Virtualization Technology Recommendation

[MikeH30]

I would like to create two virtual servers on a SLES 11 host. I plan on using SLES 11 as the guest OS in both virtual servers. I intend to have one virtual server as a low traffic web server and the second virtual server as a "mirrored" web server to an off site web server.

I have experience with both Virtual Box and VMware Server 2.0 ( free version). What do others recommend I use for my virtualization solution - Virtual Box or VMware Server? I am more comfortable with Virtual Box however I am not opposed to using VMware Server if that would be the better choice for my scenario.

Thanks.

-Mike

[gogalthorp]

I use and like VMware Server, but I basically use it to run XP for Windows software development on the desktop.

Never used Virtual Box

I'd say either would be fine for what you want. Just a note though be sure to have plenty of memory. The more the better. When I first started with VMware I only had 1 gig and saw noticeable delays in the guest. Put in another gig and now XP runs like it was on a separate machine.

[MikeH30]

Thanks Gogalthorp!

I started out with VMware Server becuase I learned about it from "The Perfect Desktop" series by Falko Timme for OpenSuse 10.3 and 11.0. Then in the OpenSuse 11.1 release of "The Perfect Desktop" tutorials (The Perfect Desktop - OpenSUSE 11.1 (GNOME) | HowtoForge - Linux Howtos and Tutorials) Falko switched to Virtual Box.

The reason I like Virtual Box is because after every kernel update, I don't have to re-install Virtual Box like I did with VMware Server. I used VMware Server and Virtual box to run a windows XP guest for legacy windows applications in our office. This will be my first shot at running with Linux server guests. I will keep in mind to have plenty of memory to run both virtual servers.

-Mike

[MikeH30]

Gogalthorp,

Do you use the free version of VMware Server? Would the free version be sufficient to run SLES11? The primary use of my virtual server is for a low traffic web site.

Thanks.

-Mike

[HROAdmin26]

The reason I like Virtual Box is because after every kernel update, I don't have to re-install Virtual Box like I did with VMware Server.

VMware does not get "re-installed." Just like the nVidia/ATI video drivers, the modules loaded by VMware are compiled for the running kernel. If the kernel is updated, the modules just need to be recompiled.

Do you use the free version of VMware Server?

Yes, there is no other version of VMware Server.

Would the free version be sufficient to run SLES11?

Yes

[MikeH30]

Thanks for clarifying HROAdmin26!

I am currently testing SLES11 as a Zen guest on SLES 11 host. Finally got Zen working but was thinking of trying VMware Server for comparison. I have only used virtualization thus far ( Virtual Box and VMware Server) for XP guests and never a server guest.

I thought I would stay with Zen because it ships with SLES11 but there were some issues I was trouble shooting in another post.

-Mike