Microsoft Virtual Server

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Microsoft Virtual Server
Basic data

developer Microsoft
Publishing year September 13, 2004
Current  version VS 2005 R2, with SP1
operating system Windows
category Emulation , virtualization
License Microsoft - EULA ( proprietary )
German speaking Yes
Website: www.microsoft.com/germany/virtualserver/

Microsoft Virtual Server is virtualization software thatenablesadministration and access to multiple virtual machines .

overview

Similar to the Windows Virtual PC , a complete runtime environment is made available for the guest OS without affecting the host OS. This enables several operating systems to be run on one server .

In contrast to Windows Virtual PC, however, Microsoft Virtual Server enables a direct connection to the guest systems without going through the host OS. Virtual Server 2005 R2 is a hybrid virtualization solution. This means that the VMM (Virtual Machine Monitor) runs parallel to the host operating system.

There are 2 different editions:

  • Virtual Server 2005 Standard Edition
  • Virtual Server 2005 Enterprise Edition

System requirements

The minimum requirements for Virtual Server 2005 R2 are:

  • Processor: Pentium III , Athlon with 550 MHz or more (1.0 GHz is recommended)
  • RAM: 256 MB
  • Host operating system:

Since Server 2005 R2 SP1, hardware virtualization (native virtualization) has also been supported by Intel ( Intel VT ) and AMD ( AMD-V ).

Virtual Server can be obtained free of charge from the Microsoft website. Each installed guest operating system must be licensed separately again.

Basics

Virtual hard disk

To install a guest operating system, it is necessary to create a virtual hard disk . The file format for this was called Virtual Hard Disk , with the file extension .vhd . These hard disks can be created with either a fixed or a dynamic size. In the case of dynamic size, only the maximum size is specified during creation, which the container file must not exceed. With the fixed size, the file is exactly the same size as it was specified when it was created - regardless of whether it is actually filled with data or not.

Configuration file

The second most important is probably the configuration file that is created for each virtual server. Parameters such as main memory , network configuration, name, etc. are saved in this file . The configuration file has the extension vmc and can be viewed and opened with any text editor. The file is in XML format, so a reader that supports XML format is preferable.

administration

Both the hard disk and the configuration file are managed via a web interface that runs on the Microsoft web server IIS. However, it is also possible to manage a virtual server system "remotely". The configuration file can be edited in the administration interface, Microsoft Virtual Server Add-Ins can be installed, scripts can be executed and many other settings can be made.

In addition, the virtual hard disks are managed here, and drives and network connections of the host OS are "connected" to the guest OS.

Virtual machine remote control client

Similar to an RDP connection, the guest OS is operated via the RSC. This adapts to the resolution of the host OS. With the help of the virtual server machine add-ins, seamless operation is possible, for example the mouse can be used in the guest as well as in the host without switching. There is always a host key (can be set) with which you can "jump" from the guest OS back to the host OS (if something gets stuck or if you want to exit full screen mode [host + Enter] ).

properties

  • Cluster capable since SP1 Beta
  • Possibility to define differential reference drives (saves hard drive space and accelerates the setup of the virtual server)
  • available free of charge after registration
  • No 64-bit operating systems can be installed on the virtual servers - even if the host is a 64-bit system and runs with the 64-bit version of Virtual Server. This can only be done by Hyper-V , the successor to Virtual Server, under Windows Server 2008.

Migration tool

In 2006 Microsoft presented the Virtual Server 2005 Migration Toolkit . This allows physical servers to be migrated into virtual environments.

See also

literature

  • Anil Desai: The Rational Guide to Managing Microsoft Virtual Server 2005. Rational Press, 2006, ISBN 1-932577-28-9 .
  • R. Dittner, M. Ten Seldam, D. Rule: Virtualization with Microsoft Virtual Server 2005. Syngress, 2006, ISBN 1-59749-106-3 .
  • Robert Larson, Janique Carbone: Microsoft® Virtual Server 2005 R2 Resource Kit. Microsoft Press, 2007, ISBN 978-0-7356-2381-1 .
  • Ben Armstrong: Professional - Microsoft Virtual Server 2005. Wrox, 2007, ISBN 978-0-470-10917-5 .

Web links