Virtualization For Developers [Microsoft SharePoint 2010]

Wondering why virtualization falls under developers mind well since SharePoint 2010 is released you as developer wanted to gets hands on your local machine or laptop.

Before moving forward you need to know what in hardware terms you need to have to run sharepoint 2010. There are two ways you can install Sharepoint 2010:

1. Install Sharepoint 2010 on windows 7 machine
2. Install Sharepoint 2010 as Virtual Server on your machine

The First approach is much simpler but you will not get all the features you want to test of sharepoint 2010.Refer to this msdn link [ Setting Up the Development Environment for SharePoint 2010 on Windows Vista, Windows 7, and Windows Server 2008 ] .

Here we are going to focus on virtual machine concept, Now since Sharepoint 2010 comes in 64bit version only so you need OS of 64bit along with application you use for sharepoint 2010. To install sharepoint 2010 in virtual mode you need software which does this job like Virtual PC 2007 by Microsoft and Sun Virtual box.

Now here comes the hiccup.. Microsoft VPC 2007 doesn't support 64bit guest OS.. i was more surprised when i came to know even the Windows 7 Virtual PC has the same issue. The Sun Virtual Box though is much better & more features than VPC 2007. Before going further let me explain what exactly we need to run 64bit guest OS. So if you are buying/owning  laptop/desktop for software development [Microsoft SharePoint 2010] look into following specs:

1. CPU Intel/AMD [VT-x / AMD-V]:

This technology is called

Virtualization

Q.1 Why we require Intel/AMD [VT-x / AMD-V]?
A.1 If you want to run 64-bit OS as guest OS then you need this virtualization technology. Many Processor supports 64bit OS [its for supporting 4GB of RAM & 64bit OS], but not as guest OS. You can install 64bit OS on a PC/Laptop with 64bit enabled CPU ,but can't install guest 64bit OS on it. If you do so you will get error message as shown below

Q.2 How to check if your processor supports Virtualization?
A.2 Both Intel & AMD has their own name for Virtualization. In Intel its Vt-x & in AMD its AMD-V.

In Intel you check by two ways:
a.Refer Site::
Select your Processor family from list give in site[http://ark.intel.com/VTList.aspx] & then check your CPU model name in the list. Video will shows how check Intel Core2Duo Mobile[Laptop] Processor P8700.

b.Download Virtual check tool

Intel : [http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Detail_Desc.aspx?agr=N&ProductID=1881&DwnldID=7838]
AMD: [n/a]

Q.3 Which software to use to run guest OS?
A.3 There are mainly three software's:

• Microsoft Virtual PC 2007 
• Microsoft Virtual for Windows 7
• Sun Virtual Box.

Out of three Sun Virtual Box Supports 64bit Guest OS..

Download Links:
1. Sun Virtual Box [http://www.virtualbox.org/wiki/Downloads] and select your host OS for downloading.
2. Microsoft Virtual PC 2007 [http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=04d26402-3199-48a3-afa2-2dc0b40a73b6&displaylang=en]
3. Windows Virtual PC for Windows 7 [http://www.microsoft.com/windows/virtual-pc/download.aspx]