Windows 7: How to virtualize W2K8 Server on a Win7 Pro 64-bit machine?

I want to try out Windows Server 2008 (preferably r2 - but it can just be W2K8). I would like to run it in a virtual machine on my 64-bit Windows 7 professional installation. I know that my Virtual PC will not run the 64-bit version of the W2K8. It appears that to run r2 I must already have a W2K8 to install it on top of. Please recommend the best scenarios to virtualize...

windows server 2008 r2 (on win7pro)



and

windows server 2008 (on win7pro)

Which virtualization solution do you recommend I use.
Is there a tutorial?

Finally, if I am running W2K8 server on a VM on win7pro, and inside that W2K8 VM I install W2K8 Server r2...... is this even a feasible solution? (Gut tells me no, too slow)...

Thanks

You can use either VMWare Player 3.x (which is what I use and recommend) or you can use Oracle Virtual Box 4.x. Both of these are free, and can run 64bit guests..no problems.

Both VM packages are very easy to use. Just create a VM, and then install from a DVD like you would normally install an operating system. It just loads into the virtual version of it.

Now VMWare Server 2.0 is available as a free download with a trial key. You need to register at VMWare site to download the Server 2.0 and a trial key will be sent to you on email.

You can use this virtualization software to install Windows 2008 on your windows 7 x64 host.

Operating system support: The broadest operating system support of any host-based virtualization platform currently available, including support for Windows Server 2008, Windows Vista Business Edition and Ultimate Edition (guest only), Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5 and Ubuntu 8.04.

64-bit operating system support: Use 64-bit guest operating systems on 64-bit hardware to enable more scalable and higher performing computing solutions. In addition, Server 2 runs natively on 64-bit Linux host operating systems.

Hi there
in addition to the other advice given one of the most important is that your GUEST OS must have sufficient RAM to run.

For W2008 server I would leave a minimum of 1GB for this purpose.

In addition the HOST machine must have sufficient RAM for its operation - if your Host is Windows 7 x-64 you would want at least (IMO) 2GB to run this.

This means ideally your host should have a minimum of 3GB RAM to run your VM and Host.

As RAM is cheap (even for laptops) stick a minimum of 4GB into your machines. 2GB modules are available everywhere for laptops and 4GB modules for Desktops.

You also need FAST disks -- although you can run the W2008 server VM from an external USB disk performance will be disappointing. If you can run it from an SSD then you will definitely be OK.

Cheers
jimbo