virtulization software using only one computer

I am looking for a good virtualization software that preferably would be free software.

Reguirements
1. Virtualization application to support Intel VT.
2. Only one computer is used. Same computer would work both as client and host.
3. Virtualization engine run on hardware and not on a hosting OS (to ensure high speed).
- well not sure but maybe engine runing on light linux could also be fast enaf?
* in that case it should be simle linux to handle as I am no linux specialist
4. Hoping to be able to run several virtual OS simultaneusly, but also be able to PAUSE a open virtual OS to give other engines more RAM access.
5. USB support (maybe also usb2).
6. PREFER A FREE VIRTUALIZATION ENGINE IF POSSIBLE.

Secondary requitements
1. Prefer audio features enabled.
- hoping to be able to switch to a OS having media player and digital tv features.
2. Mainly running different windows virtual engines but possibly also linux.
3. NOT NECESSARY but also nice if could also run on computers without Intel VT support.

My computer is HP Compaq DC7800p which supports Intel VT.

SUMMARY
My intension is to enable computer to work both as a multimedia computer and also as a fast computer that I do my work with. I do not want install all on same OS.

Any succestions?

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Comments

tiersten

Your requirements are too specific for anything to match them all. You're asking for a enterprise style hypervisor which has a built in client, audio and USB which just doesn't exist.

VMware Server is probably what you want but it isn't a hypervisor. Prepare to be disappointed if you want to run multimedia apps or a PVR inside any VM though.

undomiel

Virtualbox would also be worth looking at, especially with the new v3 release. But if you're wanting the machine to be a multimedia computer as well as host VMs then you would be best off with the host OS being dedicated to multimedia and using the guest VMs for whatever you're wanting to virtualize. On my 4 gig Q6600 I'm able to run 5 Server 2008 VMs with no issues. Could probably do more if I was being strict with the memory requirements.

marksu

tiersten wrote: »

Your requirements are too specific for anything to match them all. You're asking for a enterprise style hypervisor which has a built in client, audio and USB which just doesn't exist.

VMware Server is probably what you want but it isn't a hypervisor. Prepare to be disappointed if you want to run multimedia apps or a PVR inside any VM though.

Yes understand you point. As I have not yet good knowlede on available features on viritualization I started my thread on my "dream features".
It's nice to dream sometimes

. Well I had a fealing that audio and PVR could be a issues in virtualization.

undomiel wrote: »

Virtualbox would also be worth looking at, especially with the new v3 release. But if you're wanting the machine to be a multimedia computer as well as host VMs then you would be best off with the host OS being dedicated to multimedia and using the guest VMs for whatever you're wanting to virtualize. On my 4 gig Q6600 I'm able to run 5 Server 2008 VMs with no issues. Could probably do more if I was being strict with the memory requirements.

Yes I have been considering Virtualbox and it sounds fearly good possibility.
Good point to have host os as multimedia OS.

It would be nice to have also multimedia features, but it would also be my work computer that i use at home office. I work a lot having a lot of programs open not sure how well virtualization slow down the processes?

Maybe best solution is to include multimedia app to host OS then and also including graphical editors, programming editors, test apache server, mysql (my main applcaitions) etc.

Then having many countless other small apps that I need ocationally, installed on VM.

The Importance still is to have my main work apps working fluently.

I been using Virtual PC before but not that new computer has Intel VT I like to maybe try other, virtualbox and VMware Server both sounds good.

-- Host OS --
I ordered both XP and Vista restore cds from HP. Have not yet desided which to use as host OS? XP would be lighter though.

-- Virtualbox vs VMware Server --
Many on web sems to like virtualbox more. Saying it to be faster.
At least virtualbox has clipboard integration which is one feature I need.
Somebody stated on the net that Virtualbox only used one core of the processor. I have dual core my self. Not sure if staement is true?

-- ONE DREAM CAME TRUE ALLREADY --
You fast replies! Thank you for that.

Sorry for the long text.

marksu

marksu

I use firefox. I usually have huge ammount of web pages open. Often it slows down the computer enormously, maybe cause of many flash apps?
I could have separate VM just for the browser and I presume then virtualbox can pause the VM (with firefox),
so I can work with my other programs without firefox interference.
As virtualbox has integrated clipboad I can cut and past stuff to the host OS.
I think that could help a lot.

JDMurray

marksu wrote: »

I use firefox. I usually have huge ammount of web pages open. Often it slows down the computer enormously, maybe cause of many flash apps?
I could have separate VM just for the browser and I presume then virtualbox can pause the VM (with firefox),
so I can work with my other programs without firefox interference.
As virtualbox has integrated clipboad I can cut and past stuff to the host OS.
I think that could help a lot.

Try using Google's Chrome browser. Each tab is runs as a separate process, unlike FireFox that uses only a single process for all tabs. This is one of the reasons why Chrome is currently perceived to be faster than any other browser. That may fix your problem.

marksu

Thank you for the idea.
Still cause I have several important plugins I need, I try to manage with firefox.

I found nice article on how to minimize the firefox memory usage.
Feature to make firefox release memory when browser minimized sounds good to me. Have not yet tested it.

How To Reduce Firefox Memory Usage
edit OTHER GOOD LINK http://www.zolved.com/synapse/view_content/24762/Firefox_Speed_up_tricks___

JDMurray wrote: »

Try using Google's Chrome browser. Each tab is runs as a separate process, unlike FireFox that uses only a single process for all tabs. This is one of the reasons why Chrome is currently perceived to be faster than any other browser. That may fix your problem.