they do, aren't they one big step behind more recent
>>>Microsoft virtualization solutions (Hyper-V and WVPC)?
>>>
>>
>> I am losing you now. What do you mean by this question?
>
> WVPC and Hyper-V make use of Intel VT, so I'm assuming they are something
> more (and perform better) than "older" virtualization technologies like
> VPC2007 and VS2005.
>
>
> Massimo
>

If VMWare works best for you, use it. No need to feel guilty about it.

Bare in mind that VMware do not actually "support" the guest O/S, they will
just refer you back to vendor (i.e. Microsoft.)
Stabbed or shot really...the preference is yours.

"Massimo" <> wrote in message
news:...
> "Roger Johnson, MCITP (SA, EA)"
> < > ha scritto nel messaggio
> news:2D04B8BF-7D96-4F47-9E5C-...
>
>> Massimo,
>>
>> I am afraid you may be limited to using VPC on Windows 7 if you are
>> looking
>> for a support Microsoft solution. There is a way to configure Windows 7
>> to
>> install and run Virtual Server 2005 for running the server platforms that
>> you
>> require, but keep in mind that this is considered an unsupported
>> configuration by Microsoft.
>
> I was afraid of the same thing.
>
> More score points for VMWare, I suppose... :-/
>
>
> Massimo
>