Virtualization Head to Head: Simple Benchmarking with Windows 7

Destiny has introduced me to something called open source. My company inability to afford Microsoft & the gang in BSA forced me & most my users to use open source as my daily OS & application. For OS we choose Ubuntu, just because most website it was the most popular distro (don't use this if you don't have internet connection. Time by time we enjoyed this experience. Sometimes i really missed my iTunes, QuickTime. What should I do? You can remote to XP machine or Win server. Or try this new (not really new) big bang in IT technology. VIRTUALIZATION


There are a lot solution for this. Maybe one the most known brand for this field is VMware. Now I try to compare VMware Server 2 with another free Sun VirtualBox 4.2. I will install both solution on Ubuntu 8.10 Itrepid Ibex. My desktop specification: Intel Core 2 Duo E7300 2.66GHz, 2xKingston 1GB 667MHz, Intel DG31PR, XFX Geforce 8400GS 256MB, Hitachi 80GB SATA, Hitachi 500GB SATA

A. Install VirtualBox 4.2 & Windows 7 beta
1. Download Virtual Box from http://www.virtualbox.org/wiki/Linux_Downloads depend on your distro. Mine is Ubuntu 8.10
2. Install it (double click) and it will find the necessary additional package by itself (that what i love from Ubuntu 8.10 thanks to synaptic). If you are an expert you can use command line and share it with us :)
3. Run it from "Applications - System Tools - Sun xVM VirtualBox"
4. Click "New", type name andselect the correct guest OS (windows & version)
5. Determine the RAM size (mine 512),
6. Create the Virtual HD and finish.
7. Choose your new guest OS and click setting and mount your CD/DVD-ROM to install your Windows 7 or you can mount ISO image like I did.
8. Setting another option if you wish to (boot sequence, VGA memory size, network type, etc)
9. Now Start and finish your Windows 7 installation (most of you must have familiar)
This is the screen capture of my installation.

VirtualBox setting



Windows 7 welcome screen



The Gadget (true Vista II)



Performance Index (don't dream play 3d game here)



B. Install VMware Server 2 & Windows 7
1. Register to download your VMware Server 2 here
2. Open Terminal run this
sudo apt-get install linux-headers-`uname -r` build-essential xinetd
3. Go to your downloaded installer (mine is on /home/INSTALLER, replace with yours)
cd /home/INSTALLER
4. Extract the installer
tar xvfz VMware-server-*.tar.gz
5. Go to the extracted folder
cd vmware-server-distrib
6. Run the installer
install.pl
7. When the installer asks you
In which directory do you want to keep your virtual machine files?
Maybe yours will be different, choose the path that has enough free space. I put it on my 500GB HDD. And then maybe you'll be asked to configure & select directory, network type, ports, etc. I forget how many times I click y :(. I experienced kernel problem but after some click it solved. Definitely it's much harder than VirtualBox as it's a enterprise solution not desktop or newbie like me :)
8. Then it ask your serial number (VMware sent when you register)
Please enter your 20-character serial number. Type XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX or 'Enter' to cancel:
Fill yours and this good news comes:

9. As it doen't have GUI console like open your browser and goto your IP or
this https://localhost:8333
I was wonder how to install virtualization in server that don't have GUI like Ubuntu Server. And this the answer. Next I'll play with my Ubuntu Server 8.10

10. Install the certificate "Add Exception - Get Certificate - Confirm Security Exception" on pop up window.

11. If you see this login window, you may celebrate your toughness and sit back for awhile:) as I did. For Windows geek who used to be click Next, Yes, Next, Yes they must be tortured :(. This is Open (Free) Source. Hm . . .Red Hat & VMware Infrastructure is not free and cheap. Login as root.



12. Let's install Windows 7. Click "Create Virtual Machine" under Command box. Give your guest OS name & Click Next





13. Choose Windows Operating Systems. I didn't find Windows 7 so i choose Vista 32 bit as i assumed it is a slim Vista



14. Set your memory and CPU. This feature makes different lightweight VirtualBox vs serious VMware. CMIIW

15. Next create virtual HD, i left it all to default.



16. Network Properties setting

17. Mount your CD/DVD. I opt to use ISO image. Ensure to put it in installation folder.



18. Set Floppy & USB controller and Finish



19. Let's kick it ON! Click Play icon and click console. For the very first time you will ask to install VMware plugin. Install it and click it anywhere to open the console in a new window. Finaly the window is opened.


Install the VMware plugin



Performace Index Test result


As you see due to VMware Server 2 support multi processor, it beat VirtualBox in Processor & Memory (RAM) and the rest is even.

Conclusion


The coice is yours.