Virtual Livelihoods

One of the biggest challenges the CRN Test Center faces is quickly setting up systems to test products. To date, we have relied heavily on disk-imaging software such as True Image Server from Acronis. The downside to that method is it still requires a hands-on approach—booting the system with rescue media and providing a path to the image file.

FRANK J. OHLHORST Can be reached at (516) 562-7455 or via e-mail at fohlhorst@cmp.com.

Recently, thanks to the free version of Microsoft’s Virtual Server 2005 R2, we have been able to further simplify our test-system deployment process, while consolidating systems. Virtual Server offers a Virtual Machine Remote Client (VMRC), which allows us to remotely access Virtual Server systems via the Web. While VMRC proves to be an excellent tool, we have turned to Windows Remote Desktop as an even better way to control our virtual machines.

This has allowed us to combine virtual machines with seamless remote access. Simply put, we set up each virtual machine with Windows XP and enable remote desktop connection support. Now, we can simply use the terminal services client to attach directly to the virtual machine. Virtual Server also allows us to clone base configurations, so we can quickly set up multiple virtual PCs to test networking products. Rolling back to a clean version of a virtual operating system is a matter of copying the original virtual hard drive to a new location.

This methodology could be quickly applied in the real world also. VARs could set up a Windows Server 2003 system, install Virtual Server and use VMRC connections to host users, or better yet, Remote Desktop. The benefits would be manifold: Backup becomes easier, virtual machines are portable and can be moved to other systems at will, and initial deployments could be speeded up by cloning existing virtual machines. What’s more, if a user needed a boost in speed, this could be accomplished by upgrading the server or moving the virtual system to a more powerful PC. Another advantage would be the ability to provide a single user with multiple virtual PCs. Now a user can experience multitasking unlike anything seen before.

Hopefully, this technology will give solution providers the ammunition to sell more high-margin servers. And let’s not forget about how virtual technology can aid disaster recovery, solve desktop backup issues and bring alternative operating systems into the mix. From where I sit, virtualization can mean only good things for the channel.

What’s your view on virtualization? Let me know at (516) 562-7455 or via e-mail at fohlhorst@cmp.com.