Virtualization: recommendations from leading dog breeders. The best virtual machines for Windows: install if you really want to look at other operating systems

If you plan to use storage systems with an iSCSI interface, it is highly recommended to allocate a separate network interface for iSCSI operation, or even two for MPIO operation. If LUNs will be mounted in the host OS, then you just need to leave one or two interfaces not tied to virtual networks. If iSCSI initiators will work inside virtual machines, you need to create one or two separate virtual networks for them, which will be used exclusively for iSCSI traffic.

VLAN tagging

VLAN tagging (IEEE 802.1q) means “tagging” network packets with a special marker (tag), thanks to which the packet can be associated with a specific virtual network(VLAN). In this case, hosts belonging to different VLANs will be located in different broadcast domains, although they will be physically connected to the same equipment. Virtual network adapters in Hyper-V also support VLAN tagging. To do this, you need to go to the properties of the virtual adapter in the virtual machine settings and enter the corresponding VLAN ID there.

Active equipment

So far we have talked about network interfaces and virtual network adapters within the host. But it is also necessary to take into account throughput active equipment– for example, switches to which our hosts will connect. A simple example: if there is an 8-port 1Gbps switch, and each of the ports utilizes the entire 1Gbps of bandwidth, then the 1Gbps uplink will physically not be able to pass such volumes of traffic, which will lead to a drop in performance. This especially has to be taken into account when using iSCSI - the loads there can be high, and packet delays can be quite critical for performance. Therefore, when using iSCSI, it is highly recommended to route iSCSI traffic through separate switches. Now let's move on to recommendations for the host OS. As you know, the OS Windows Server 2008 R2 can be installed in two different modes: Full and Server Core. From the point of view of hypervisor operation, these modes are no different. Although Server Core mode seems more complicated at first glance (especially for inexperienced administrators), it is recommended to use this mode. Installing OS in Server mode Core has the following advantages over the full installation:

• Fewer updates
• Smaller attack surface for potential attackers
• Less CPU and memory load on the parent partition

Running other applications on the host OS

Running third-party (not related to Hyper-V) applications in the guest OS, as well as installing other server roles in addition to Hyper-V, can lead to a significant drop in performance, as well as reduced stability. The fact is that due to the peculiarities of the Hyper-V architecture, all interaction between virtual machines and devices passes through the parent partition. Therefore, high loads or “falling into blue screen" in the parent partition will definitely lead to a drop in performance or simply a “crash” of all running virtual machines. Anti-virus software can (and should) also be included here. Whether it is necessary at all on a host that will not do anything other than virtualization itself is, of course, another question. However, if the antivirus is installed, the first thing you need to do is exclude from the scan list all folders where virtual machine files may be located. Otherwise, performance may slow down during scanning, and if something similar to a virus is found in some VHD file, then when trying to disinfect antivirus package may ruin the VHD itself. Similar cases were observed with MS Exchange databases, and therefore the first recommendation is not to install on Exchange servers file antiviruses, and if installed, then add folders with databases to exceptions. The steps you need to take to improve the performance of the virtual machines themselves depend on the applications that will be running on them. Microsoft has recommendations (best practices) for each of the applications - Exchange, SQL Server, IIS, and others. Similar recommendations exist for software from other vendors. Here I will only give general recommendations, independent of specific software.
It will cover why you should install Integration Services in your guest OS, how to make it easier to deploy new virtual machines using the VHD library, and how to keep these VHDs up to date with new patches.

Integration services

Integration services are a set of drivers that run inside the guest OS. They must be installed immediately after installing the OS. Currently the list of supported operating systems is as follows:

• Windows 2000 Server SP4
• Windows Server 2003 SP2
• Windows Server 2008
• Windows XP SP2, SP3
• Windows Vista SP1
• SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 10 SP3/11
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5.2 – 5.5

Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 contain integration services in installation package, so they do not need to be installed additionally on these OSs.
Installing integration services allows you to use synthetic devices that have more high performance compared to emulated ones. Read more about the difference between emulated and synthetic devices in my article on Hyper-V architecture.
Here is a list of drivers included in Integration Services:

• IDE controller– replaces the emulated IDE controller, which increases disk access speed
• SCSI controller– is a completely synthetic device and requires the mandatory installation of integration services to operate. Each SCSI controller can connect up to 64 disks; there can be up to 4 controllers per virtual machine.
• Network adapter– has higher performance than the emulated one (Legacy Network Adapter) and supports special functions, such as VMQ.
• Video and mouse– increase the convenience of managing a virtual machine through its console.

In addition to the listed drivers, the following functions are supported when installing integration services:

• Operating System Shutdown– the ability to correctly shut down the guest OS without logging into it. Same as pressing Power buttons on an ATX case.
• Time Synchronization– it’s clear from the name – system time synchronization between the host and guest OS.
• Data Exchange– exchange of registry keys between the guest and host OS. This way, for example, a guest OS can determine the name of the host on which it is running. This feature is available only for guest operating systems of the MS Windows family.
• Heartbeat– special service, which periodically sends special signals indicating that everything is in order with the virtual machine. If the guest OS freezes for some reason, for example, it will stop sending Heartbeat, and this can serve as a signal, for example, for an automatic reboot.
• Online Backup– is a VSS Writer that allows you to obtain a consistent backup copy of virtual machine data at any time. On startup Reserve copy Through VSS, applications running on a virtual machine automatically dump data to disk, and therefore the backup is consistent.

To install integration services on Windows OS, you need to select Action – Integration Services Setup. At the same time, an ISO image with installation files will be automatically mounted to the virtual machine, and the installation process will begin. If disabled in the guest system starting Autorun, then the installation process will have to be started manually.
Integration components for Linux are not included in Windows distribution Server – they must be downloaded from the Microsoft website.

Sysprep: creating a master image

If you have a fairly large infrastructure, and you often have to create new virtual machines and install the OS on them - a set of ready-made “master images” of virtual hard drives will help you save a lot of time. This "master image", stored as a VHD file, can be copied and then created a new virtual machine with using VHD as a hard drive. In this case, the OS will already be installed on it and some necessary set Software (in particular, integration services).
To create such a master image you need:

1. Create a new virtual machine
2. Install the OS, integration services, all available updates system and additional software, if necessary
3. Prepare the installed OS using the Sysprep utility, which will remove the user information, product key and unique identifier (SID).

The first time you boot a virtual machine from such an image, a procedure called “mini-setup” will start. You will be prompted to re-enter the computer name, administrator password, and some other data.

Offline installation of updates

We have created a master image and we will have it for a long time. And everything would be fine, but there is one small problem: system updates are released periodically, and when deploying a virtual machine from a master image, you will have to install all the updates that have been released since the creation of the master image. If the image was created, say, a year or two ago, the volume of updates can be quite large. In addition, immediately after connecting to the network, the OS without latest updates exposed to all sorts of security threats, including viruses. There is an excellent tool that allows you to install updates directly on master images of virtual machines - it is called “Offline Virtual Machine Servicing Tool”. To use it, you must deploy System Center Virtual Machine Manager (SCVMM), and also have a deployed WSUS server or SCCM, from where, in fact, updates will be pulled up. The principle of its operation is as follows:

1. The virtual machine is deployed on a special host selected using SCVMM - the so-called maintenance host.
2. The virtual machine starts and all necessary updates are installed on it.
3. The virtual machine stops and the VHD file is returned to the library with the updates already installed.

Offline Virtual Machine Servicing Tool is distributed free of charge. To learn more about this tool and download it, you can go to the official website:

Let's take a closer look at what virtual machines for Windows are and what they are needed for. Learn all about the best OS simulators and how to get started using them.

A virtual machine (VM) is computer application, with which the user can create an imitation of the operating system. An OS image is installed on the machine for use internally existing system. Very convenient, isn't it? But there are also pitfalls. Read what you will encounter during installation and which virtual machine for Windows versions 7,8 and 10 are better to choose.

Why do we need virtual machines for PCs?

In most cases, VMs are used for testing software V . To work with multiple operating systems, you only need one computer, which significantly speeds up your work.

You can run multiple virtual machines on one computer at the same time. Their number depends on the available random access memory and space on the children's disk, since the virtual OS consumes exactly the same memory resource as a regular copy installed on the computer.

Using virtual machines, you can work with programs and functions that are not available in the main OS. Also, it is possible to create backup copies of VMs, with their subsequent movement and use on other computers.

Viruses, errors and other failures of the virtual OS do not affect the operation of the main system. After closing the machine, the operation of the additional OS stops and the RAM is freed.

During VM operation, the device may slow down, because increased consumption of storage resources leads to increased request processing time.

Reasons for installing a VM:

• You want to get acquainted with the work of other operating systems without fully installing them. If there is a need to replace the existing OS, first use virtual simulator to test other software options. This will save you from possible bugs and incompatibility with hardware;
• You are a developer and want to create complex system for testing created applications.

VirtualBox

VirtualBox is a virtual machine for Windows 7,8,10. The virtualization environment is distributed free of charge and can be installed both for working with operating systems and for deployment network infrastructure and website hosting.

VirtualBox main window:

The main feature of this virtual machine is cross-platform. It works great on all versions of Windows. You can also download installers for Mac OS and Debian from the developer’s website. In the virtualization environment itself, you can install any desktop OS.

WITH using VirtualBox you can familiarize yourself with the functionality of the OS or test the program in safe mode without harming the main system. Often users prefer to install old games on virtual machines that are incompatible with modern operating systems.

After finishing the simulator, all data and changes will be saved. At next switch on you will be returned to your desktop and can continue completing tasks.

Advantages and disadvantages

Advantages of VirtualBox:

• Free distribution. 90% of similar software is paid, while VirtualBox can be obtained completely free of charge. The functions and capabilities of the program are not limited to the developer;
• Ability to create screenshots – screenshots virtual system. The resulting image will only display the secondary OS window. Creating screenshots using the main OS degrades the resolution and also captures your regular desktop;
• Creation exact copy existing virtual machine;
• Ability to drag folders, shortcuts and other objects inside the simulator;
• Unified file system – from a virtual machine you can access directories that are stored on a PC, and vice versa;
• Simultaneous work with several machines.

Also, distinctive feature new VirtualBox 4 is a user-friendly virtualization management system and intuitive Workspace programs. Also in new build The ability to capture video from the screen of an additional OS is available.

VirtualBox supports working with USB drives connected to the computer.

Disadvantages of the program:

• Slowdown of the computer. Even if your PC has good technical specifications, sufficient RAM and storage space, when using a virtual machine, you will experience slower performance of all functions. If during the creation of a VM you allocated too much memory to it, the computer will freeze or shut down severely;
• Insufficient video memory. If you need to achieve the best possible image quality, it will be difficult to do it using VirtualBox. The program allows you to configure the settings for using the video card only at a basic level.

How to install

For installation VirtualBox programs download the installer from the official website of the developer - Oracle. The installation process is standard and does not require additional settings:

• Run the EXE file;
• Select the Hard Drive where the The root folder with the program;
• Wait for the installation to complete. If necessary, the user can view statistics on hard disk usage during the installation process.

In the “Custom Setup” field it is possible to disable USB support, network services. This allows you to reduce the final size of the application.

Video instructions on how to install two OS using VirtualBox

Once the program is installed, you can begin creating your first virtual machine. Click on the “Create” button on the left top corner window. The VM settings tab will open:

In the setup wizard window, select the type of virtual OS (Windows, Linux, Debian, MacOS) and its version. Set a name for the simulator to be created and click on the “Next” button.

Then, the program will give you the opportunity to independently specify the size of RAM that will be allocated for the additional OS. For novice users, we recommend setting the value indicated in the “Recommended main memory size” field.

The size of RAM for a VM should be determined depending on technical characteristics your PC. If your computer has 4 GB of RAM available, normal operation 512 MB-1 GB will be enough for the simulator.

Next, the program will ask you to select file system OS image (which corresponds to the previously specified family and version). After completing the setup, a window will appear with a brief listing of all parameters. Click on "Finish".

After the installation of virtual Windows is completed, an icon for launching the OS will appear in the main VirtualBox window. Click on it and wait for the desktop to load. If necessary, install drivers.

To automatically update drivers, open the “devices” tab on the virtual machine toolbar. Then click on desired type media and in a new window follow the instructions to obtain the new software.

Ready. Now you can start working with the virtual operating system. To exit the program, first turn off the OS and then close VirtualBox.

VMware

VMWare Workstation is the best virtual machine for Windows 10. The developer positions the program as convenient platform for creating . Compared to other popular analogues, VMWare supports more features for customizing a virtual machine and allows you to synchronize the simulator with software development tools.

This virtualization environment is popular among programmers, web designers and other specialists who often have to test their projects for cross-platform functionality.

Advantages and disadvantages

Among the advantages of VMWare are:

• Convenient toolbar;
• Synchronization with Microsoft development tools, in particular the .NET platform and software environment Visual Studio;
• Safety system. Built-in VMWare tools provide a high level of protection for your files in the secondary OS. The simulator can detect attempts malicious activity eliminate them;
• Operation of encryption services for created virtual machines.

Disadvantages of the application:

• Paid distribution. The user can download a free trial version utilities, but to obtain full version applications with everyone available functions You will need to pay an annual or monthly subscription;
• Not suitable for beginners. If you have not used operating system simulators before, we recommend starting with more simple options. For example, VirtualBox and the standard Hyper V for Windows. VMWare is suitable for advanced users who prefer to configure the system manually.

How to install

You can download the virtual machine for Windows from the official website of the developer VMWare.com.

During the installation process, it is recommended to turn off Windows Defender or another working antivirus. This is only necessary for the correct installation of all files and encryption algorithms that the program uses for virtual machines. No harm will be done to your main OS, since the product was downloaded from an official source.

Overview of functionality and first setup of the program

To create your first virtual machine in VMWare, you will need to download the OS distribution kit that you want to use in the emulator to your computer. Then open the window installed application and click on the “Create a new virtual machine” field

Note! The user can create a group of virtual machines, instead of several simulators. This allows you to reduce the resource of consumed RAM and speed up the operation of the computer and the OS simulator.

In the VM Setup Wizard window, specify the path to the operating system image (this can be a file in the computer’s memory or boot disk). It is also possible to configure a virtual machine without installing the OS (it can be installed later).

• In the window that appears, specify the OS name, user name and account access password;
• Specify on which disk of your computer the virtual machine will be stored;
• Select the amount of RAM you need to run the VM;
• Configure the equipment (automatically or manually).

After completing the setup of the virtual machine, wait for the OS image to install and start working:

Microsoft Virtual PC

Microsoft Virtual PC is another popular virtual machine emulator. The program is well compatible with all versions of OS Windows. If you use a Microsoft product as your main OS, we recommend choosing Microsoft Virtual PC for emulation.

Advantages and disadvantages

Emulator advantages:

• Excellent compatibility with all versions of Windows OS. In most cases, the user does not need to install any additional drivers for the virtual OS. All of them are synchronized with the main system;
• File system sharing. Access files stored on your PC hard drive through a VM window;
• Support for 64-bit Windows OS in “Guest Host” and “Guest Environment” operating modes;
• Support for hardware virtualization.

Flaws:

• Eat paid features. The program is distributed free of charge, but to support setting up a group of virtual OSes you will have to buy a subscription;
• There is no support for Linux-like systems.

Overview of functionality and first setup of the program

To install a virtual OS, first download its image into the computer's memory, and then open Microsoft application Virtual PC. Click on the “Create virtual machine” button and configure the following parameters in the new window:

• Set the name of the new OS;
• Allocate space for its hard drive and the size of RAM;
• Select which devices the VM will support ( network, flash drives and so on).

Bottom line

We told you about the best virtual machines for Windows, but not for everyone. If you think that these are not the best, write in the comments! Help new readers decide which emulator to start with.

In order not to expose the OS installed on the computer to risk, but to be able to explore both various software and the functionality of any other OS, there is a special type of program on the software market for creating virtual computers. Such programs create a virtual environment with emulation computer hardware. And you can install the same virtual OS on this emulator. The most famous such program is VirtualBox from the American developer Oracle.

1. Features of the program

Free, functionality, cross-platform, Russification, intuitive interface, simplicity and clarity software processes and settings, a step-by-step guide for creating virtual computers - these are the main advantages of VirtualBox, thanks to which it seriously beats its competitors.

Thus, one of the main competitors - the VMware Workstation program - is a paid commercial software. Free to use only VMware Player– this is a greatly reduced functionality version Workstation programs. While VirtualBox provides full functionality for free. Plus, VirtualBox exists in versions for installation not only on Windows and Linux OS, like VMware Workstation, but the former can also be installed on Mac OS X and Solaris.

And VMware Workstation does not have the ability to adjust video memory, like VirtualBox.

Both of these programs also have a common competitor from Microsoft- Hyper-V, which is included in some Windows versions. And, naturally, you can only work with it as part of studying the ubiquitous Windows OS. The program does not support either Linux or Mac OS X.

VirtualBox has the widest selection of systems that can be installed as a virtual OS - most versions of Windows, Linux, Mac OS X and Solaris, including both 32-bit and 64-bit. Some even manage to create an Android emulator using VirtualBox.

As you can see, if you are determined to take the path of experimenting with virtual computer environment, VirtualBox is the perfect tool for this.

2. Minimum system requirements

Concerning VirtualBox installations not in active virtual computer mode, here the program is not demanding on hardware resources - the bare minimum is required to install the program:
— 512 MB of RAM,
— 200 MB of hard disk space for installation,
- a processor with a frequency according to the requirements of the OS itself, for example in the case of Windows XP it is a Pentium of at least 300 MHz or its analogue from AMD.

But, again, this system requirements purely for installing VirtualBox on the physical (main) OS. Active virtual desktop mode will require much more system resources, and the specific requirements will already be determined by that same virtual (guest) OS.

VirtualBox creates virtual computer based on the hardware characteristics of a physical PC, some of which are automatically emulated into a virtual computer - for example, processor, video card, CD/DVD drive, USB ports. And part - RAM and occupied disk space - are emulated according to the settings that you set during the process of creating a virtual computer with the program. Some hardware characteristics of the virtual computer can be changed in the future, setting them to smaller values. boundary parameters, which VirtualBox has the right to use. After all, a virtual computer in a working state will borrow the power of the processor, video card, and RAM from the physical PC.

What part of the RAM and disk space can I give it to a virtual computer when it is created by VirtualBox?

It is recommended to allocate no more than half of the available RAM on a physical PC to the virtual OS. But for the virtual OS to work, a minimum of 512 MB to 1 GB of RAM may be required. For example, for more or less normal functioning virtual Windows XP or Linux will require a minimum of 512 MB of RAM.

And to install Windows 7 or 8 (8.1) on a virtual computer, the minimum RAM will be 1 GB.

The virtual OS will permanently occupy space on the computer’s hard drive in the form of a program file. And if many people will probably have an extra 4-5 GB minimum for Windows XP or Linux without any problems, then about 20-25 GB for full operation of Windows 7 or 8 (8.1) OS, for example, owners of old PC builds with a hard drive of some 160 GB will have to be taken care of in advance, saying goodbye to file junk that has not been used for a long time.

3. How to download the program for free

On the official website of the developer, the installer of the VirtualBox program in current version 4.3.8 can be downloaded absolutely free.

4. How to install the program

To install the program, just run the downloaded installer from the browser downloads. VirtualBox is installed as standard, although in English. Don’t worry if this language is not familiar to you: all you need to do is press “ Next" - i.e. " Further».

Moreover, everything active ingredients, with which VirtualBox is installed, will be needed for its full operation.

The only thing is that during the installation process the program takes a couple of minutes connection will be lost With local network. This is required for installation network drivers so that the Internet works on the virtual computer. However, VirtualBox will issue a corresponding notification about this, albeit in English.

No need to worry about this, you can safely press the installation command - “ Install».

Windows 7 and 8 (8.1) are initially distrustful of third-party software, so they constantly ask for administrator rights, permission to trust some developer, or permission to install individual components give them permission. Therefore, if during installation you additionally need to confirm the installation of the VirtualBox components - USB Support (USB port support) or VirtualBox Networking (network support), such confirmation, of course, must be given.

After this, the program will complete the installation process, and if you do not uncheck the automatic start, immediately after pressing the end button – “ Finish“—VirtualBox will appear before you in all its glory, and with a Russian-language interface.

That's it - the installation process of the program itself is completed. But what lies ahead is creating a virtual computer and installing the virtual OS of your choice on it.

5. Create a virtual computer

When creating a virtual computer using VirtualBox, you can’t go wrong: after installation, only one box will be visible in the main program window active button – « Create", in fact, where you need to click. In the window that appears, you need to give the virtual computer a name, select the OS and its specific version.

Click " Next».

In the next VirtualBox settings window, you need to set the value of RAM that you give to the virtual computer for temporary use when it is active - in fact, what was mentioned above. Use the slider to set desired value or enter the exact RAM number in the box next to it.

Do not go to the red line - this will be transferring half the hardware capacity to the virtual computer real computer, and in cases with low-power machines, there may not be enough performance to run the main OS, not to mention virtual environments. The minimum recommendations of VirtualBox itself are too small for full-fledged work, therefore, as mentioned above, you should not allocate less than 512 MB of RAM for running less resource-intensive operating systems, and less than 1 GB of RAM for more resource-intensive ones.

Click " Next».

« Select HDD " - this is exactly what you need to do in the next VirtualBox setup window. And here for most it would be advisable to leave the default item – “ Create a new virtual hard disk».

Click " Create».

The following window will appear with several storage file formats virtual hard disks that VirtualBox can work with. You must leave the default option – “ VDI».

Click " Next».

With the type of virtual hard disk - the next VirtualBox settings window - it is better to do the same as above - leave the option as default.

A fixed hard drive of a virtual computer will be more efficient in operation.

Click " Next».

In the next window, VirtualBox will prompt you to set a name for the virtual hard drive. This is not so important, so you can leave the default name, taken from the name of the virtual computer itself. It is much more important to designate a folder to store the virtual hard disk file and correctly determine its size.

The minimum size of a virtual hard disk was discussed above; we only note that here we need to proceed purely from the available space on the physical hard disk. Plus, you need to take into account that in addition to installing the virtual OS itself, a certain place will be occupied by various service environments and, in fact, the programs being tested.

By default, the storage folder for the virtual hard disk file is registered on the system disk of the physical PC, where many may not have room for the “heavy” Windows 7 and 8 (8.1). And why bother? system disk? It is better to choose a storage location on a non-system drive. Click the folder icon and select a storage location.

Click " Create».

Wait while VirtualBox creates the virtual computer. After this, its name will appear on the left side of the main program window with the note “ Switched off", and on the right side of the window you can see the main hardware parameters.

6. Installing the operating system on a virtual computer

It is necessary to prepare the image in advance installation disk with the selected operating system or insert a boot disk into the CD/DVD drive of a physical PC.

In the main VirtualBox window, launch the created virtual computer using the button Launch" Then, in the automatically appearing window for selecting removable media for booting, select either the installation disk image with the OS, or designate the boot disk located in the CD/DVD drive. To do this, click the browse icon that looks like a folder.

When installing a previously unfamiliar OS for the first time, simply follow the installer's instructions.

Did this article help you?

This article is dedicated to best platform virtualization for desktop computers VMware Workstation, forgive me fans of VirtualBox, HyperV, etc.

A virtual machine is a program that allows you to emulate a stand-alone computer in a working operating system environment. A virtual machine allows you to run your own operating system and applications just like a physical computer.

This program allows you to emulate a processor, RAM, hard drive, BIOS, etc.

The emulation program itself, as well as the operating system running on it, is called a virtual machine, while the main operating system and the physical machine are called the host system.

Purpose of VMware Workstation

1. VMware Workstation allows you to try out any (almost any) operating system on your computer without having to create new partitions on your physical hard drive.

2. VMware Workstation allows you to install multiple operating systems on one computer without the need to configure physical hard drives.

3. VMware Workstation allows you to work with several operating systems simultaneously with the ability to dynamically switch between them without rebooting the system.

4. VMware Workstation allows you to test applications running various operating systems (for example, XP and 8).

5. VMware Workstation allows you to emulate a computer network.

6. VMware Workstation allows you to reduce the risk of infection of the host system by running unsafe software in an isolated virtual environment.

7. Teachers use VMware Workstation to create virtual machines for students, including all the applications required for teaching. Nothing bad will happen if a student intentionally or accidentally destroys the experimental environment during the learning process. It will take only a few seconds to restore a damaged virtual system from a backup copy (a previously created Snapshot).

System requirements VMware Workstation Technology Preview 2014

As stated in the VMware Workstation Technology Preview 2014 documentation, platform system requirements are similar to VMware Workstation 10, with the following exceptions:

1. 32-bit OS are no longer supported as a host system (now the platform can only be installed on 64-bit systems)

2. Windows XP 64-Bit, Windows Vista 64-Bit, Windows Server 2003 64-Bit and Windows Server 2008 (64-bit (not including R2) are also not supported as a host system

Otherwise, system requirements are similar to VMware Workstation 10

• Minimum clock frequency processor 1.3 GHz
• The minimum amount of RAM for the host system is 1GB, 2GB is recommended.
• The minimum amount of RAM for a guest system is 256 MB.
• 1.5 GB of free hard disk space

There are versions of the program for Windows and Linux. Windows and Linux versions programs have a single serial number, so by purchasing an application for one of these OSs, the user can use it for free on the other. If you need a program for Mac, you must install VMware Fusion.

VMware has and free product is VMware Player, which can be used free of charge for personal, non-commercial purposes.

What is the difference between VMware Player and VMware Workstation?

VMware Workstation - much powerful solution with advanced features such as snapshots, remote connections to vSphere, cloning, sharing virtual machines, advanced configuration and much more. Workstation is intended to be used technical specialists- developers, quality control specialists, system engineers, IT administrators, software specialists technical support, consultants, etc.

Installing VMware Workstation

1. Download preview of VMware Workstation 11

Fig.1 VMware website

M50AC-J034J-08L8A-03ARM-3D14A

c. Download program. To download the program, you must register on the site.

2. Run the program installation file VMwareWorkstation(the new version of VMware Workstation is installed only on 64 bit system Windows).

3. At the first step of installing the program, click the button Next

4. In the license agreement dialog box, set the radio button I accept the terms in the license agreement and press Next

5. In the next window for selecting the installation method for the program, specify Typical

6. Specify the path for installing the program VMwareWorkstation and press Next

7. If you want the VMware Workstation program to check for updates when you start, check whether the checkbox is checked Check for product updates on startup and press Next

8. In the next window, you must specify whether the program will send anonymous statistics to VMware. These statistics include the name of the product being used, version, build number, and program configuration. This data allows the company to identify popular configurations and timely optimize its product in the right direction.10. Upon completion of installation, you must enter the program license key, which was indicated above.

11. When installation is complete, press the button Finish

VvirtualBox– virtualization software product for operating rooms Microsoft systems Windows, DOS, GNU/Linux, Mac OS X and SUN Solaris/OpenSolaris. The program was created by Innotek using the open source Qemu code. The first publicly available version of VirtualBox appeared on January 15, 2007.

In February 2008, Innotek was acquired by Sun Microsystems, but the VirtualBox distribution model remained unchanged.

TO Key features of VirtualBox can be attributed:

Cross-platform

Modularity

USB 2.0 support when host devices are made available to guest OSs

Built-in RDP server, as well as support for USB client devices over the RDP protocol

Experimental support for VMDK/VMware hard drive images

iSCSI support

Audio device virtualization support

Support for various types of network communication (NAT, Host Networking via Bridged, Internal)

Support for a tree of saved virtual machine states (snapshots), which can be rolled back from any state of the guest system

Shared Folders support for simple exchange files between host and guest systems

SupportedVirtualBoxhostOS:

Windows: Windows XP, all service packs (32-bit), Windows Server 2003 (32-bit), Windows Vista (32-bit and 64-bit)

Apple Mac OS X(Intel hardware only, all versions of Mac OS X supported)

Linux: Debian GNU/Linux 3.1 (“sarge”) and 4.0 (“etch”), Fedora Core 4 to 8, Gentoo Linux, Redhat Enterprise Linux 3, 4 and 5, SUSE Linux 9 and 10, openSUSE 10.1, 10.2 and 10.3, Ubuntu 5.10 (“Breezy Badger”), 6.06 (“Dapper Drake”), 6.10 (“Edgy Eft”), 7.04 (“Feisty Fawn”), 7.10 (“Gutsy Gibbon”), Mandriva 2007.1 and 2008.0

SupportedVirtualBoxguestOS:

Windows NT 4.0 All versions

Windows 2000 / XP / Server 2003 / Vista All versions

DOS/Windows 3.x/95/98/ME

Linux 2.6 All versions

Solaris 10, OpenSolaris

OpenBSD Versions 3.7 and 3.8 are supported

III. VirtualBox main window: interface elements, basic settings

Start the VirtualBox environment:

Start ProgramsSunxVMVirtualBoxVirtualBox

The left side of the window displays a list of installed virtual machines (initially it is absent). The right side of the window displays the properties and characteristics of the current (active) virtual machine. The VirtualBox environment settings are available from the main menu.

Perform the initial setup of the VirtualBox environment:

File  Settings opens a window that allows you to specify the path to the virtual machine files (specify D:\SOS\Machines) and to the virtual hard disks (specify D:\SOS\VDI), and also indicate the Host key used (Right Ctrl by default), and the interface language.

File  Virtual Hard Disk Manager opens a window that allows you to connect ready-made virtual hard disks, CD/DVD image files, floppy disk image files (connect the files in the directory D:\SOS\Image\MS-DOS 6.22\..)