Virtual PC 2007 vs VirtualBox vs VMWare Server/Workstation

[lopri]

What's the consensus on these? I like to test things on a VM until I'm comfortable with them before I use them on my main system. Not for a serious business but for personal use. But I'd like to learn more about VMs and eventually virtual servers as well.

I've been using Virtual PC 2007, and while it isn't that bad but it has well known limits. I'd like to hear experienced users' opinions. I tried the new Windows Virtual PC (the one that comes with Windows 7) but it's clearly in beta stage, it seems. Should I wait and use VPC 2007 until Win7 is out? Or should I try VirtualBox? Is VMWare Workstation worth its price tag?

 

[Athena]

I've used VMWare Workstation for about 8 years and I much prefer it over Virtual PC. Virtual PC is yet another instance in which Microsoft bought a company and killed off development in some areas. VPC is not just limited in its capabilities, there is no real support for it. These days, I only use it for older Win9X machines.

If you need flexibility to do what you want, when you want with your virtual machines, VMWare is the way to go...IMHO.

Athena

 

[Nothinman]

I've been using VMware since 1.0 and I don't see any reason to use anything else and VPC isn't even an option for me since I run Linux on all of my machines. At some point I plan on looking into KVM since that's built into the Linux kernel now but I've been lazy in that respect.

 

[Gooberlx2]

I think VirtualBox is very easy and works quite well.

Like the others said, VPC is just too limited/unsupported for real use.

 

[Tarrant64]

As mentioned above, go Vmware or VirtualBox. I use Vmware but only drawback is I got over pirating it and purchased my own license. It's not free, but no kidding in that it's pretty flexible with whatever you want to do.

VPC I use at work, at least until I can convince them to go VMWare Workstation route. We do use VMWare ESX server though, and you could go the VMWare Server ESXi(free) route, but note that you'd need another workstation to use it.

Also:

On your main system it looks like you have more than enough to run VMs smoothly.

 

[Nothinman]

I use Vmware but only drawback is I got over pirating it and purchased my own license. It's not free, but no kidding in that it's pretty flexible with whatever you want to do.

Or just use VMware Server, which is free, and don't worry about the extra features of Workstation.

 

[VinylxScratches]

I use VirtualBox on my Mac Mini under Leopard 10.5. Runs OK for free application.

 

[Tarrant64]

Originally posted by: Nothinman

I use Vmware but only drawback is I got over pirating it and purchased my own license. It's not free, but no kidding in that it's pretty flexible with whatever you want to do.

Or just use VMware Server ESXi, which is free, and don't worry about the extra features of Workstation.

Fixed.

 

[Nothinman]

I wasn't talking about ESXi, I meant VMware Server (formerly GSX).

 

[MrChad]

Originally posted by: Tarrant64

Originally posted by: Nothinman

I use Vmware but only drawback is I got over pirating it and purchased my own license. It's not free, but no kidding in that it's pretty flexible with whatever you want to do.

Or just use VMware Server ESXi, which is free, and don't worry about the extra features of Workstation.

Fixed.

You lose some features in VMWare Server (not ESXi) versus Workstation, but overall it's pretty full featured. Off the top of my head, you won't be able to take multiple snapshots or drag and drop from your desktop onto the VM, but other than that it's fine.

 

[nordloewelabs]

last time i tried it, VMWare Server was free but i found it too big. lately i've been using VirtualBox (also free) and i like it much better.

 

[Athena]

Originally posted by: Tarrant64
I use Vmware but only drawback is I got over pirating it and purchased my own license.

Reminder: VMWare does offer an academic license for the Workstation edition -- $100. You can't order it online, you have to call for ordering instructions.

 

[Tarrant64]

Originally posted by: Athena

Originally posted by: Tarrant64
I use Vmware but only drawback is I got over pirating it and purchased my own license.

Reminder: VMWare does offer an academic license for the Workstation edition -- $100. You can't order it online, you have to call for ordering instructions.

Darn, just paid for it with a 20% discount couple of days ago too.

 

[lopri]

Thank you very much for expert opinions! I appreciate very much. Questions:

I am a little confused with VMware products - there are 'server', 'workstation', and 'player', and if I understand correctly workstation is the only one that lets me create VMs, correct? Server will let me run multiple VMs (that are already created), and player will let me run one VM.. is my understanding correct?

If so, would it be wise to use VMWare server to import VMs that are created via freeware (like VPC 2007 or VirtualBox)? Will there be a trouble?

Also, I have a technet account so I have an access to server variants of Windows as well. I was wondering what all the hype is around Hyper-V.. But maybe Hyper-V is way beyond my need or capability at this point.

I'd like to hear about Sun VirtualBox as well - does anyone have an experience with it?

 

[Nothinman]

I am a little confused with VMware products - there are 'server', 'workstation', and 'player', and if I understand correctly workstation is the only one that lets me create VMs, correct? Server will let me run multiple VMs (that are already created), and player will let me run one VM.. is my understanding correct?

No, Player is the only one that won't create them but there are tools out there to create the vmx files if you want to go that route. I'm not sure how many VMs Player will run concurently but Server and Workstation will both let you run as many as you want until your machine grinds to a halt.

Also, I have a technet account so I have an access to server variants of Windows as well. I was wondering what all the hype is around Hyper-V.. But maybe Hyper-V is way beyond my need or capability at this point.

If MS did their job you should be able to use Hyper-V pretty easily too, but it's more akin to VMware EXS than VMware Server since it's a hypervisor while VMware Server, VPC, VirtualBox, etc all run under the main host OS.

I'd like to hear about Sun VirtualBox as well - does anyone have an experience with it?

I avoided it before Sun bought it because it uses QT for the UI which I find ugly and now that Sun bought it I avoid it because their name is on it. So, no I don't have any real direct experience with it. =)

 

[Czar]

Like everyone has said here, stay clear of Microsoft virtualization. They are just way too late to the game, right now they are like VMware was 5 years ago, if that.

The open source products are a big question mark but they have a future.

VMware is just the standard in virtualization. Use the VMware server if you dont want to spend money on the Workstation version. The server will do everything you will need, the workstation features are mostly just nice to haves. If you have a spare workstation then go the ESXi route, whatever Microsoft says using&installing ESXi is much much simpler than HyperV.

Plus in the corporate enviroment VMware is the only thing that counts.

<--- Administering VMware Virtual Infastructure since version 3.0

 

[lopri]

@Nothinman: I didn't know VMWare Server could create VMs. (I thought only Workstation could do that) Thank you for the enlightenment.

So I guess there is indeed a consensus. Thank you very much for everyone's advice. Off to downnload VMWare Servers..

 

[Jaffacaique]

Having recently looked into using alternatives to Virtualbox I came across something called Hyper OS (see link below), It appears to be another form of Virtual PC, have not tried it as there does not appear to be a trial version available to download. Has anyone else got this software? if so what it like and how does it differ from Virtual Box.? does anyone use this software and what is it like... any useful info would be welcomed...

Hyper OS Link --- http://www.hyperossystems.co.uk/07042003/software.htm

Another piece of software that I have used that is useful is Sandboxie. It allows you to install software in a safe 'boxed' area on your drive and can easily be deleted without having to uninstall and risk leaving undeleted or unsafe files behind on your drive.

 

[killerpcs]

Can someone explain the need for an additional PC with ESXi? I think I read that it is a bare metal hypervisor which means it doesnt use a host OS, is that what you mean by needing another PC, that you wont have your host OS for everyday use?
I have my regular rig, and am looking to put together a seperate box to learn virtualization stuff on. My goals are to learn vmware since it seems to hold the largest share of that market, and I will soon be out of a (tech) job, so I figure I need to brush up on it. Am I better off to experiment with ESXi, instead of server, or is the big difference just in the use of a host OS for server?

thanks,
Dave

 

[VinylxScratches]

A lot of companies are probably going to migrate to ESXi to consolidate servers. I think that would be your best bet.. but I haven't done any professional work with it yet.

 

[Nothinman]

Can someone explain the need for an additional PC with ESXi? I think I read that it is a bare metal hypervisor which means it doesnt use a host OS, is that what you mean by needing another PC, that you wont have your host OS for everyday use?

Yes, to do anything useful with it you need to install it on a dedicated box.

 

[hennessy1]

Just a quick question how long do the vmware workstation licenses lasts? Are they lifetime or yearly?

 

[Athena]

There is no time limit to the license. You can use it as long as you have hardware/host software to run it. Older versions don't necessarily work with newer OS products (either as host or guest) or take advantage of newer hardware features.

 

[BlahBlahYouToo]

there's only a couple of benefits (snapshots) for workstation over server and it's not worth the cost when server is free.

you're also limited to just 2 processors on workstation iirc.

 

[hennessy1]

BlahBlahYouToo: What are the benefits of workstation over the server if you could tell me please? I don't want to spend my money on something if I don't have to. Thank you for any help.