I have a unique application for a virtual machine server. In my work (systems integration), we spend a lot of time rebuilding old PCs that fail, chasing down licenses, etc. Since Most of our systems have migrated from specialty I/O cards to ethernet capable PLCs, we rarely now unique hardware requirements. However, for most of our newer systems we deploy a PC to handle system communications, then 3 or so identical operator interface PCs to run the operator graphics.

It seems logical to me to consolidate these PCs into one running a virtual setup and avoid the generational issue with PC hardware. The only weird requirement would be having multiple local keyboard/mouse/video sets configured to connect to individual local virtual machines. I am pretty sure I can accomplish this with multiple video cards and teh lunix.

KB/MS/VID --- 1 ------- X server running VNC client ---- VM 1          \
									\
KB/MS/VID --- 2 ------- X server running VNC client ---- VM 2	 	 \
									  | VM server
KB/MS/VID --- 3 ------- X server running VNC client ---- VM 3	 	 /
									/
KB/MS/VID --- Comms --- X server running VNC client ---- VM comms      /

9/10/2009 9:38:30 PM

ESXi would make the most sense here, IMO... and it's completely free.

why would you need multiple video cards? how are people going to connect to the operator VMs? terminal services? or something else?

if you need local console access, the vSphere client can run on any windows box and provide you with a console window from that VM.

9/10/2009 10:23:31 PM

xen, kvm, esxi, vmware server will all do what you need if these are linux machines. if each vm is running it's own X server, you should only need a single pc and then thin clients for all the viewers. If you install vnc, you can control the vm's with a web browser from anywhere

9/11/2009 1:09:27 AM

I have considered thin clients, but would rather have multiple local logins to eliminate the need for extra equipment. By reducing the extra equipment required (bricks, PCs, etc), it would be easier to justify having a spare server for the customer.

I envision configuring a 'user' to use a specific keyboard, mouse, and monitor. That 'user' will connect to a specified VM using VNC or RDP in X.

Basically something like this but each 'user' always connected to a VM:
http://linuxgazette.net/124/smith.html

9/11/2009 11:12:50 AM

2nd for ESXi or VMWare Server. Either will suit your needs perfectly, and they're both free.

9/11/2009 1:54:05 PM

Since our company would not be the end user, what would the licensing situation be? I know VMware wants the player software licensed if distributed, but nothing is mentioned of server or ESXi.

9/11/2009 2:34:51 PM

technically, you'd have to request an ESXi key in the end user's name

but it's not like VMware really checks up on ESXi licenses

9/12/2009 3:32:23 PM