Running multiple OS's from the desktop but not hosted. What product should I use?

[Barrykeithnoble]

Which product do I need to run several OS’s on my desktop PC if I do not want a hosted solution with a guest OS on top . Is VMplayer the product for me?

I wish to run several Operating systems on my PC ( Umbunto 10.04, Chrome OS, Windows 7, Red Hat Fedora etc) on my desktop. However I do not want the Hypervisor to be on top of a hosted OS since that OS might go out of fashion and I would have to rebuild my system from scratch again, so I want a product that will still be in use in 5 years time and be able to be compatible with future releases of the current products and possibly products not yet built and pretty well boot to what ever OS I choose.

So the question is what product is available for the desktop, what does the desktop need to have to run the hypervisor and will I be able to seamlessly upgrade the hypervisor software product.

[TomHowarth]

Welcome to the forums,

by hosted I am assuming you mean a VDI type solution rather than a type 2 hypervisor. there are numorous type 2 hypervisor out there at the monment, these include VMware Player, Workstation and VMware Server from VMware, there is also Virtual PC and Virtual Server from Microsoft for example, however if you actually mean the running of a type 1 hypervisor on your desktop then you are currently limited, VMware does not yet do a client hypervisor.

there is the version from NXtop which is at Version 2 and is quite a nice product, and Citrix has recently released their XenClient product, ( however a point of warning here, the Citrix product is still a beta product)

another thing to remember is that a full client hypervisor will overwrite your current partition set, so make sure that you have a full copy of any data you wish to keep. there is no return. the Hypervisor OS will overwrite your disk and your data will be lost.

If you found this or any other answer useful please consider the use of the Helpful or correct buttons to award points

Tom Howarth VCP / vExpert

VMware Communities User Moderator

Blog: www.planetvm.net

Contributing author on "[VMware vSphere and Virtual Infrastructure Security: Securing ESX and the Virtual Environment|http://www.amazon.co.uk/VMware-VSphere-Virtual-Infrastructure-Security/dp/0137158009/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1256146240&sr=1-1]”.

Contributing author on "[VCP VMware Certified Professional on VSphere 4 Study Guide: Exam VCP-410|http://www.amazon.co.uk/VMware-Certified-Professional-VSphere-Study/dp/0470569611]”.

[Barrykeithnoble]

Hello Tom

Thanks for your prompt response, I put this question to the forum knowing that in some ways its not quite a vmplayer forum issue.

Yes I am looking for more of a type 1 hypervisor solution for my new desktop. Basically (and its an age old problems -for IT anyway) of just wanting to boot to what ever OS I want with nothing in the way and for it to be quick. I'm sure there's a demand for this kind solution.

Thanks for your response and advice

Regards

Barry Noble

PS I'll give vmplayer a try, but it seems strange to use it over Windows 7 for chrome OS when within Windows 7 you could just use chrome?

Date: Wed, 9 Jun 2010 05:09:54 -0700

From: communities-emailer@vmware.com

To: barrykeithnoble@hotmail.co.uk

Subject: New message: "Running multiple OS's from the desktop but not hosted. What product should I use?"

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