I recently had an oppurtunity to gain some experience into the world of virtualization when my I discovered that my work VPN software was incompatible with my 64bit Vista. My solution was to install Sun's Virtualbox and run a 32bit Vista inside. Which was great because I was able to isolate all of my work specific configurations into one place. And in theory its portable as virtual machines go.
Today I found out that Microsoft is distributing their Exchange Server 2010 RC installed on a virtual hard drive compatible with their product Virtual PC. {via Leo Laporte and Paul Thurrot on the Windows Weekly podcast}
It got me to thinking...
1. Could this be a viable solution for distributing software applications as virtual appliances? Wouldn't it be great to be able to just download a Linux Distro in a Virtualbox vm and boot it up on my box? Perhaps with a HTPC app already installed ready to configure.
2. Is there an oppurtunity to us more Virtualization in the home? Like setting up a VM with Live Sync and some cloud backup software to receive files from my network (Live Sync) and back them up to the cloud . Just wondering what others thought.
I know that some of you out there run you business from your home (looking at Jason), I'm wondering if you've had any use virtualization.
And also I thought it might make for some interesting discussion and light thinking.
__________________ Phone: Nexus one Backup Phone: AT&T Samsung Jack; Future Phone: I'm Watching WP7; Media Player: Platinum Zune HD 32GB; Home Server: HP MediaSmart Server LX195 Console: XBox 360, PS3, Wii
Virtualization in the home?
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