Question

Using multiple OS with the same server

Servers, OS

I have a single HP prolient server which i normally use for testing applications. Now i need to test application on multiple OS. I amy also need to automate the test setup to spend minimum time in testing for each of the OS. What will be the best way to use the same server and test with multiple OS. Apart from OS on a partitioned disk are there any other ways to minimize the time between OS switching and testing

I would install Windows on the server and then install MS Virtual Server (it's free).
When you have this installed, you can then install other OS's on that server (this can be windows / Linux, etc) within the virtual environment.
When you do this, the Virtual server creates a file containing the Virtual machine image.
you can then make a copy of the image created so if you eveer need to revert back to the origional
install, you just have to revert to your initial copy. Very quick and easy.
You can also run multiple images on the same server, so could create a test lab on one box.

More info here

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-gb/bb738033.aspx

Neil

**Buddy**
you can also checkout a company called Virtuozzo. they do virtualization with multiple OS's on one machine and claim that you can put a lot more virtual machines on one physical machine than vmware. I have not tried the software yet so I cannot support that claim. you can find them at:

parallels.com

hope that helps!

**/buddy**

from spadasoe

while you are at it look at vmware as well. I test on up to 12 VMs on one host server and can tesst multiple scenarios at once. I also use a free RDP console product called Visionapp for accessing the VMs.

From mrdenny
I would have to recomend VMWare as well. I have VMWare's ESX product installed on a dev server, and that one server is currently hosting about 35 virtual servers with room to continue to grow. If you don't want to remove the Windows OS which is currently installed (as ESX is it's own operating system) you can install VMWare Server which runs as an application within the Windows OS and will allow you to host plenty of virtual servers.

As for connectivity to the servers, I simply use RDP to connect to the Virtual Machines.