VMTN Blog

I asked another VMware employee recently if VMware Server could run on a certain piece of hardware, and he replied: "If you could load Linux on a toaster, it would run VMware Server." While that's glossing over some details (system requirements are on page 5 of the VMware Server Admin Manual (pdf)), the fact is it runs on Windows Server, many Linux distros, and a wide range of hardware. Here's to VMware Server!

Link: The Downeys » Blog Archive » VMware Server in Production. (Five tips on VMware Server)

I’m an old hand at VMware. I began using it back in the late 90s when the company was still very young. Along the way, I’ve picked up quite a bit of knowledge of the product. Although VMware’s ESX Server offering is really “where it’s at”, when VMware Server was released early last year it brought true “server” virtualization within reach of small IT shops with very tiny budgets (like The Linux Fix!)

But first off, VMware Server is no replacement for ESX Server. ESX is a very robust part of the Virtual Infrastructure, within which you can do almost magical things. However if you have only a handful of VMs, or are running a small shop were you’d like to just set things up “proper” without ganging up all software onto one OS installation to keep things clean, VMware Server is a great way to make sure your getting the most of out the money you’ve invested into your server equipment. Especially since it doesn’t involve investing any more money–an especially great fit for us!

One misnomer is that VMware Server isn’t “stable” or enough of a “performer” for production use. This is absolutely wrong: VMware Server clunks along happily. For example, our environment regularly goes as much as six months without needing to take it down–and generally for some unrelated reason or to simply upgrade VMware itself.