Would learning networking and differant OS's using a virtual machine be a very good idea?

[coolred]

I want to start learning more about networking and other OS's other then windows. I had planned to build a second rig and start learning with a small 2 computer network. But then I learned of virtual machines and what they can do. Well I don't know everything they can do yet, but I understand what they do to some extent. I also know that they are often times used as learning aids in place of a full blown network. Just kind wondering what option would be better. A physical 2 rig network or a single or possibly 2 rig network also using virtual machines to emulate other computers on the network. Any other info you can provide to help me understand this would be great as well.

 

[JackMDS]

Virtual machine is really Fun. Virtual Network has few limitation as compare to hardware Network but, for most it is a Very Good learning tool.

You can download a 45 Days Trial Version and give it a spin. Takes only few minutes to install the actual Consul program.

This page has a short intro as well as the link to the trial: Link to: Microsoft Virtual PC 2004-A Network Perspective.

:sun:

 

[coolred]

You must live in here, I don't post in networking too much, but I think you have been the first to reply to every thread I have started in here. I appreciate your help, thanks for the link.

Can you tell me what limitations the virtual network will have? Hopefully something I can work around by having 2 computers maybe. Also how hard is it to use?



So no MacOS support in virtual PC?


And a gig of ram looks like the minimum requirment. I only have 512MB in my current rig, would that be enough to at least let me start playing with it, to see if I like it?

 

[coolred]

An x86-based computer with a 400 MHz or faster processor with L2 cache. Faster would be better. Much better. Virtual PC supports the use of AMD Athlon/Duron, Intel Celeron & Intel Pentium II or "better" 32 bit processors. (This is a hard requirement; if your processor's name isn't on the list it won't work. This is of particular importance to Tablet users as a good few of these use the Transmeta processors, so be sure your processor is supported before buying Virtual PC 2004.)

So does that mean it won't work with Xeons? Or does the "or better" part include the Xeons?

 

[phisrow]

Xenons are, in most respects, equivalent or better(architecturally, often lower in bus speed) to Pentiums of the same vintage. A Xenon based system should work just fine(both because it is so close to being a P4, or P3 for older Xenons, system and because MS would be absolutely insane to not support Xenons in any of their pro products.)

 

[hopejr]

I've used virtual machines in the past to do the same thing, and it was great! Didn't need to worry about dual booting, nor did I need to get another system.

 

[coolred]

Originally posted by: phisrow
Xenons are, in most respects, equivalent or better(architecturally, often lower in bus speed) to Pentiums of the same vintage. A Xenon based system should work just fine(both because it is so close to being a P4, or P3 for older Xenons, system and because MS would be absolutely insane to not support Xenons in any of their pro products.)

That kind aleads me to an off topic question, why is it that the xeons are often lower in bus speed then the pentiums? It doesn't really make sense. I got a pair of 1.6LV xeons, they are 533Mhz FSB, but I am hoping to get them running at 800Mhz FSB and hopefully close to 3.0Ghz on a PC-DL.

 

[InlineFive]

Originally posted by: coolred

An x86-based computer with a 400 MHz or faster processor with L2 cache. Faster would be better. Much better. Virtual PC supports the use of AMD Athlon/Duron, Intel Celeron & Intel Pentium II or "better" 32 bit processors. (This is a hard requirement; if your processor's name isn't on the list it won't work. This is of particular importance to Tablet users as a good few of these use the Transmeta processors, so be sure your processor is supported before buying Virtual PC 2004.)

So does that mean it won't work with Xeons? Or does the "or better" part include the Xeons?

The Xeons are actually SMP capable versions of their Pentium counterpart. They are just saying that as long as you have a mainstream processor you will be fine.

 

[JackMDS]

Currently Microsoft VPC is OS dependent.

There is a version for WinXP, and a Server Version for Win2003.

Any computer that runs WinXP or Win2003 will run it.

There is also a version for MAC.

The MAC version can emulate PC too (The PC version Can Not emulate MAC).

As for the differences between using real Hardware or VPC, it is a Very long story and you have to understand the VPC way of working in order to get into it.

Let me just talk about one issue.

VPC emulate a Very specific Virtual computer. It does Not matter what is the Hardware on the Host computer, you can have the most expensive NVIDIA Video Card and Giga NIC etc. The VPC sticks with it own hardware emulation and it can not be changed.

As an Example the current VPC emulates:

Intel BX chipset.

S3 Trio Video

Intel 10/100 Pro NIC

:sun:

 

[amdskip]

We use virtual pc at work while taking calls at the helpdesk. Some of the guys have various distributions of linux running on it too and it works pretty good. One guy was messing with DOS too just for kicks.

 

[coolred]

Sweet thanks for the info.

 

[PELarson]

Originally posted by: coolred
Sweet thanks for the info.

And did you know that you can download a 45-day trial version of Virtual PC 2004 from the Microsoft website?

 

[coolred]

Thanks

 

[coolred]

I'm back, I downloaded the trial version and first thing I tried to install Ubuntu Linux. It took a while, but installed fine, unfortunately it didn't fully work, I should ahve read more baout what works with VPC. Since Ubuntu said yes, but if you clicked the link it said it booted in 8 bit mode, theres a way to fix it, but I am not gonna worry about it.


But when it comes to other linux distros that offer a differant distro for differant CPU's, do i download the distro for my athlon XP, or does it have to be for an intel CPU, since VPC uses an intel chipset?

 

[coolred]

I have been playing with my trial version of VPC 2004, its been fun thus far, my Suse install seems to take forever though. I tried installing it once and it said 2 hours remaining. I came back about 5 hours later it was at 5 percent and still said 2 hours remaining. I quit it for now, but will play with it again later.


I have been reading more and more and am wondering if anybody here has any experience with VMware. I hear its a bit harder to use then VPC, but it appears to be better in almost every way. It also supposrts SMP to some extent, which will be great for my dual Xeons.