If you’ve ever had the need to run multiple Operating Systems on your computer, needed to test out new programs, or wanted to maximize your security — then creating a virtual machine might be the answer for you!
What is a Virtual Machine?
Let’s start with what a virtual computer is.
In short, a virtual machine is basically a computer on a computer. Meaning, I can run Windows XP on my computer and have a different OS on it inside my virtual machine at the same time. This is good for more reasons than you may think.
First off it’s convenient. Rather than having 3 different physical machines and having to install operating systems on each one, you can use VMware Server to create and manage all of your different OS’s.
You can also conserve energy and space by having just one machine with three different computers on it.
How about the ease of sharing — you can create a virtual machine and send it to a friend/coworker without having to deal with installation, CD’s, serial codes, etc.
Also backup purposes — you don’t have to worry about messing up your main operating system when you can screw up the virtual one, throw it away and create another one.
Let me give you my practical use of VMware Server.
My company does various types of training on a weekly basis ranging in all different types of programs and operating systems. Rather than sending individual cd’s, serial number, instructions, etc., each location is sent a virtual machine with all the necessary components and they can run that machine using VMware player. It makes life so much easier.
Whatever the reason, VMware Server is a helpful tool and it is easy to configure and use.
Getting VMware Server for Free
The first thing you want to do is get VMware server. It’s a free download; all you have to do is go to www.VMware.com, click on the Downloads link on the right and find VMware Server.
After you click on the Free Download link you will have to register with an email and they will send you a link to download the server. Once the download has finished you will want to make sure you don’t have any other VMware tools installed on your computer, specifically VMware player.
VMware player is what is used to play virtual machines. When you create a virtual machine on the server and send it to another computer/person, that machine will need VMware player to play the virtual machine.
VMware Server Installation
The installation is fairly straightforward.
You may get a message depending on whether or not you have IIS (Internet Information Services ) installed. You can continue with the installation and set it up later or install VMware Server after IIS is installed.
Note: It is not essential that you install IIS for what we’re doing here.
To install IIS go to Control Panel → Add Remove Programs → Add Remove Windows Components and make sure IIS is checked. You will also need your Windows installation disk.
Follow the setup guide and it will walk you through the installation. It will ask you for a serial at the end.
The download is free and so is the serial code. You can find it here and all you have to do is register your info (Phony McRingRing will do) and they will email you a serial code.
Creating a Virtual Machine
Once you start your VMware Sever you will be asked to choose between Local and Remote connect — select Local.
Next, choose the option for New Virtual Machine — this is the first step to creating your virtual computer.
Your next choice will be Typical or Custom Setup, go ahead and select Typical.
What Type of Operating System Are You Creating?
In the next step you will be asked to specify which OS you will be creating. You can create any type you want — Windows, Linux, Other. And don’t worry, you can always change this later on.
For this example I will select Linux/Mandriva.
Name & Network Type?
Your next choice will be the name and location of your Virtual Machine. And after that there will be the network type. Basically, how will your virtual machine connect to the Internet?
Go ahead and use Bridge Networking — it’s the best option and it will allow the guest operating system to have its own IP address and connect to the Internet.
Almost Done!
Next what you have to do is allocate the disk space for your new virtual machine. This really depends on how much space you want and what you intend to do with it. Just select enough space for the OS and some extra for programs you will be installing.
After a few minutes you will have your new virtual machine.
On the left it will list the Virtual machines you’ve created (for me it just says Mandriva). You can create as many as need and the tools at the top will allow you to start, shutdown, restart, maximize window, etc.
FYI — you can also click on the edit button on top to make changes to the operating system, disk space, etc.
Installing the OS on Your Virtual Machine
Remember you’ve only just allocated space for the virtual machine; you still have to install the Operating System.
Installing the OS on the virtual machine is as simple as putting the boot disk into the CD drive and starting your virtual machine. Once you start the virtual machine the installation process will begin.
You’ll have to go through the normal steps as you would be installing the OS on a new computer. You can install any operating system on your virtual machine, just make sure that you allocated enough disk space to do so.
You double click into the virtual machine to take control and to get out just enter Control – Alt – Delete.
Remember that you can always put your virtual machine on a CD and send it to another machine/friend/etc. Just make sure you power down the virtual machine beforehand. It’s like making sure you shut down your computer before you unplug it.
Also, you must have VMware player installed to use a virtual machine on a CD, which is another free download from our friends at VMware.
Lastly, if your virtual machine is running sluggish you will want to allocate some more RAM. You can do this in the Server by clicking on Edit Virtual Machine and upping the RAM.
That’s about it. Good Luck!
Can VMWare be installed on windows 7 home edition?
i have program to power on and power of the virtual machine but i m not getting how to controll these operations with virtual machine and how to connect the program to virtual machine? so please help me in this processs,..