Extending Virtual PC with Virtual Server

Obviously, performance will suffer if you attach multiple network-intensive VMs to the same virtual network, which is typically associated with a physical network adapter on the host. The trick is to install multiple adapters on the host and distribute the load among the pool of VMs, according to usage and application needs Because of this subtle difference in virtual network configuration, moving a Virtual PC–created VM already configured with networking to Virtual Server (or vice versa) might result in an error, leaving the network adapter in an unplugged, unconnected state.

To connect to a virtual network under Virtual Server after importing a VM from Virtual PC, click Network Adapters, then OK after selecting the correct connection, as you see in Figure 4. Network connectivity will be available once the guest OS is started, without further configuration necessary.

Unfortunately, you must perform this manual process every time you move a VM from Virtual PC to Virtual Server. However, the reverse isn’t true. Alternatively, you can use a script such the one in Listing 1 to automate this task.

Putting It to Work
Now, let’s put everything into practice. In our sample scenario, we have a VM originally created with Virtual Server. We’re porting from Virtual Server to Virtual PC to take advantage of the new hardware-assisted virtualization support that’s available only in Virtual PC 2007. This also demonstrates the important fact that the VHD file structure is generic and can be attached to a different adapter type (SCSI or IDE).

1. Ensure that the guest OS is properly shut down under Virtual Server.
2. Make a backup copy of the XML-based VMC file.
3. Start Virtual PC and walk through the New Virtual PC Wizard.
4. Select the Add an existing virtual machine option, and specify the full path of the existing VMC.
5. Inspect the VM settings, and notice that Hard Disk 1 and Adapter 1 appear as None and Not Connected, respectively, as Figure 5 shows. Before you attempt to start the VM, you must manually define a hard disk by attaching to the previously created VHD. If network connectivity is desired, you must explicitly connect a physical network adapter as well.
6. You’re now ready to start the VM. Highlight the VM in the Virtual PC Console, and click Start. Immediately, you’ll see warnings about incompatible hardware settings. You can safely ignore these warnings by clicking OK.
7. If you’ve explicitly selected the Enable sound card option in the VM settings, Plug and Play (PnP) will kick in automatically and you’ll be prompted to install the appropriate sound drivers in the guest OS. A reboot might be necessary, after which you can use the VM without further modifications.

Dive In
Return of Investment (ROI) is key in today’s fast-paced and competitive landscape. Virtualization can let you ensure the timely support and coexistence of legacy applications, as well as handle the onslaught of new technologies. IT investments in Virtual PC technology can easily be expanded to a larger scale when your organization is ready to move up. The good news is that you can accomplish this ideal scenario without sacrificing compatibility or throwing money at costly retraining. All you have to do is dive into Virtual Server’s enterprise- class features.