Which version of Windows 7 as host?

[russellg]

I'm going to buy Windows 7 pre-release - there are 2 versions available for desktops in the UK - "Home Premium" and "Professional". There's only one significant difference as far as I am concerned - Professional allows you to use "XP mode". To do this you have to run Microsoft's Virtual PC with an XP client (and also have a processor with Intel or AMD virtualisation support). I'm not particularly interested in XP mode but I am interested in using Windows 7 as a host for VMware. Would there be any advantage in using the Professional version as a VMware host? I am planning to use this on a 64 bit Intel platform which has their Virtualisation extensions.

If not I'll buy the Home edition as it is signifcantly cheaper (less than half the Professional price).

II may use Linux as a host rather than Windows and any comments on any specific advantages or issues with one compared to the other would be helpful.

[asatoran]

Off the top of my head, one feature that I'd miss from the Home edition is incoming RDP. XP-Home, Vista-Home & Win7-Home cannot act as RDP servers. I connect to most of my Windows hosts using RDP as I find the performance better than VNC. And of course, home editions cannot join a domain, but I assume that's not important for you.

(That's my two cents.)

[russellg]

Neither of these 2 things are of interest to me.

[ConstantinV]

If so buy Home Premium - you will got all you need, but officially Windows 7 is not supported as Host OS

StarWind Software Developer

[JoJoGabor]

No. If you are using VM workstation, dont bother with XP Mode to run a XP VM using Virtual PC. VM workstation is a much better product. Make sure you run 64-bit WIndows 7 though - it flies!

[russellg]

Thanks JoJo. My main intention would be to run VM workstation, not sure which host to use. My inclination is to go with Linux as host, probably Ubuntu, but I was just exploring whether there would be any advantage in using 64 bit Win 7 as host from a performance or usability point of view. Then 64bit Win 7 Home Premium plus various Linuxes as guests, although I haven't yet been able to check whether a retail licence for Win 7 Home Premium would allow running as guest under a VM. And also whether this means I would need 2 licences one for the host and one for the guest. If there's no performance or usability differences I'd run under 64 bit Ubuntu as host.

When you said 64bit Win 7 flies I take it you meant as a guest OS?

[ConstantinV]

Win7 is very fast and good OS, if you want to know what is better for you - Win 7 or Ubuntu, you should try both. I would use Win7. AFAIK Win 7 HP doesn`t allow run second copy as VM.

Win7 flies as a guest either host, if it gets enought resourses.

StarWind Software Developer