Where to start with free VMware?

[blurredvision]

I'm starting to study for my MCITP and wanted to create a virtual workspace complete with Server 2008 R2 and a couple of workstations. When I've done this in the past with Server 2003, I used Virtual PC, but I can't seem to get it running on my computer.

I've turned my sights to VMware, something I've never used but I think will allow me to do the setup I want. However, I'm not sure which free product to start with. They have the following:

VMware vSphere Hypervisor
VMware Server
VMware Player

I've tried reading up on each but I'm still not sure which to go with or where to start. I would probably just try out the Hypervisor but figured I'd ask here before wasting a lot of time tomorrow morning installing and configuring only to find out I should've used one over the other.

My plan is to install the free trial of 2008 R2 along with having a couple of virtual workstations running so I can connect to the domain and practice with active directory/group policy. Thanks for any insight.

EDIT: I'm running Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit, just in case that matters. I'm aware that's probably why I can't get Virtual PC to install, but I was under the impression that only XP Mode required 7 Professional or Ultimate. I tried downloading and installing just Virtual PC. Doesn't matter now though, I'm moving on to VMware if I find it's a good solution for me.

 

[theevilsharpie]

I don't know which MCITP you're going for, but if you're going for the server credentials, you may want to consider using Hyper-V, since that's one of the technologies that you'll be tested on.

 

[blurredvision]

Server Administration is the one I'm going for. I've been at a new job for about a month now, a help desk position supporting a couple hundred clients. We're moving towards a lot of virtualization with VMware so I wanted to mess around a bit with the free versions of it. I'm considering getting a technet subscription though, so if I do, maybe I'll test out Hyper-V as well.

 

[classy]

Vsphere and Hyper V are bare metal hypervisors so you'll need a separate white box for that. VMware server works well as a type 2 OS dependant virtual platform.

 

[quikah]

If you are trying to learn what your company is going to use I would probably say vSphere Hyprevisor. If you are just trying to get a couple Windows OS running for study player will be sufficient.

Server is a dead end. You would get the same experience with ESXi, plus I am not sure there are any plans to even continue development of Server.

All that said, if you only have a single system with Windows 7 Home, you are stuck with player. Server requires a Server version of windows and ESXi requires a dedicated system.

 

[blurredvision]

I mainly just want to use VMware in some fashion to begin with, then I'll move onward from there. Sounds like Player is my go-to at the moment, though.

 

[catilley1092]

Server Administration is the one I'm going for. I've been at a new job for about a month now, a help desk position supporting a couple hundred clients. We're moving towards a lot of virtualization with VMware so I wanted to mess around a bit with the free versions of it. I'm considering getting a technet subscription though, so if I do, maybe I'll test out Hyper-V as well.

If you get a TechNet subscription, get all of your allowed number of keys before they reduce how many you can have. Last year, with no notice, they reduced us down from 10 keys to 5 for each OS. But they didn't refund 50% the price of our subscriptions. Had they given notice, we could all have properly planned, and got all 10 keys for each.

While this still represents 50 activations per OS/app, these are lifetime keys, meaning that after you're no longer a member, they're still good. One can easily burn up that many activations within a few years.

Make sure that you get all of your allowed XP, Vista, Windows 7 OS's (there's several variations of each), any recent server OS's, all Office packages (Office 2003 thru Office 2010). Remember, you have 5 keys for most apps, get them all at once. Unless you get a Desktop subscription, you're only allowed 2 keys for each.

Really, I can't bitch too much, I have over $6,000 of software installed across 2 computers. That Office 2010 Pro Plus alone costs $500, and I have all 5 installs activated, spread across several VM's.

Cat

 

[Emulex]

i'd use esxI it can boot off a 2gb flash stick. or hard drive.

nobody really uses hyper-v that much unless its the only thing they get free (schools/college) everyone uses ESXi since it rules the planet by a large margin except in the case above.

all business products by vmware do not phone home your serials and you can get all products by becoming 1 level under VCP (easy all online). VTSP? i forgot the training level.they give you keys for everything to use in a lab to get your VCP perpetually.

 

[blurredvision]

All that said, if you only have a single system with Windows 7 Home, you are stuck with player. Server requires a Server version of windows and ESXi requires a dedicated system.

I tried out VMware Server this morning just for shits and giggles and I've actually got it running perfectly fine on my W7HP install. I've already got two Server 2008 installs waiting on dcpromo's and I'm currently working on installing a couple of workstations.

I guess maybe it only works with Server versions if you plan on actually using it for production work, but I'm keeping the entire thing local for testing, so maybe that's the difference.

 

[Emulex]

dunno esxi 4.0 works fine running in vmware workstation on windows 7 - ran a pair of windows 2008 server x86

 

[Nothinman]

I tried out VMware Server this morning just for shits and giggles and I've actually got it running perfectly fine on my W7HP install. I've already got two Server 2008 installs waiting on dcpromo's and I'm currently working on installing a couple of workstations.

I guess maybe it only works with Server versions if you plan on actually using it for production work, but I'm keeping the entire thing local for testing, so maybe that's the difference.

AFAIK VMware Server has never had any restrictions on the host OS; as long as the OS is capable of running it, it'll work.