Virtualization

[Alendri]

I've decided to create a new thread after we drifted toward this subject in another post. Please read https://forum.videohelp.com/topic337235.html for the original posts.

To again state my original thoughts on the matter here's a quote of myself from previous thread:

...i'm wondering if it is possible (in an easy manner) to use 2 monitors, one OS on each monitor, and have one keyboard/mouse for each of those OSs?
For example running an extra OS that i put on the TV for media, while still having a separate OS on the computer screen, with independent keyboard/mouse inputs.
I have Vista 64 ultimate, and would use that as base, but if i was to install another OS would i need a license for that one as well, and could i use the same copy as i have now a 2nd time?

I've been doing so research on the subject, but without much success so far. I have learnt a great deal on the matter, but not the specific problem i have. I've understood that people don't want to split their computer in to many but rather bring many in to one. However there are a few smart people that have had the very same ideas i have, but none of them seem to have found a good solution.

Any thoughts on the matter would be greatly appreciated, links to other forums or informational sites are also most welcome.

//Alendri

[lordsmurf]

Yeah, you can do this.

Run Windows Vista as the main OS. You'll need a powerful CPU (Intel C2D), lots of RAM (4GB preferred), at least two hard drives (preferred), and a big powerful video card (ATI or nVidia).

Run Virtual PC 2007 (free from MS). Put whatever OS you want in it.

Have the video card do dual monitors.

Run the VPC session full screen on the second desktop, on the second monitor.

I do this, no problem.

You can also have two separate computers, with only one having a plugged keyboard/monitor. I'd suggest a gigabit ethernet (1000BASE-T) for this one, not typical 100BASE-T. Then remote desktop into the second system, full screen on the second monitor. Heck, you can do this with 3-4 monitors if you want, something very common in IT environments that have servers in separate rooms or locations.

[lordsmurf]

Actually, the separate mouse/keyboard may be an issue.

If you run two computers, you can use a KVM.

[Alendri]

Thanks for the response lordsmurf,

Indeed running different OSs on different screens is not a real problem, i've learnt of several software solutions that can manage that. MS Virtual PC being one of them, WMvares Workstation another.
As can be read in the previous post the computer specs should not be a problem with Dual Quad Xeon processors and 8gb worth of ram with a 8800GTX vga card.

However, as you pointed out the keyboard is the problem. None of the virtualization softwares i've found so far seem to openly support it. I did find one that did that, but it required a separate vga card per OS, and i don't think it really virtulized, more like ran an emulator for every application the 2nd user launched (i'm not sure about this though, further research required).

I will write to as many manufacturers of virtualization software as i can find and ask them if it is possible to do what i want. If anyone knows any particular good software developer i should look up on i would appreciate it.

If anyone has any good virtualization information source i'd love to know about it. I'm trying to look in to the hardware-enabled virtualization technologies from Intel and AMD, to see what that does for me, after all the chipset in the computer and the Xeon 5300 series support virtualization. But i don't know if this does me any good.

If anyone can find an email address to WMvare without having to go through a sales rep that would be GREAT.

Thanks in advance
//Alendri

[Des]

I just started using Virtual Box, on my Vista 64 machine,
http://www.virtualbox.org/
which is free and supports USB devices. A little harder to set up than MS VM but not by much.

--dES

[Alendri]

Much appreciated Des, thanks for the tip.
I'll look in to it.

//Alendri