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    Hi,

    I am planning to sit for Server 2008 R2 administration exam. I want to set a virtual lab in my computer using Virtual PC or any other VM. Is there any guide line for setting up a best practice environment? Thanks in advance.
    Thursday, March 18, 2010 3:43 AM

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    Hi Dinangkur,

    Your system will need to support hardware virtualization and the system hequirements can be found here, http://www.microsoft.com/hyper-v-server/en/us/system-requirements.aspx

    You will be best to get a desktop with multiple processing cores (2 or more) and enough RAM (3GB or more) to support your study. You will want to have atleast 4GB ram for this and allow 2GB for Server 08 with Hyper-V and then you could run other systems in virtual machines such as Windows 7 with 512MB Ram and a Second Server with 512MB ram.

    I have used up to 3 Server 08 VM's at any one time in research and study for exams.

    If you want to run a management tool like SCVMM 2008 you will need an extra 2GB RAM but the server management console is fine if you have only 1 Hyper-V server.

    I have done this on a Quad Core with 8GB but this is over kill for what you are looking at.

    Jarad, Brisbane Australia
    • Marked as answer by Rubel Khan Thursday, March 25, 2010 4:54 AM
    Friday, March 19, 2010 6:08 AM
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    Hi Dinangkur,

    Just in case this helps.  Server 2008 R2 is 64-bit only so you cannot use Virtual PC.

    You need a 64bit system, this could be a laptop with as little as 2Gb, to get through the certification, though 4Gb would be better.  Modern Intel based laptops are at least dual core.

    You do not need a desktop but your base operating systems must be 64bit.

    Windows 2008 R2 with Hyper-V would clearly be best for your purposes, but Sun (Oracle) Virtual Box (Free) or VMWare Workstation ($180 Approx) would do the job.

    Hope this helps and good Luck,

    Geoff

    • Proposed as answer by Geoff Clark MCM Friday, March 19, 2010 6:49 PM
    • Marked as answer by Rubel Khan Thursday, March 25, 2010 4:54 AM
    Friday, March 19, 2010 6:49 PM

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    Hi Dinangkur,

    I have setup on my computer at home to complete some of these exams and I must recommend that you use a Windows Server 2008 Enterprise with Hyper-V to complete this study.
    The virtualization aspects of the Windows 2008 operating System are tested on and because on this you will be best prepared for these exams by running Hyper-V server as your virtual lab hypervisor.

    This will allow for you to learn Hyper-V without having to gain access to another system or reformatting.
    As Hyper-V is built as a tier 1 hypervisor you will not be able to run this within a virtual machine, it must be installed on a physical computer that supports hardware virtualization (most mainboards form the last 3 years support this).

    I do not know if this is best practice but it will give you a real advantage for learning the virtualization aspects of this qualification.

    Best of Luck,
    Jarad, Brisbane Australia
    • Proposed as answer by GrumpyBum Sunday, March 21, 2010 1:40 AM
    Thursday, March 18, 2010 4:20 AM
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    Thanks GrumpyBum. So, it means I have to get a desktop. Do you have any recommendation in terms of memory and CPU. Currently, I use 2 laptops to do all the things. If I get a desktop then I will install Windows Server 2008 and run Hyper-V server.
    Friday, March 19, 2010 1:48 AM
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    Hi Dinangkur,

    Your system will need to support hardware virtualization and the system hequirements can be found here, http://www.microsoft.com/hyper-v-server/en/us/system-requirements.aspx

    You will be best to get a desktop with multiple processing cores (2 or more) and enough RAM (3GB or more) to support your study. You will want to have atleast 4GB ram for this and allow 2GB for Server 08 with Hyper-V and then you could run other systems in virtual machines such as Windows 7 with 512MB Ram and a Second Server with 512MB ram.

    I have used up to 3 Server 08 VM's at any one time in research and study for exams.

    If you want to run a management tool like SCVMM 2008 you will need an extra 2GB RAM but the server management console is fine if you have only 1 Hyper-V server.

    I have done this on a Quad Core with 8GB but this is over kill for what you are looking at.

    Jarad, Brisbane Australia
    • Marked as answer by Rubel Khan Thursday, March 25, 2010 4:54 AM
    Friday, March 19, 2010 6:08 AM
  • Question
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    Hi Dinangkur,

    Just in case this helps.  Server 2008 R2 is 64-bit only so you cannot use Virtual PC.

    You need a 64bit system, this could be a laptop with as little as 2Gb, to get through the certification, though 4Gb would be better.  Modern Intel based laptops are at least dual core.

    You do not need a desktop but your base operating systems must be 64bit.

    Windows 2008 R2 with Hyper-V would clearly be best for your purposes, but Sun (Oracle) Virtual Box (Free) or VMWare Workstation ($180 Approx) would do the job.

    Hope this helps and good Luck,

    Geoff

    • Proposed as answer by Geoff Clark MCM Friday, March 19, 2010 6:49 PM
    • Marked as answer by Rubel Khan Thursday, March 25, 2010 4:54 AM
    Friday, March 19, 2010 6:49 PM