virtualize existing machines / best practice

[rschmid]

Hello,

what would be the best way (tool) to virtualize existing servers and clients which run on physical machines ?

I need a try and error environment.

Kind regards,

Roland

[abhilashhb]

How many physical servers do you have? You can download free version of ESXi and try to start off.

[rschmid]

we have less than 10 servers (Microsoft environment)

Could I run the free version of ESXi on a pc ?

[abhilashhb]

What is the configuration of these 10 machines? Are these production servers or just some dev servers?

[rschmid]

they are production servers like domaincontroller, exchange server, file server, application server, storage server

[abhilashhb]

You wont be able to run production servers on PC. You will have to test them by installing ESXi on server hardware and putting them in VM's. If you want to see how they perform. on PC all you can do is put workstation and run VM's for test and dev or homelab.

[rschmid]

thank you for your answers.

[rschmid]

would it work to virtualize a windows server on vmware workstation ?

[abhilashhb]

Yes. Its the newest version. You will get better features.

But as i said its for Test and dev use. Its better you run them on a host

[OscarDavey]

Hello,

Do you like to use Vmware Workstation to virtualize 10 servers?

It is possible , but depends on What Windows Server versions you are using.

Depends on your workstation hardware resourses.

Hope will help.

Yours, Oscar