Which Host OS do I need

[JoVa]

I'm rather new to VMware but I'm looking for a desktop solution at home.

I want my system to boot and give me the option which guest I need to launch (2 XP systems and a Win2K3 srv)

Which host system is best to install? Linux Ubunutu (server or WS) or just a win XP.

I guess the Linux is using less resources than XP or Vista so it would be faster I suppose. Anyone any advice on this?

I've downloaded the Ubuntu Server OS but wasn't able to install the rpm package : error : missing dependencies /usr/sh

When I browse to this location I can see a sh file but no directory.

[penshi]

hi,

- Ubuntu doesn't support RPM (Red Hat Package).

RPM = redhat, CentOs...

For Ubuntu, you'll have to use DEB package

DEB = debian, ubuntu...

- for the host system, i prefer linux (debian) but vmware is very performant with XP host too (i've never tested with Vista).

My two cents...

[KevinG]

The is no DEB installer for VMware Workstation.

Install VMware Workstation 6.5 on Ubuntu using the bundle installer

[rockstarmode]

From what I can tell the RPM is just a packaged bundle file:

$ rpm -qpl ./VMware-Workstation-6.5.0-118166.i386.rpm

/var/cache/vmware/VMware-Workstation-6.5.0-118166.i386.bundle

$ rpm -qp --requires ./VMware-Workstation-6.5.0-118166.i386.rpm

/bin/sh

/bin/sh

/bin/sh

/bin/sh

rpmlib(PayloadFilesHavePrefix) <= 4.0-1

rpmlib(CompressedFileNames) <= 3.0.4-1

$ rpm -qp --provides ./VMware-Workstation-6.5.0-118166.i386.rpm

VMware-Workstation = 6.5.0-118166

$ rpm -qp --scripts ./VMware-Workstation-6.5.0-118166.i386.rpm

preinstall program: /bin/sh

postinstall scriptlet (using /bin/sh):

#Execute bundle installer on install or upgrade after laying down bundle

#and then delete the bundle afterwards.

#Have to redirect the console to stdin because it's closed by default.

#Setting VMWARE_SKIP_RPM_UNINSTALL is necessary because we don't want the

#bundle to run rpm commands, since rpm will deadlock if that happens.

RPM is just a way to manage what packages are installed on a machine and what dependencies they may require. Since the VMware rpm only lists sh as a relevant dependency (every *nix will have some version of sh installed) and doesn't provide any additional functionality other than looking nice in your list of packages it's really no different than the .bundle file (as the bundle is just a shell script in disguise) except of course that you need the rpm command installed to install the rpm version of this package.

In this case, when in doubt download and install the .bundle file.

[Scissor]

If you are more comfortable with Windows than Linux you should just stick with Windows as your Host. If you want an excuse to learn Linux just install it in a VM instead.

If you decide to go with Linux as the Host, I see people spending a lot of time trying to get Workstation to run on strange distributions of Linux. You should skip that hassle and pick a Linux distribution (and version) that is listed as officially supported as a Host by VMware Workstation. (for example, use Ubuntu Linux 8.04 instead of Ubuntu Linux 8.10 if you are planning on using VMware Workstation 6.5)

[JoVa]

TX for for the reply,

Indeed it is an excuse to get more knowledge about Linux in combination with VMWARE.

I am looking for a high performance platform which is able to support our software. Up to now we are using win2k3 servers but we are looking (already installed) a VMware solution.

Vmware server on a HP blade enclosure, 8 servers runnning each an ESX layer. One server is acting on as a main and 6 others as a slave. The one left is a spare for high Availablility.

Now it's up to me to get some more info and experience. So I thought. Why shouldn't start at home.

By the way,.... tx again for the update.

Sometimes you have to go where no one has gone before...

[Scissor]

If your work is running ESX, you might want to consider installing the free ESXi on your home server*. That way you can learn ESXi as well.

*(as long as ESXi recognizes the hardware installed on your home server).