Virtual SQL

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Virtual SQL

Steve Jones - SSC Editor

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Points: 736760
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December 27, 2006 at 2:44 pm

#368692

Virtual SQL
I'm sure most of you have heard of Virtual Earth (or this one). Which one you get depends on whether you search Google or MSN. Apparently the virtual fad has been expanded beyond the map genre.
Now there's
Virtual SQL Server under the new VHD program. In this program you get preconfigured virtual machines of various software applications, including SQL Server in the Virtual Hard Drive (VHD) format. The images require that you have Virtual Server 2005 R2 installed on your machine. It's a good way for you to get a feel for SQL Server, without messing with the install.
For people like my buddy Jon, who've had issues with installing the product, this is a good way to get started. For others who just want to take a look at the new tools, this is a relatively painless way to take a look at the product. The VHD has an image that contains trial software and expires after 30 days.
But why stop there? Why not pre-load the TechNet labs? Why not include images for specific features with preloaded scripts and instructions to allow someone the chance to learn about the new product? Why not include VSTS or other software?
I think this is a good idea for SQL Server and other products, especially as virtualization becomes more and more a part of our lives. It could be taken a step further and specialized, maybe even with recorded mouse scripting to move people around the image for specific tasks.
Maybe we'll even get a locked down, highly secure image with instructions how to set up SQL Server using the best practices from what Microsoft has learned.
Steve Jones

Viewing 9 posts - 1 through 8 (of 8 total)

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Mark Harr SSCrazy Eights Points: 9921 More actions · Answer 1

Actually Steve, they have virtual images for almost all products, even Visual Studio. https://partner.microsoft.com/US/40016111?PS=95000140 It is under the partner program, and you have to be a certified partner to get them. The recent VHD program is an outgrowth of this for marketing those specific server products.

And I do agree. It would be great if all their Hands-on labs were available as VHD, Technet Labs as well as MSDN Labs.

Mark

Jasmine D. Adamson Hall of Fame Points: 3428 More actions · Answer 2

Yeah it's definitely a good product with lots of possibilities. Now all I want to know is what simulator is pictured in the article? Been lookin for a good flight sim

Charles Kincaid SSChampion Points: 13593 More actions · Answer 3

I reccomend X-Plane. http://www.x-plane.com/ There are aircraft makers using this to test designs before going into wind tunnels with models. This is so good that if you mate it to the right hardware the FAA will give you hour for hour credit. Think aout using the same software at home as you use in flight school to brush up on that nasty approach or figure out just how far you can nose up an ATR-77 at full power on take off before the T tail swamps and stalls. Evrything from the Wright Flyer to the new giant Air Buss. And it runs on other platforms than Windows too. Very cool.

ATBCharles Kincaid

Charles Kincaid SSChampion Points: 13593 More actions · Answer 4

Steve. Have been using virtual PC's since they came out. Great way to practice installs.

You are right about extending this concept. Great way to test all ones software on multiple platforms without having dozens of machines everywhere. Imagine being able to demo whole OS releases as well.

Labs come to mind as well. I had access to a J.D.Edwards lab at a former employer. You put a CD into a student machine and booted to that. It would ask you what environment you wanted, reformatted the hard drive and installed everything. Took 30 to 60 minutes per student machine. How much faster that would be if you could just copy a VHD file into place and have the students run some form of thin client.

ATBCharles Kincaid

Jasmine D. Adamson Hall of Fame Points: 3428 More actions · Answer 5

Yeah I've tried X-plane, but it's a little costly, and ran like crap on my old machine. Might be better on the new one, but I'm lookin for a combat sim. I used to play F-18 Hornet online quite a bit, but my Mac is hosed, and there's got to be better stuff now anyway.

Steve Jones - SSC Editor SSC Guru Points: 736760 More actions · Answer 6

Actually JDE went to an even better solution shortly before they were purchsed. We built images on a SAN and had each client connect to a LUN there. They could snap off new images in a few seconds and rebuild an entire class of machines in the 5 or 10 minute break between classes.

I saw VHDs of most products and I think it's pretty cool. I need to give it another try. I have VPC 4.x and it's slow, even with a 2nd hard drive, but I hear good things about the free server version and newest client, so I should give them another spin.

Jasmine D. Adamson Hall of Fame Points: 3428 More actions · Answer 7

I've been playin around with this:

http://www.youos.com

Seems groovy, and would be an alternative solution in the same style. Not very useful yet, but I could see it as a valuable testbed.

Charles Kincaid SSChampion Points: 13593 More actions · Answer 8

I was downsized (2001) out of an employer that wrote lots of code for Edwards customers so I'm not surprised that somebody caught on.

Here at DCT we have virtual servers. Great for testing the deployment of changes and upgrades. I can backup a customer database, restore it to their virtual, and thus recreate their entire environment very quickly.

ATBCharles Kincaid