MCSA from home

[johnson636]

Can someone help me with what I can and can't do with vmware and my current pc setup in order to get some virtual hands on practice.

My PC setup is 3.4ghz P4, 1GBRAM, 100GB of free space, 7800GT. VMWare Workstation 6, VMWare ESX Server, VMware-server 1.0.2-39867. Windows XP Pro SP2 Windows server 2003, and Windows 2000 pro.

Is there anything else that I need?

I'm wanting to get some hands on experience with a typical work environment dealing with multiple workstations, but I don't have a lab setup at home; vmware is my only alternative. Is there anyone here who is equipped with this knowledge?

[mmarable]

Nice collection. What's your plan? What is the ESX server for? You won't be able to use it. ESX is an enterprise class of VMWare software. It has its own OS (Linux based) and will only work with SCSI disks, so it will ignore your PATA or SATA drives. If you're using Workstation, you don't need VMWare server. Either one will fit your needs, it just a matter of the cost of the license. Workstation will cost you money, while Server is free. (Although if you can afford ESX server, then money isn't a question for you.)

Looking at your setup, get more memory, a lot more momory. I'd max out your system if possible. The two things that will make working with a VMWare lab setup (or any virtualizer for that matter) a nightmare are disk and memory. You may also want to add a couple of hard drives and build a stripe set to store your VM sessions on too.

So, what is your plan? What are you hoping to accomplish?

[p4ntb0y]

All you need is vmware workstation.

I doubt that you have paid for the others as they are expensive and really for the enterprise.

Your need lots of memory.

Start with a couple of DC's for your FSMO's and a couple of member servers, 2 or so clients.

depending on what you want to do your need to set your containers and OU's up, group policy, SMS etc.

you may need DFS Shares for application installs and AV if you want to do it this way every domain is set up differently depending on customer and hardware issues

If I were you I would check out the MCSA study guide by Trainsignal they have their lab set up in virtuals so that you can watch and mirror what they do thus getting a head start on skills required.

you can fool the esx kernal into thinking that sata disk are supported also if your sata controller card uses a scsi based driver it will work.

but scsi is the only support type.

[johnson636]

First let me say thanks for both of your replies. My intentions are to get some realistic work environment practice as I study for the MCSA title. I know I won't be able to emulate a big enterprise, but I want to be able to get some hands on experience. I'm hoping to start out with a work group that consist of 5 workstations (4 vms with 128ram each =512 and my Host) until I get another 1GB stick of RAM. I want to create problem real world scenarios in the work group, Like printing problems internet problem, shared folder problems, etc. Pretty much any problem that might arise in a real working environment. If you guys can help with that I'd really appreciate it.

PS I have XP Home on my host right now, would you suggest that I install a copy of Windows Server 2003 to manage the work group?

[p4ntb0y]

I would not have a workgroup you need to have a domain.

2 windows 2003 servers

4 vm client's XP SP2 (that be nice for the dcom issues)

now remember that windows 2003 is locked down as default IE:- you need to change the permissions to run rpc, msdtc and w32 time.

get yourself a CBT that covers the subjects of the MCSA and then you can progress from there.

you need to throw yourself into the deep end my friend

[mmarable]

I'm just going to warn you that running multiple VMs on a single drive is going to get painful very quickly. I would really suggest getting at least 2 (preferably more) drives into a stripe set to hold your VMs.

[johnson636]

I would not have a workgroup you need to have a domain.

2 windows 2003 servers

4 vm client's XP SP2 (that be nice for the dcom issues)

now remember that windows 2003 is locked down as default IE:- you need to change the permissions to run rpc, msdtc and w32 time.

get yourself a CBT that covers the subjects of the MCSA and then you can progress from there.

you need to throw yourself into the deep end my friend

So are you suggesting that I should install windows server 2003 and create a domain with it? Can that be done given the fact that I only have enough resources to run 4 vms and a Host at the moment?

now remember that windows 2003 is locked down as default IE:- you need to change the permissions to run rpc, msdtc and w32 time.

I don't quite understand what you're saying with that statement............due to my lack of knowledge of course. rpc? msdtc? w32 time? CBT?

Stick with, I'll get there eventually

you need to throw yourself into the deep end my friend

Thats the plan

I'm just going to warn you that running multiple VMs on a single drive is going to get painful very quickly. I would really suggest getting at least 2 (preferably more) drives into a stripe set to hold your VMs.

You're correct, but I just don't have the money right now