Windows 7: Remote Virtual Machine

I have one very powerful PC that I would like to use as a VM server, and then I have a netbook and a HP pavilion dv2000 laptop that I would like access the VMs. My ideal setup would be to have my main machine running Windows 7 and have two virtual machines running Windows 7 that would be accessed and used by the netbook and notebook across the network, this would allow the two mobile PCs to make use of the main PC's sizable resources while still being three different machines that can be used by three different people. The reason I want to do this is that I have a lot of people who want to use the computer, but only one that runs Windows, has Office, and is very powerful. Any help on this topic would be appreciated.

Unless you have an enterprise class hypervisor, you may have issues with this. You may want to think of using Hyper-V Server 2008 R2 (free), and virtualising Windows 7 over that.

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windows 2008 R2 server is not free.. technet/msdn subscribtion gives you some keys for testing but not very good for permanent environment, there is evaluation copy of win2k8 server but after evaluation period is over (there is few extensions of that period) you will have to buy or stop using it.

the most powerful free virtualization tool is virtualbox.. other option is vmware but only player (limited version) is free. there is free version of microsoft virtualization virtual pc for client os but its lacking some functionality..

Two different products. As Kebere said, Hyper-V Server 2008 R2 is free, you can download it from here: Download: Microsoft® Hyper-V

Kari

Hi there
another suggestion

If you Download Windows 8 consumer preview (Free) and install VMware workstation rel 8.02 (or later) this can operate your Virtual Machines as Servers where NOBODY needs to be logged on to the host or even have an account on it.

In other words for example users can logon (locally on the same Lan or remote if your router / firewall allows it) to the VM without having to have an account on the Host machine itself.

Of course the Virtual machine will have the same restrictions as to number of concurrent users as a Native machine would -- I use a Windows 2003 Server - but unless you can get some arrangement from work / college (if you are a student you can often get a server OS from Ms via your college) you'll probably have a single user machine such as Windows 7 as the remote Virtual Machine.

VMware's vmserver is now discontinued -- functionality has been incorporated into VMware workstation rel 8.

I haven't tried the facility in Windows 7 but it definitely works in W8 consumer preview -- as far as users of the remote machine are concerned -- no difference as the are only seeing the standard W2003 server login screen.

You wouldn't have ANY problems running 2 or 3 Windows 7 instances as virtual machines on the host and as I said users don't have to have an account on the HOST.

Note that to use say RDP (Remote Desktop) to each virtual machine you will have to arrange for the RDP ports via your router to be mapped differently for each machine as RDP has a standard port setting.

It's fairly simple to set up and if the Windows 7 machines are reasonably identical (should be with Virtual Hardware etc) you can test say one machine and then clone the rest.

Note here to avoid confusion

What I mean here that NORMALLY when you run VMware on a Host YOU (or a USER) have to be logged on to start the VMware program and need to be logged on throughout the life of the application.

What operating it as a "Server" does means that this process can run in the background WITHOUT anybody being logged on to the Host -- so the host gets booted up and starts the VM's and you are in business.

It's probably a bit heavy to start with but if you can perservere and peruse this article it should point you in the right direction --actually although it sounds complex once you've got the basic process going you'll be amazed at how easy it is.


http://kb.vmware.com/selfservice/mic...rnalId=2005585

Cheers
jimbo

If he's going to use Windows 8, he may as well use Hyper-V.

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For the OP: Just be aware that the VMWare Workstation product is a commercial application and does cost $199. I recently bought myself a copy with a discount code from VMWare for $169. It's a really solid product and I felt worth the money

[QUOTE=pparks1;1868939]VMWare Workstation is a great product. However, it would be a really poor choice for hosting guests that someone would connect to via RDP. This is because it's not a true, bare-metal hypervisor. VMWare Workstation introduces a software layer that sits on top of the host OS. It's great for interacting with a guest locally, but once you have someone using the local host, plus running the guests from other PCs via RDP, you're going to start seeing performance issues.

This is why I suggested either Hyper-V Server 200 R2 or the use of Hyper-V on Windows 8 if the OP chooses to install it. Hyper-V, like XenServer and ESXi/vSphere are bare-metal hyperisors. The parent ("host") OS resides on top of the hypervisor, as to all the child ("guest") OSes. There is a reason why server-side hypervisors are created like this.

It's not a true bare metal hypervisor, of course. The Original Poster wanted to continue using his high powered workstation for his everyday tasks, so going with a Hypervisor based solution wasn't appropriate.

I've very familiar with virtaulization stuff. I'm the VMWare vSphere guy at my office. It's what I do for a living. Hyper-V, while a cheaper solution for things like Live Migrations, is a real pain in the ass to work with. I avoid it at all costs.

See, I think that for what he wants, if he's going to use Windows 8, Hyper-V would be a great choice, since it's already there on the client OS, and since he's likely not going to need anything other than a simplie install of Windows as the child.

For the record, I use VMWare Workstation 8 on my laptop. I just wouldn't use it to host VMs for people to remote into.