How To Configure a Virtual Machine in Windows 7

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In a previous How To, we discussed how to set up the Virtual PC console in order to use a Virtual Machine. Virtual Machines allow businesses to set up test environments, a sandbox, in which an application or even a network will not interfere with the production environment. Indeed the virtual machine can be used along side a production environment and real live applications will not be affected.

For this How To, we will add a Sql Server 2005 virtual machine that was downloaded from Microsoft.

Location of Virtual Machine Hard Disk Drives

Open Up the Virtual PC Console. Refer to the post How to Set Up a Virtual PC Console in Windows 7. This will allow you to configure the VHD which is used to create a VMC.

Virtual PC Console

The starting point is the Virtual PC Console. Select New and follow the prompts.

Welcome To The New Virtual Machine Wizard

You will be creating a new virtual machine.

CreateAVirtualMachine

Next give the VM a name and location.

Virtual Machine Name And Location V:\2778\sqlserver-2005

The name and location are specified. Next attach an operating system.

Operating System

There are a variety of OS’s that one can use all the way from windows 98 to Vista. At the time of this post, Windows 7 was not one of the options. Nevertheless, select an OS and click next.

Operating System-Selections various options

Once the operating system is selected, one can modify the amount of memory that the VM will use.

Memory - Default Settings

Although you can use the recommended suggested amount, if you want better performance aout of the virtual machine system, the add more. We will adjust the RAM.

Memory Adjusting RAM

Memory Adjusting RAM to 2100

Here we will adjust it to 2100 mb. The amount of RAM is limited to the amount of RAM on the host machine.

Virtual Hard Disk Options

Next you must attach the VM to a VHD. Here we will select the 2778.vhd

Notice that the Enable undo disks option was selected. This allows the user to have various options available when shutting down the system. These are to shut down without saving changes or saving changes. More Below.

Virtual Hard Disk Location

Select Browse

Virtual Machine Name And Location vhd

The path of the Vhd is located

Virtual Machine Name And Location-V:\2778sqlserver2005

Completing The New Virtual Machine Wizard - With SQL Server 2005

The last set up steps is to verify that the VM actually works. Go to the console and select start.

in the PC Console”]

SQL Server - 2005 [Not Running

Starting Up Launching the VM from the console

The Virtual Machine SQL Server-2005

The start-up authentication screen comes up.

The Miami SQL Server

SqlServer2005

One can now run database operations using Sql Server 2005.

This complete the second part of the How to configure a virtual machine. The last How To deals with a difference engine/VM which allows the user to create an image of the VM. In this way the user can even wreck the VM image, but not affect the master VM.

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