Harold van de Kamp's Blog : Windows Server 2008

Booting from VHD files and using Windows Server 2008 R2 as a Workstation

Harold van de Kamp — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 07:39:35 GMT

For my work I'm using a laptop that has several operating systems installed. Depending on the customer related work, e.g. office work, giving presentations and developing software, I'm booting one of these environments.

My multi-boot installation consists of several environments including:

Windows 7
Windows Server 2008 R2 with SharePoint 2007
Windows Server 2008 R2 with SharePoint 2010
Windows Server 2008 R2 with SharePoint 2007 and Dynamics CRM 4.0.

All the operating systems boot from a virtual hard disk instead of using virtualization by booting an operating system that hosts an other operating system.

I prefer using VHD files and booting from them because of several reason, e.g.:

The whole virtual memory is available for use on the work environment, instead of loosing virtual memory to an operating system that hosts a guest operation system using virtualization
Creating backups of a whole operating system is easily done by just backing up one .vhd file.
Normal hardware and drivers are used instead of emulated hardware and drivers.
By creating a clean installed base environment, you can quickly go back to that state or derive environments based on the base environment.

People often ask me:

How do you install operating systems on a VHD file and setup up a multi-boot environment?
How can you boot from a virtual hard disk?
What did you change to your Windows Server 2008 environment so that it looks like Windows 7?

You can get answers to all of these questions by visiting "How can I install Windows 7 or Windows Server 2008 R2 to a virtual hard disk (VHD) file?" about how to install an operating system on a VHD. Visit Win2008r2workstation.com which explains how to convert your Windows Server 2008 R2 server to a workstation.

Using virtual machines on Windows 7 RC with Windows Virtual PC beta

Harold van de Kamp — Sat, 02 May 2009 12:43:55 GMT

Since last week I am using Windows 7 as my primary operating system, specifically it is Windows 7 RC 64-bit edition build 7100. Yesterday I installed Windows Virtual PC beta so I can continue to use virtual machines. I use virtual machines for different usage scenario’s, mostly for SharePoint and Microsoft .NET development and testing purposes. This post sums up things you need to know when you want to use the new Windows Virtual PC beta.

Windows Virtual PC beta

Windows Virtual PC beta is the successor of Microsoft Virtual PC and comes with new features. The most important feature is Windows XP Mode which allows you to run Windows XP applications in a seamless mode. Applications incompatible with Windows 7 can still be run on Windows 7 by using the Windows XP Virtual Machine. The applications available inside the virtual machine can be run from the Windows 7 start menu, see the screenshot. For more information see Microsoft’s Virtual PC home page.

Screen sizing and full screen support

It allows you to maximize your screen. It has build-in functionality to display your virtual environment in full screen. Technically it works the same as the full screen method I described as a workaround for Microsoft Virtual PC some time ago, Windows Virtual PC has it just implemented out-of-the-box and makes it more user friendly.

Program availability and supported guest operation systems

The Windows Virtual PC program is available as an 32-bit and 64-bit version, although only 32-bit guest machines can be used. I don’t understand why Microsoft hasn’t added support for 64-bit guest machines, other products like VMware's already support this. With Exchange 2010 beta being released as 64-bit-only, SharePoint 2010 announced as 64-bit-only, I see more products following and feel the need of having 64-bit guest machine support.

Virtual PC Integration Components

The current Virtual PC Integration Components version 14.0.7084.0, previously known as Virtual Machine Additions, has support for Windows XP SP3, Windows Vista SP1 and Windows 7 guest machines only. I’m using Windows Server 2008 as my guest PC and have installed the Virtual PC Integration Components, but some features are not working. E.g. drag&drop of files between your host and guest environment is not possible and sharing a local drive. After the installation I had to reactivate my Windows Server 2008 environment.

Virtual Machine Configuration file

The Virtual Machine Configuration file has an extension of .vmcx, previously it had a file extension of .vmc. Both are XML files, but the XML file structure don’t look the same. I have created a new Virtual Machine myself targeting an old Virtual Machine hard disk (.vhd) file. Windows Virtual PC wasn’t able to open the .vhd stored on an external USB hard disk drive. Copying the Virtual Machine hard disk file to my local hard disk drive and attaching it to the Virtual Machine did the trick. It looks to me like a bug, but more testing with other virtual hard disks located on external USB drives is required.

I have not tried to rename an Virtual Machine Configuration file extension from .vmc to .vmcx. If you have tried this, share your knowledge.

Drive and folder sharing

You cannot share a specific folder at the moment. Maybe this is because Windows Server 2008 is not supported by the integration components yet, but I really feel to need to share files between the host and guest environment. As a workaround I use an USB storage device, attach it with guest operating system and transfer files using that storage device.

Getting SharePoint 2007 SP1 language packs to work on Windows Server 2008

Harold van de Kamp — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 20:35:00 GMT

If you normally would like to install a language pack for the Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007 service pack 1 product, you have to make sure you both install the retail version related language pack and the service pack related language pack. You can automate this process by slipstreaming the service pack language packs.

On Windows Server 2008 this slipstream process for Service Pack 1 does not work. Mauro Cardelli summed up a nice install list how to get it working:

Download the appropriate files.
- For MOSS, you will need the MOSS and WSS files. Remember there are specific 64bit versions
- On each of the download pages, change the language in the selector to the language pack you want, here are your download links:
  - WSS 3.0 Language pack http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=36EE1BF0-652C-4E38-B247-F29B3EEFA048&displaylang=en
  - WSS 3.0 Language pack SP1 http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=05046B1D-DD7B-456A-8838-8D978C5F3579&displaylang=en
  - MOSS Language pack http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=2447426B-8689-4768-BFF0-CBB511599A45&displaylang=en
  - MOSS Language pack SP1 http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=3A6C26FD-0BEB-40D5-8CBA-15164FAAB150&displaylang=en
Install the file. The install wizard will be in the language of the language pack… so know how to say 'Next' in that language!... or practice on the English version. Follow these steps:
1. Install WSS Language Pack (don't run the MOSS Configuration Wizard)
2. Install MOSS Language Pack (don't run the MOSS Configuration Wizard)
3. Install WSS Language Pack SP1 (don't run the MOSS Configuration Wizard)
4. Install MOSS Language Pack SP1
5. Run the MOSS Configuration Wizard (choose to not disconnect from farm)
Test
- Create a new site; you should see a drop down for Language which includes your newly installed language
- Go to the new site and learn how to say 'Site Actions, 'Edit Page' in a foreign language!

Also see a post on Microsoft TechNet Forums for more information.

Windows Server 2008 is Windows Server 2008 Service Pack 1

Harold van de Kamp — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 14:34:00 GMT

I just read a post announcing the availability of Windows Server 2008 Service Pack 2 beta in a few weeks to selected testers.

SP2 for Windows Server 2008, have I missed Service Pack 1? No, Windows Server 2008 is released as Windows Server 2008 Service Pack 1, see Ian McDonalds blog post.

Windows Server 2008 is Windows Server 2008 Service Pack 1

View list of IIS7 running application pools

Harold van de Kamp — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 15:00:00 GMT

While doing some SharePoint 2007 development on Windows Server 2008, I noticed the IISAPP command doesn´t exist anymore. The command does not exist in IIS7 anymore.

The syntax to view a list of IIS7 running application pools is:

%windir%\system32\inetsrv\appcmd.exe list wp

Thanks to Steve Schofield

Windows Server 2008 Desktop Experience feature and SharePoint

Harold van de Kamp — Mon, 19 May 2008 18:28:00 GMT

When running SharePoint on Windows Server 2008, make sure you activate the Desktop Experience server feature.

Without activating this feature you can't save documents directly from your Microsoft Office application into a SharePoint Document Library.