I've made modest hardware upgrades to my PC to allow me to create a duel-boot Vista and Win 7 Ultimate machine (both 32-bit because I don't have the money to buy to replace the processor and mobo enabled with Intel-VT. Also customized bootmgr to my satisfaction using bcdedit. That was fun, by the way!)

Using the Win 7 Ultimate as the host OS, I installed Oracle's VirtualBox and made a virtual guest machine containing the trial version of Windows Server 2008 Enterprise. Also applied all Win 7 and Server 2008 updates. Have not activated either Windows product yet. Have not configured Server 2008 yet; i.e. no DNS, DHCP and I think it is still part of a workgroup rather than a domain. Both host and guest OS's seem to work fine; both have working connections to the internet.

Now I've gotten to that juncture of asking myself: Now what? Anyone with suggestions, feel free to comment away. I'd especially like know what configurations I ought/need to make to have a working domain. It just occurred to me that, if I configure Windows 7 to work in a domain -- and the VM guest Server 2008 has not been started yet, I may not be able to sign on.

I'm having some second thoughts about trashing the Windows 7 partition and creating a virtual disk inside it -- Win 7 Ultimate would be installed on the VHD. That way I could modify Win 7 and later return to a "virgin" configuration by just replacing that VHD with another kept elsewhere.

I'll want to play with DISM, IMAGEX and SYSPREP later. So any idea on how best to arrange my sandbox lab ... there is a place in heaven for you if you do.

Thanks for the input.

interesting setup. Id firstly recommend making sure your Win2k8 is on a static IP address and not on the same network as your router, as routers have a DHCP server, enabling DCHP on the 2k8 server whilst it is connected to your network could cause problems for your non virtual machines as well.

I have a similar setup on a spare computer at work im currently working on for exam purposes. I would advise changing the network adapter of the virtual machine to Oracles Virtual adapter, this would loose your machines servers connection to the internet, but in theory if you did a similar thing with the win7 virtual machine as well, they should be able to see each other without compramising your network.

Focus on networking first .... got it.

Actually, my thoughts were already turning in that direction. Up to this point I've installed and updated both the Windows 7 Ultimate host and the Server 2008 guest as stand-alone systems. Also installed the Windows 7 AIK and Remote Services Administrative Tools. So I was glancing ahead to the next tasks to do, and getting both systems to talk to each other seemed appropriate.

Configuring static IP addresses should not be a problem. The internet connection in the Windows 7 host will go away when I do, I was mulling over the hassle it will be to continually switch between DHCP and static configuration of the host Windows 7. I can live with that, I think.

There is something that worries me. If I configure my host Windows 7 Ultimate to be part of a domain, and since the guest Server 2008 Domain controller won't be running until I start it, what's going to happen? Will I be able to log-on to the host Windows 7?

Worst case, I suppose I can create a Windows 7 Ultimate guest vm. That way, the host Windows 7 provides a "god's eye" view of the lab, and the two guest vm's are what I play with. The other benefit to that is that I would use VHD's for both systems. I can create many versions of either OS, and if I screw up or want to reverse any changes I made, all I do is replace the VHD with an earlier copy. Seems like a a lot of work, though. Probably a slow system too.

Those are my thoughts right now. If you (or anybody) can think of things I should be aware of, by all means contribute your 2 cents.

Thanks jazman for your input.

You should still be able to log into your account if your server 2008 is not running. I think it may be better for you to run both windows 7 and win server 2008 in a virtual machine (thats what i thought you where doing), also i would recommend microsofts Deployment Toolkit, that helps with deployment, thats the GUI version as well if i remember rightly from when i use it. Professor messer's video on that should help you.

Don't forget to leave enough Ram for your host operating system i made that mistake once hehe. Ill let you know how mine goes as i started doing a similar thing last week for purposes of my server 2008 exam

Hi Bukuyo,

I would like to suggest an alternative to your setup that might help a bit.
If you want your Server to be a domain controller and have Windows 7 as part of that domain, I would reinstall 2008 on a fresh partition or seperate disk and use it to dual boot between it and Windows 7. The Windows 7 host that you are using, I would leave completely alone and out of the equation. You can then install Virtualbox onto the Server and install a fresh copy of Windows 7 on to that and then join it to the domain. This way your server will have full access of you system hardware and the configuring would be a lot easier.

Great comments, jazman and jimmy_b.

There is a saying: like minds think alike. I'm been mulling over those same alternatives these past couple days. Your replies give me confidence that I am on the right path.

Unexpectedly, I've put in way too much time working on the lab (hardware upgrades, installations, second-guessing and trial-and-error approaches). I'm going to keep evolving my lab. However, I feel I need to put the lion's share of my study time back into reading books, notetaking and memorizing, watching videos and taking practise exams.

I think jimmy_b has the ideal approach that I want my lab to evolve to. I'll begin looking for a second-hand gamer-PC that I can upgrade. It ought to already have a EFI and Intel-VT enabled motherboard which can handle up to 8Gb SDRAM. I might even like to install a decent-capacity SSD. I can also be on the lookout on eBay for an inexpensive Server 2008 R2 Standard Edition. That is where I think I eventually want to go.

In the short term, I'm going to utilize my existing 32-bit Windows 7 lab environment with the trial version of Server 2008 32-bit. It is more akin to jazman's suggestion. One improvement, I have a spare slot where I can install a second LAN card (that I already have in a spare parts box). I think that will allow me a way to keep my cable internet connection. I can then add a Windows 7 guest vm as jazman suggested. Both the guest Server 2008 and Windows 7 can be configured with static IP addresses. Operationally, then, I can start a Server 2008 guest vm (with DHCP and DNS services to boot), followed by starting a Windows 2007 Ultimate guest vm.

But ... I need to concentrate on the desktop certificates. Maybe I'll be able to tell you the whole thing works in a couple weeks.

Thanks again guys.

Could you guys tell me how much RAM and Hard Drive space are you allocating for host computer while using the Oracle VM?

I'm getting my system setup as well to do what your doing.

Thanks

I have 4Gb SDRAM2 and I bought a 1Tb HDD (Sata 3, 7500 RPM, 64K buffer) on sale for $97.99. So I now have lots of RAM and disk now. My processor is a Core 2 Duo, 280 Ghz.

Now, to answer your question. In the Oracle VirtualBox configuration for the Windows Server 2008 Enterprise (trial) guest vm, I allocated 1024Mb. It is installed on an Oracle Virtual Drive, 40Gb fixed-type.

I have not seen much of a performance hit when the Server 2008 guest is running. Then again, all I've done so far is do updates and mediocre configurations. DNS and DHCP services are not running. There were times I was doing updates and installations in both the host vm and guest vm, as using IE to download updates and microsoft tools, Firefox ... you get the picture. Even then, I didn't notice either system being stressed.

This weekend I may create a Windows 7 Ultimate guest vm that would run simultaneously with the Server 2008 guest. I will probably try allocating 1024Mb to it, and install it in a 30Gb fixed-type VHD or Oracle virtual drive.

I suppose I could cut back on my virtual disk allocation. I have so much free space now, I have not thought much about it. The 1Tb drive replaced a 500Gb drive. I expect to soon repartition it, make a 50 Mb logical partition dedicated to pagefiles for the host and guest vms. That may speed thing up a tad.

Bokuyo

On oracle, if you go to the settings of your Virtual machine (right click the VM and click settings) choose the network tab, you can enable up to 4 network adapters per machine. with different settings.

Try the "Internal Network" settings for both your machines, i havent tried this yet but in theory it should allow your VMs to communicate without compromising your main home network:)

Hard disks are so huge nowadays that you can afford to be leniant with allocating space for the VMs. But as for RAM, definitely the more the better. DDR3 is dirt cheap now too, so if you have an x64 OS and can use DDR3, then get as much as you can for the VMs. I built my PC in November and installed 8GB of RAM which only cost about £40 (about $60?). I thought that would be WAY more than I needed, but I was wrong and have 16GB in there now. (Skyrim with all the texture packs and graphics enhancing mods I have installed was using over 5GB on it's own!)

I've been allocating 2GB for each VM, so I can get them running really smoothly, If you want to run Server 2008R2 as a VM, I'd recommend maybe a bit more allocated for when you start adding Roles.

16Gb SDRAM?!! ... that's good to know!!

Before hearing this, I would have thought 8 Gb more than enough for say 2 or 3 vm's running concurrently. I'll keep this info in mind when I begin work on my so-called Dream Lab later this year.

Actually, I suppose the prudent thing to do is plan from 8 to 12Gb, all the while keeping a slot or two available on the motherboard for additional SDRAM.

Regardless, I think you've saved me future $$$, jimmy_b. Cheers!

Great input from you too, jazman.

It is an understatement to say that I've underestimated the time and effort needed to create a lab environment on my own. Sadly, it takes my focus away from preparing specifically for the 70-680. (Just the same, I'm enjoying the challenge in some perverse way.)

Yesterday I had a Server 2008 Enterprise (trial) installed with the most current updates and Remote Services Administration Tools. And, thanks to you jazman, I also installed Deployment Toolkit.

I did not know about Active Directory's requirement for boku HDD, so it looks like I'll do all-the-above once more. Silly me for defining a fixed virtual disk!! ... I just learned that only dynamic-type virtual drives can be expanded. So I will allocate 60 Gb this next time and make it a dynamic-type.

Once that is done, I'll turn my attention to internal networking within VirtualBox. Based on your reply, jazman, and what I read in the VirtualBox user manual, I agree that I should be able to keep my internet connection up while my vm's have their own virtual subnet. Sweet!

Then onto more Server 2008 configuration. Apparently I need to configure a static IP address for the server, and define its dns server address to its TCP/IP stack address (127.....). Also, I need to promote it to a domain server before enabling the Active Domain role. I'll let the wizard enable DNS services.

Hey ... I'm just learning as I go along. Two days ago I assumed AD DS was just a feature I could enable quickly and effortlessly. Laugh all you want, guys!

Quick (?) update.

1) I found out I defined the Server 2008 virtual drive as a dynamic-type after all. So I resized it from 40000Mb to 60000Mb to accomodate DS AD and future expansion. I'm getting ahead of myself here, but I think the 40000Mb allocation would have been just fine in retrospect. After installing AS DS and DNS, only 12000Mb is being used so far on the virtual drive.

2) Within the Oracle VirtualBox Manager, I added a second virtual network adapter for the private lab IP subnet (internal network); the first virtual network adapter was left unmodified as as NAT.

3) Within the Server 2008 vm guest, I did the following modifications to the network configuration: A) for simplicity sake I disabled the IPv6 protocol for the internal network adapter; B) defined a static IPv4 address to the internal network adapter and made its DNS address its loopback address; C) renamed the computer name to something shorter (3 characters).

4) after rebooting and seeing the changes had no adverse effect, I promoted the server to be a domain controller. On the subsequent reboot, I added the AD DS and DNS roles to the server.

The good news is that I can still access the internet from within the Server 2008 vm and the host Windows 7 Ultimate. The bad news is that the the static IP address is not taking effect, and I'm being assigned a 192.168.2.x mask 255.255.255.0 address somewhere (within my service provider?? ... who knows). I'll play around with this tomorrow. If nothing else, maybe I will end up disabling one virtual network adapter card when wanting to use the lab's internal network, and disabling the other virtual network card when wanting a connection to the internet. Or something like that ....

I thought it was a good time to give a short update.

I have a working virtual lab running under VirtualBox. Kinda nice, really. My motherboard only allows for 4Gb SDRAM2 and it does not have the virtualization feature in the bios. So that limits the number of virtual machines running simultaneously. All OS's (host and guests) are 32-bit. But it is good enough for now.

My little "sandbox" has a Windows 7 and a Server 2008 configured. The network is private (meaning VirtualBox's "intnet"), although I can easily reconfigure things to access the real internet to get software updates and tools ... et. al. The server has a static IP address normally, and has been configured to provide DNS and DHCP services to the Windows 7 virtual client. Things also worked when VIrtualBox provided the DHCP services.

I have not figured out how to have both a private network working with access to the internet (that is, though my cable modem ISP). Each time I tried, the IP, gateway and DNS addesses from provided by my ISP "bled through" to the guest VMs unless they had static IP addresses. Too bad, because I spent an unbelievable amount of time browsing through the VirtualBox documents and website -- as well as other sites that I had google'd.

The one downside to creating the lab is, like I have mentioned before, it takes time away from reading 70-680 & 70-685 material. The most aggregious waste came from having to re-create everything. I mean EVERYTHING. I did something wrong, I don't know exactly what ... but I could not boot up either OS from my duel boot PC. I had the hard drive from my recent upgrade, so I just cloned it again onto my larger capacity HDD, and reinstalled Win 7 as a duel boot OS. Had I lost everything ... well, I don't want to think about it. (I was so close to repurposing the old HDD. Now it will stay in my desk drawer until hell freezes over .. or I buy a new PC to provide a 64-bit virtual environment.)

Windows 7 didnt want to work for me, said the host operating system is not 64-bit compatable, even though all the windows 7 machines in my workplace are 64-bit uncluding the host...

Anyway, about your internet connection, in theory you can edit the settings of your win7 virtual machine and enable a second network adapter that uses your computers real adapter, then start the win7 virtual machine and edit the network settings for that adapter, give it a static IP address outside of the DHCP pool of your router / modem.

If DNS servers are an issue i tend to use Googles DNS server of 8.8.8.8 if i cant get it to work on my normal ones