Using virtualization can improve software development and testing by providing benefits like simplified administration, increased hardware utilization through server consolidation, and decreased provisioning times. Virtualization allows for scenarios like setting up test environments, simulating multiple clients, and rapid setup/teardown of test environments. Best practices for managing performance include profiling applications, monitoring resource usage, and treating virtual machines like physical machines for maintenance purposes.

1. Using Virtualization to Improve Development and Testing Anil Desai Austin .NET User’s Group January 9 th , 2006

4. Virtualization Benefits and Scenarios How you can use virtualization to improve software development and testing

10. Virtual Server Architecture An Overview of Virtual Server 2005

11. Virtual Server Overview

17. Emulated Hardware Platform Up to four Intel 21140 10/100Mb network interface cards Network Interfaces Up to four Adaptec 2940 SCSI Controllers (each supports up to 7 devices; 28 devices total) SCSI Controllers Two channels, each of which supports up to two devices each (up to four IDE total devices) IDE Controllers 2 Serial Port 1 Parallel Port Communications Ports Up to two 1.44MB 3.5” floppy drives Floppy Drives PS/2 Mouse and Keyboard Input Devices Up to 3.6GB Memory S3 Trio 32/64 with 4MB of video memory Video AMI BIOS BIOS Based on the host CPU (single CPU only) CPU Intel 440BX Chipset Specifications Component

19. Virtual Server Files By default, these files will be stored in the same location as the .vmc file. .vud Undo disk files .vnc Virtual network configuration Stores information about the configuration of Virtual Server, including search paths, VMRC settings, and other options. Options.xml Virtual Server configuration file (options.xml) Stores the contents of memory for a virtual machine that has been placed in the “Saved” state By default, these files will be stored in the same location as the .vmc file. .vsv Saved State File This includes fixed-size hard disks, dynamically expanding hard disks and differencing disks. .vhd Virtual Hard Disk File An XML-based file that specifies disk, memory, and other settings for the virtual machine. .vmc Virtual Machine Configuration File Description Filename / Extension File Type

20. Automating Virtual Server Accessing the Virtual Server COM API

29. Disk Architecture: Technical Overview

32. Undo Disks: Example

33. Differencing Disks: Example

34. Merging Differencing Disks

38. Network Architecture: Overview

42. Networking: ICF and ICW

43. Networking: Firewalls This is only necessary if NetBIOS is being used for file transfers across the firewall. NetBIOS over TCP/IP 137 – 139 These ports are used only when Kerberos is being used (for example, when Active Directory-based users are attempting to authenticate to the VMRC server). VMRC Kerberos Authentication 88, 137, 138 By default, the VMRC server is disabled. The port number can be modified using the Virtual Server Administration Web Site (see Chapter #9). VMRC Server 5900 The port can be changed during the installation of Virtual Server, or afterwards (see Chapter #9 for details). Administrators can also enable SSL within IIS. Virtual Server Administration Web Site. 1024 Notes Purpose TCP Port Number

45. CPU Management: Example

49. Virtualization Best Practices Tips and techniques for making the most of virtualization