Any tutorials on how to install Windows Server small local network emulation using VMware Workstation?

[ahmd9]

I need to install a small emulation of a local network, based on the Windows Server 2008 machine connected to a line of 3-4 Windows xp/Vista/7 clients. Is it possible to do so using VMware workstation 8? And if yes, it'd be nice if someone could point me to a tutorial on how to set it all from the ground up.

Thank you!

[rajeshkongu]

Hi,

First thing you need to download and install the vmware workstation 8. after sucessfull installation you start creating vm ( 2008/XP/win 7/ vista/ any flavoure of os ) in workstation for this you need a good hardware like 4 - 8gb of ram and quard core processor for achive good perfomance.

for network selection depands on you wheather you want nat  or bridged connections

Regards,

Karthick

[ahmd9]

Thanks, rajeshkongu. I do have workstation 8 installed and my hardware is enough to handle it. My question was about the exact steps of configuring OS's themselves. I can imagine that Windows Server 2008 must be installed first, and then the rest of the client OS's. I'm not clear about how do you configure the network connections in the VM's?

Also, what is the difference between "nat and bridged connections"?

[rajeshkongu]

Hi ahmd9,

NAT- is network address translation - for example you have a 1 mbs internet connection. that internet connection must have a only one public IP. But you want to share that internet connection to all avalible PC. again it required public ip so that you can connect outside world, but 1 internet connection can provide one public ip. you want to share the internet connection how do you share ? by using nat.

by using one router ( with nat enaled ), and switch you split the internet connection and give it to all clients.

here is the picture for nat configuration.

Bridging is like connecting a pc to the physical network. ( it is a direct connection between switch and VM ).

Steps to create VM

http://netwanlan.wordpress.com/tag/vmware-workstation/

regards,

karthick.

[WoodyZ]

So as to have an understanding of the VMware Virtual Networking Infrastructure read Chapter 5, Configuring Network Connections, in Using VMware Workstation.  (Might read the rest of the manual while you at it.)

Building a Virtual Client-Server Infrastructure is basically no different then how it done and configured in a Physical Client-Server Infrastructure Model and there are plenty of tutorials on the Internet on how to install Microsoft Server OSes and connect Microsoft Client OSes to the Server so Google is where you should be looking for help.  The the only real difference is with the Virtual Networking and why you need to read Chapter 5, Configuring Network Connections, in Using VMware Workstation and then use the Virtual Network Editor to choose how you want to setup your Network Configuration and what settings to make in each Virtual Machine Network Settings and Guest OS Network Settings.