February 13, 2014 at 8:30 pm
Comments posted to this topic are about the item VMs for Development
February 13, 2014 at 10:54 pm
I use VMs for a few different things.
I use VMs for my lab. I also use them to keep VPN clients separate.
Here's a series of articles I did on setting up a lab with VMs
http://jasonbrimhall.info/2012/12/24/on-the-twelfth-day/
http://jasonbrimhall.info/2012/12/23/on-the-eleventh-day/
http://jasonbrimhall.info/2012/12/22/on-the-tenth-day/
Jason...AKA CirqueDeSQLeil
_______________________________________________
I have given a name to my pain...MCM SQL Server, MVP
SQL RNNR
Posting Performance Based Questions - Gail Shaw[/url]
Learn Extended Events
February 14, 2014 at 2:32 am
I agree that VMs are a given.
I stick to Microsoft software all the way. Now my desktop/laptop client can be a client OS as opposed to a server OS due to the removal of technical restrictions from Win 8 Pro onwards. I would recommend forming a backup strategy to incorporate both to enable current work and to return to former work. Even if it is as simple as file copies.
As for licensing, I have an MSDN subscription (it was called Ultimate at the time i.e. the whole monty) which I have found to be rare amongst contractors, however, I have immediate access to pretty much all Microsoft software and I believe that most, if not all, are available within that licence for development. There are restrictions on the number of times you can install some software but with reasonably careful management I have yet to run out. I am sure that if I did run out then a call to MSDN would resolve the situation as they have the history of my licence claims to see that I am only using it appropriately.
Gaz
-- Stop your grinnin' and drop your linen...they're everywhere!!!
February 14, 2014 at 5:17 am
I have been using VM's for years now - MS ActionPack is a good alternative to full MSDN for this. I do a lot of Visual Studio development and have tended to have a VM per Visual Studio version so when you have to go back to some old code to make mods you don't have to risk upgrading projects etc for small changes - I have VM's all the way back to VS6 and what is nice is I don't have to fire them up except when needed and they migrate on with my main VM host box each time that gets upgraded.
I use VMWare WorkStation and a good tip is to aim the suspend file at an SSD - then the VM suspends and resumes super fast so you can shut down and reopen VM's dedicated to specific tasks without too much delay
James Horsley
Workflow Consulting Limited
February 14, 2014 at 8:17 am
I use Oracle VirtualBox for VM's. The primary reason when I started using it is that it is open source and installs its own virtual machine so you can run VM's on non-professional versions of windows. I'm not sure that that Microsoft restriction is still in place with Win 8.
I use it for test, but install my development tools in my base layer operating system. However, some things (android dev) I setup in their own VM.
I still haven't gotten to the point where I don't install anything in the base layer operating system, but I hope to get there at some point.
February 14, 2014 at 8:24 am
Joe Johnson-482549 (2/14/2014)
I still haven't gotten to the point where I don't install anything in the base layer operating system, but I hope to get there at some point.
I am shooting for that at some point too. It makes it sooo much easier to transition base machines when needed.
Jason...AKA CirqueDeSQLeil
_______________________________________________
I have given a name to my pain...MCM SQL Server, MVP
SQL RNNR
Posting Performance Based Questions - Gail Shaw[/url]
Learn Extended Events
February 14, 2014 at 8:25 am
I still haven't gotten to the point where I don't install anything in the base layer operating system, but I hope to get there at some point.
I mainly don't install stuff to the host machine now on my desktop - on my notebook I do because it is a bit of a hassle always having to fire up VM's for things. The real benefit is when you upgrade - just copy over the VM's and away you go (actually I also use removable hard disk caddies so no copy either).
James Horsley
Workflow Consulting Limited
February 14, 2014 at 8:31 am
I've used VMWare Player (now Player Plus) and VirtualBox. Both are good, unfortunately it's not so easy to change from one to another (I've tried this week).
With a PC with 16 GB Ram as minimum you can have several VMs running without problem.
February 14, 2014 at 10:05 am
I use a hosted series of VMs at Cloudshare which makes them accessible from their web interface. These are good for development and testing. I've tried building VMs using Hyper-V on Windows 8. However, I always have trouble configuring the virtual network adapter so that the hosted VM can get connectivity to the Internet. I also use Azure for development and testing, as well as proof of concept work. I receive $50/month credit as a Microsoft Action Pack subscriber. These are all ways to be more productive and provide suitable development environments without buying new hardware.
February 14, 2014 at 10:07 am
James Horsley (2/14/2014)
I still haven't gotten to the point where I don't install anything in the base layer operating system, but I hope to get there at some point.
I mainly don't install stuff to the host machine now on my desktop - on my notebook I do because it is a bit of a hassle always having to fire up VM's for things. The real benefit is when you upgrade - just copy over the VM's and away you go (actually I also use removable hard disk caddies so no copy either).
Even better. I'm not a fan of the time it takes to get a new workstation working just right. SO much easier to just fire it up and go.
Jason...AKA CirqueDeSQLeil
_______________________________________________
I have given a name to my pain...MCM SQL Server, MVP
SQL RNNR
Posting Performance Based Questions - Gail Shaw[/url]
Learn Extended Events
February 14, 2014 at 12:37 pm
Mauricio N (2/14/2014)
I've used VMWare Player (now Player Plus) and VirtualBox. Both are good, unfortunately it's not so easy to change from one to another (I've tried this week).With a PC with 16 GB Ram as minimum you can have several VMs running without problem.
You've brought up a point which I don't know the answer to, and that's how much RAM the host PC should have, in order to handle VM's. Here at work I've got a PC with 16GB if RAM, just like you said you have. But at home, well not so much. What do you (and others) think is a minimum amount of RAM to make hosting a VM or two viable?
Kindest Regards, Rod Connect with me on LinkedIn.
February 14, 2014 at 12:41 pm
What do you (and others) think is a minimum amount of RAM to make hosting a VM or two viable?
IMHO, at least 8gb RAM. 16gb is optimal, and 32gb is perfect.
February 14, 2014 at 12:46 pm
Sid Childers (2/14/2014)
What do you (and others) think is a minimum amount of RAM to make hosting a VM or two viable?
IMHO, at least 8gb RAM. 16gb is optimal, and 32gb is perfect.
I agree.
With 16GB, I can run multiple VMs at a time without hurting performance. More memory would be great.
Jason...AKA CirqueDeSQLeil
_______________________________________________
I have given a name to my pain...MCM SQL Server, MVP
SQL RNNR
Posting Performance Based Questions - Gail Shaw[/url]
Learn Extended Events
February 14, 2014 at 12:57 pm
James Horsley (2/14/2014)
I still haven't gotten to the point where I don't install anything in the base layer operating system, but I hope to get there at some point.
I mainly don't install stuff to the host machine now on my desktop - on my notebook I do because it is a bit of a hassle always having to fire up VM's for things. The real benefit is when you upgrade - just copy over the VM's and away you go (actually I also use removable hard disk caddies so no copy either).
I am also doing the same, I have nothing installed on my host, since using windows 8.1 and have projects to visual studio 6, use multiple VMs to emulate windowsxp, windows7, sql server, etc..
They are very easy to raise, clone without reinstalling anything
February 14, 2014 at 1:03 pm
Rod at work (2/14/2014)
Mauricio N (2/14/2014)
I've used VMWare Player (now Player Plus) and VirtualBox. Both are good, unfortunately it's not so easy to change from one to another (I've tried this week).With a PC with 16 GB Ram as minimum you can have several VMs running without problem.
You've brought up a point which I don't know the answer to, and that's how much RAM the host PC should have, in order to handle VM's. Here at work I've got a PC with 16GB if RAM, just like you said you have. But at home, well not so much. What do you (and others) think is a minimum amount of RAM to make hosting a VM or two viable?
I have 8Gb Ram, and can use 3 VM at the time, one xp, one 7 pro, one server 2008
I setup each one with 2Gb of Ram,
Generally is rare that I use more than 2 VM at the time, but when I do my RAM is close to aneurism
I gonna update to 16Gb to be fresh
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