5 replies to this topic

[levimage]

Does anyone have any experience with MS Windows Virtual PC. I need help with setting up my os for an optimal sandbox configuration. What I would like to do once Virtual PC is setup, is to experiment by learning how to work with Content Management Systems on Windows XP and/or Vista.

I've downloaded several different distributions like Drupal, Joomla, Sugar CRM, Zope, Plone, and some others. But I guess they need other technologies like apache, python, java, mysql, php, and others. I don't have an extra pc or resources to spare for setting up or turning my pc into a server so i'm going to have to go virtual.

I'd appreciate a response if you have any experience with the above mentioned technologies. Like how long you've been using it and how what you recommend to another to get started learning.

Thanks for your reply in advance,

Levimage

[vujsa]

I'm not sure what you are wanting here. You said that you don't have the resources to turn your PC into a server but you have enough to use it as a virtual PC?
The virtual PC software creates these virtual PC's on your system so that in effect, you would have a window running WIN98, a window running WINXP, and your main OS would be WIN Vista...

So, you'll be using the memory and CPU resources for each OS at the same time plus the Virtual PC software...

Additionally, I'm not sure if you can use Linux as one of the virtual machines. If you aren't using Linux, then you might as well just use your current OS as the server by installing Apache, PHP, MySQL for Windows. There are several All-In-One packages for this type of "TEST" server or you can do it manually. Running such server software in the background of your Windows system will use much fewer resources than running virtual machines.

I may have missed what you were asking but if you just want to run a PHP based CMS on your PC, then there is a lot of information on this forum as well as all over the internet about that. I personally run a Windows version of Apache, PHP, MySQL, and PERL on my system which allows me to test scripts without the need to upload files after every change. I also provide to friends and family the address to my system to let them view photos and videos I have on my computer. Cheaper than burning a CD or DVD every time one of the kids has a birthday.

Keep in mind, You have to have one of the following Operating Systems to host Virtual PC:
Windows Vista Business, Windows Vista Enterprise, Windows Vista Ultimate, Windows Server 2003 Standard Edition, Windows Server 2003 Standard x64 Edition, Windows XP Professional, or Windows XP Tablet PC Edition

And you your "GUEST" OS can be from the following:
Windows 98, Windows 98 Second Edition; Windows Millennium Edition (Windows Me); Windows 2000 Professional; Windows XP Home Edition; Windows XP Professional; Windows Vista Enterprise; Windows Vista Business; Windows Vista Ultimate; OS/2 Warp Version 4 Fix Pack 15, OS/2 Warp Convenience Pack 1, OS/2 Warp Convenience Pack 2

You'll need to purchase each OS used either as "HOST" or "GUEST"!

For more information:
http://www.microsoft...pc/default.mspx

Hope this helps.

vujsa

[Mark420]

I would go EVERY time for XAMPP, it is soo easy to configure...just point it to a folder and its done!
What does XAMMP give you ? Apache, MySQL,PHP, MecuryMail, Filezilla, PHPMyAdmin and more...
What I find soo easy about using xampp is that you dont have to have any of the servers running all day long slowing down your pc, you have a XAMPP control panel and when you want to start designing or testing you push a few buttons and wham Apache is up, MySQL is up, FTP is up and mail is up.
Also dont get me wrong, the control panel is a nicety! ofc all the full blown features of apache etc are there to be twiddled and fiddled to your hearts desire, but default out of the box install seems to work 100% fine for me everytime.Of course you can exactly mirror your webhosts setup if you like with XAMPP also, by installing mods for apache and different versions of php and MySQL etc etc.
Its the perfect devel tool for any MySql powered CMS system to make a test sandbox at home.
I have about 30 sites atm sitting on my test server, lucky for me I use Joomla a lot, I do all the devel work on a clients site on my server, showcase it here to the client, then upload it to his server, and Joomla helps soo much cos all I have to do is copy the dbs and change one line of a config file with a new URL and the site is moved;)

Ive tried a few diff all in one servers before but XAMPP is the best, and ofc its on Linux - MAC and Solaris so no matter what OS you are running for devel you can run XAMPP.

[Jimmy89]

I would go EVERY time for XAMPP, it is soo easy to configure...just point it to a folder and its done!

I have to agree with Mark, it is one of the easiest software apps to install and you'll have a web server up and running in a few moments. Then its a case of trying each of your CMS's downloaded.

If you don't want to run a web server off your current setup, you could think about purchasing a second hard drive (they come very cheap these days), installing that into your computer and run the server from the second hard drive. You would have to of cause install a second operating system onto the hard drive, I suggest a Linux OS like Fedora or OpenSUSE. I think Fedora 8 comes with a pre-installed version of apache2, you would just have to install PHP and MySQL to run most of those CMS's you specified before.

Unless you have a really good computer, or heaps of spare memory and processor time, Virtual PC would be a waste of time. It would be really slow, especially if you are running XP or Vista and then XP or Vista again in VPC. It would take twice as much memory then the Host OS and would slow your computer down dramatically.

Good Luck
-jimmy

[levimage]

By resources I mean I don't have enough spare computer parts to build an adequate server capable of running muti-test server configurations. I got a free copy of Virtual PC 2004 at a M$ training long time ago... don't ask what for.

My PC is an XP/SP2 slipstream setup with minor reg changes/services disabled. I have 2GB memory, 2.4 GHz Dual Core E6600, and I'll have +80 GB of hard drive space if i backup my movies/music to DVD's. I guess i really won't need to Upgrade to Vista for any virtualization benefits. Vujsa I have original oem/retail CD's/license to 95, 98, NT Wrk/Server, 2k Wrk/Svr, and XP 2003/Server; other M$ stuff are old TechNet trials/subscription media. I have not learned/used any released within the last 2-3 years. I just downloaded the 2007 Virtual PC; a free download.

Mark420, I wonder what the 420 is for . Thanks for the link. I guess that will be my starting point for installed webserver and other packages. Now i just need to check for compatible versions within the download. This will make it eaiser and expose me to other compilimentary internet technologies.

Jimmy89, thanks for the hard drive idea. I guess i can try that if I'm not getting the results I want with the Virtual setup. Hardware wise i could always use more space and offer some a better configuration option for pagefile.sys or mapping a virtual hardrive to physical drive. The motherboard I have has 4 sata connectors, which I guess i should upgrade my current os installation to.

For myself, my motherboard can hold up to 16 GB of PC800 DDR2, do the Quad-Core, and the PCI-X16. But for now I have to make do with what I have cause and it's the holidays so any extra money should I acquire any will be tied up. Thanks for the responses guys. This gives me a good place to plan thing out rather than just jump right in and wonder why things are not working or are not as I'd expect performance wise.

Happy Holidays,
Levimage

[Sten]

i use xampp too.

its not recomended to use it as an actual server, even apache friends say thet if you want a server then get apache, mysql, php, phpmyadmin and everything else u need separately. xampp is mainly for testing environments.