This article shows how to install Windows server 2008 R2 on VirtualBox. Normally, Windows 2008 R2 server available for 64 Bit only, so obviously your computer processor and mother board shoud support 64 Bit architecture and VT.

Even though you are running 32 Bit Operating Systems, such as 32 Bit Windows 7 ,Vista and XP as host, still it’s possible to run 64 Bit operating systems as guest on X86 VirtualBox. To make sure your computer processor and motherboard support this feature read this post. The mentioned post is having tools to check AMD and Intel processors. Once result shows that your PC is 64 Bit is ready then you can proceed the installation of Windows server 2008 R2 on VirtualBox.  Read more...

Here you can see how to setup Microsoft Windows 2008 R2 failover cluster in VMware Workstation.This article contains step by step method on Microsoft windows 2008 R2 failover cluster with freenas iscsi disks in VMware workstation just on your computer.  if you search on internet about setting up Windows 2008 R2 cluster in any desktop virtualization software, you can’t find it in one place.

Installation and setup procedure for MS windows 2003 cluster and earlier versions are available on internet, but not Windows 2008 or R2 failover cluster. Everybody including me stuck in one place while setting up Windows 2008 or R2 cluster in Virtualization environment, which is Cluster disk validation.  This is the main issue on MS windows 2008 R2 cluster in VMware workstation or Sun virtual box desktop virtualization software.  Read more...

UPDATE- Read more here on setting up windows 2008 R2 cluster in VMware workstation using this iSCSI disks.

VMware is one of the coolest virtualization software. It supports most of the operating systems as guest operating system. Microsoft Server operating systems such as windows 2008 and windows 2008 R2 also can be installed in VMware workstation. Here I’m going to show how you can install FreeNAS server onVMware Workstation with iSCSI disks which can be used for your host and guest operating systems. This method will be used to install and configure MS Windows 2008 or Windows 2008 R2 cluster in VMware workstation.  Read more...

Yes, finally one virtual machine software started supporting Windows aero features. VMware workstation 7 supports Windows 7 aero inside the virtual machine. You will get the all cool windows aero features inside the windows 7 virtual machine in VMware workstation 7.

“A new Windows Display Driver Model (WDDM) graphics driver has been developed for Windows Vista and Windows 7 virtual machines. The WDDM driver can display the Windows Aero user interface”

After installed VMware tools in your guest operating system such as Windows Vista and Windows 7, the aero features will start working.

With VMware workstation 7, you can expand the existing disk in virtual machine easily in GUI mode.  Earlier versions of VMware workstations do not support expand disk in GUI , only it can be done in complex commands or additional disks should be added to virtual machine. VMware workstation 7 solved the issue and now expand existing  disk is possible in GUI.

Easy Steps to Expand Disk in VMware workstation

Obviously, the virtual machine should be completely powered off to change the hardware settings.

1)      Click on Edit virtual machine settings and selected the hard disk you want to expand  Read more...

Access Entire Physical Disk

This step by steps method explains how you can access physical disk in desktop virtualization software Sun VirtualBox. Unfortunately this cannot be done easily as how to access physical disk in VMware workstation.

Some commands and hard drive mapping are included in this access physical in Sun VirtualBox process.

You can access host computer’s physical hard disk partition also in this method. This access method is called ‘Raw Disk’ access. Read more about what is Raw Disk

Before start the procedure, let me explain how it’s going to work.

Windows 7 operating system is not listed under Microsoft operating systems in VMware 6.5.1. You can upgrade the latest VMware workstation by visiting VMware site. This article explains How you can Install Windows 7 64Bit on VMware 6.5.1 workstation without any upgrading.

Even if you have 32Bit Host operating system, installing windows 7 64bit in VMware is possible if processor supports 64 bit architecture. Read more about how to install 64Bit guest OS in 32Bit host OS.

Once confirm your processor supports 64bit architecture, select the Windows Vista x64 Edition from Microsoft operating systems while selecting the guest operating system.

Windows Virtual Machine

This step by step method easily explains how to install and run windows 7 virtual machine in Sun VirtualBox. Sun VirtualBox nicely supports windows virtual machines and as per my experience, windows virtual machines work faster in sun VirtualBox than other desktop virtualizations software.

Windows 7 comes with nice features and works really fast. If you are a Windows Vista user, definitely you can feel the difference between vista and windows 7 since you wouldn’t be happy with windows vista. To check the new operating system windows 7 with your all programs and hardware drivers, better to install in one virtual machine and check the compatibility with your day to day IT life.