vmware help

[annilation]

I have few box that have different roles and I was thinking about building ine machine and using vmware to have multiple virtual maches running. I was thinking a 805d, 2GB ram, with 2x sata II drives in raid 0. Would that work okay and is it a good idea? Also the maches I have that I want to roll into one are:
box 1: fileserver/ftp (debain os)
box 2: server 2003 test box
box 3: Exchange server
box 4: (maybe) web server

 

[dbwillis]

yes, your setup is exactly what I have done with VMWare server (used to use GSX).

Instead of several, smaller, less powerful machines, I parted them out and picked up a good machine.
(2) 2.8 Xeon, server mobo and 2gb PC3200 and a raid setup of 500gb.

Host:>
2003 Server/File-print and fax server

Guests:>
2003 Server/Domain Controller and anti virus server (256mb allocated)
2003 Server/Exchange 2003 (512mb allocated)
2000 Server/Citrix (testing machine) (256mb allocated)
2003 Server/Web server and pop3 server (256mb allocated)

Only problem was that the machines are set for DHCP and the domain controller does DNS and DHCP.
the guests are set to auto start, but Ive found that the Exchange needs to be restarted if it comes up before the domain controller does and cannot contact the DC.

I changed my setup due to this:>
Host :>
2003 Server/Domain controller (DNS+DHCP),File-Print-fax server

Guests :>
2003 Server/Exchange 2003 (512mb)
2003 Server/web server (256mb)
2000 Server/Citrix (testing machine) (512mb)

edit - Im hesitant to put file serving into a VM machine, not due to any problems Ive heard about it (havent heard any negative reports) I just feel safer that my actual files are on the drive, rather than in a virtual drive (wife would freak if I lost the Excel checkboox!)

 

[BinarySynapse]

edit - Im hesitant to put file serving into a VM machine, not due to any problems Ive heard about it (havent heard any negative reports) I just feel safer that my actual files are on the drive, rather than in a virtual drive (wife would freak if I lost the Excel checkboox!)

Couldn't you tell VMware to utilize a physical HD instead of a virtual one? That way if the vm crashed you could access the fiels from the host.

 

[annilation]

I wanted the virtual machine's on their own hard drive then for the file server its additonal drives to be physical. the setup would be:
p4 805d
2gb ram
1x 80gb (sata main drive for host machine)
2x 80 sata II drives in raid 0 (hard drives for virtual maches)
4x 250gb drives (software raid5 on virtual machine)
basic video card
antec 550 watt power supply

also one last thing will it be enough cpu power?

 

[dbwillis]

ryan_975, yes, you can have VMWare use a physical disk, the only drawback I have found is with network disconnects.
Specifically the host machine has a 1gb NIC, but is connected to a 100mb switch (hey, its only at home!) and the virtual machine has a virtual 1gb NIC.

The host machine (2003) sees this as some sort of attack and disconnects, its documented on the VMWare forums.

Thats the only reason I dont have a full file server setup in VMWare.
I do have 3 folders shared on the virtual domain controller:>
1 folder for event logs, 1 folder for redirected mydocuments and a temp shared folder for the users (only 5 user accounts)

I havent messed with any raid from inside a vm machine, but my machines are stored on the raid in the file server, along with the files to be serverd.

 

[annilation]

if I did not do the file server deal would it work?

 

[dbwillis]

You should be able to do it, with the file server deal, no reason it shouldnt work as far as I can tell.

I just feel safer having the actual files being shared by a physical machine, thats just me though