As an author and software tester/aficionado, I would have to say that the greatest advance in computing over the last 5 years has got to be virtualization. Server virtualization is fast becoming a way to better deploy network services in terms of both overall cost and manageability. As new network platforms roll out, such as Windows Server 2008, it makes sense that they will embrace their own native virtualization scheme (as Windows Server 2008 does and a number of other recent NOS platforms do).
What really excites me about virtualization are the possibilities on the desktop; you can setup multiple operating system configurations (as virtual machines) on a single computer that meet multiple needs. Virtualization on the desktop makes it easy for you to run legacy applications (since you can run them in a virtual machine with the appropriate legacy OS). Virtualization also makes it easy to upgrade a virtual machine OS or refresh a buggy or damaged OS.
There are a number of possibilities for virtualization on the PC desktop including VMware Workstation, Microsoft Virtual PC and Parallels Workstation (this is by no means an exhaustive list). On the Mac side there are possibilities as well, including Parallels and Virtual PC for the Mac.
I have really been intrigued of late with what you can do with Parallels Desktop for the Mac in terms of virtualizing different versions of the Windows OS. Now don't get me wrong, I have been a diehard PC guy from day one, slogging through the days of DOS and the early heartbreak of some pretty buggy Windows editions (anyone remember Windows 286?). But recently I have been doing a lot with digital video and audio and so started using a Macbook Pro as my primary desktop computer.
However, I was dealing with a lot of frustration just getting at some of the resources that I typically use on the Novell NetWare network that is deployed at the University where I teach. So, there were times when I felt it would just be easier to fire up Windows XP, log onto the network, check my email and do other routine file maintenance.
To make a long story short, I installed Parallels Desktop for the Mac on the Macbook and then installed Windows XP Professional as a virtual machine. I setup the NetWare client and all the other bells and whistles that need to be embraced by Windows XP to be a client on our network. So, now, when I need to get at network resources, I fire up my Windows XP virtual machine. What is really great is that I use the Macbook Pro in class to show video and audio projects created by my students. If a student has saved an audo or video file as a wmf or avi, the virtual machine fires up automatically to play these file formats in Windows Media Player.
So, as I'm typing away on this blog, I'm wondering what the point is that I'm actually trying to make, since I was taught that every bit of writing should have a beginning, middle and end. So, I guess the best thing to do is end this with a question. What types of problems or issues do you solve with virtualization: at the desktop or the server? Inquiring minds want to know. Post a comment, please.
