Temporary conclusion after testing Vmware server on SME 7.3, Ubuntu 7.10 32 bit and Centos 5.1, 64 Bit, on relatively low end hardware (Athlon 4600 dual core, 4 Gig and Sempron 2800, 1 Gig).
1. SME server is far the most easy platform to get started with server virtualization due to the Vmware contrib.
2. Server virtualization works fine for the SME server when running as server-gateway and as server-only. For server virtualization it should be used bridge mode as the only comunication alternative. (The other alternatives is more confusing than usable.)
3. There is qualitatively no diffrence at all when it comes to how a Vmware virtualization works on a SME 7.3, a Ubuntu 7.10 or a Centos 5.1 Via the Vmware console you will have access to the identicaly same functions and "touch and feel" is idetically the same.
4. For low end hardware there is no difference in performance.
5. When doing the bridge mode comunication the virtual installations are 100 % compatible with the existing SME firewall and forwarding mechanism, so that the virtual installation will behave like any other lan server or client.
6. Virtualization will as a general rule be less effective than running the actual server process natively in the host operating system. Virtualization will consume more memory and (some) more cpu cycles than doing the same process natively. On the orther hand virtualization gives a bether "modularity" where it is possible to perform task that is different from the rest of the system (like a Windows client) and to do testing (of contribs) with little or no impact on the host operating system.
7. Virtualization makes it very easy to do a backup, as you can just make a copy of the complete virtual installation. (Like the Astlinux that fills only 68 Mb)
8. The implementation of Asterisk and iptelephony on the SME server can also be done via virtualization. For the Astlinux there is a prebuildt Vmware image that works perfectly. (The VM alternative.)
http://sourceforge.net/project/showfiles.php?group_id=170462&package_id=1945739. Virtualization with Vmware server on SME server fits very well with the underlaying SME server philosophy as it will increase the ability to keep the host operating system simple and easy to manage, while new and customized functions (like a buildt in Windows client) is implemented via virtualization.
10. There is reasons and arguments to believe that virtualization via Vmware on SME 7.3 could also work well in a production enviroment.
11. My opinion: Vmware nat and Vmware private network should be deselected during installation/configuration. Bridging should be selected as the only alternative for network connection. Vmware web interface should not be installed. Reason: To keep changes and impact to the host operating system down to a minimum.
Am I right ? I'm courious if there is other testers/users/learners that have other ideas about this
(Just trying to learn and to understand.)