>Im confused about saving versions of the virtual comptuer.
>
>Im testing out some backups and restores.
>
>So basically I want one machine that is the Basic install of
>server2003 with all the updates.
>then I want to restore several restores of our servers to this virutal
>machine as test of our recovery processes.
>So I want to restore say machine A. to the basic install of 2003, then
>once I get it running and prove that I can do it I then want to start
>fresh with the "basic install of server 2003" and restore machine B to
>it. In other words I want to keep using the same machine from the same
>point in time. So I dont have to keep rebuilding 2003 server over and
>over.
>
>Know what I mean ??
>
>I can see an option to save the system I think but I dont understand
>how I can go back to the original after I have done all my testing or
>even save say machine A under a differnet name and then go back and
>then save machine B to another name etc.
>

> Thanks that helps.

> Are there any web sites that discuss various scearios like this. I
> have not found any good help sites?
>
> Regards

>Not sure I understand completely but I will read it over a couple more
>times try to understand.
>thanks

> On Fri, 18 Dec 2009 13:21:56 -0800 (PST), steve
> <(email address - cut out)> wrote:
>
>>Not sure I understand completely but I will read it over a couple more
>>times try to understand.
>>thanks
>
> It goes like this in VPC2007, which is the desktop companion to VS2005
> (I have not done this in VS2005, but I'm sure there is a similar way):
>
> 1) You create a virtual machine from scratch and install whatever base
> software you like to have (OS, service packs, updates etc).
>
> 2) Then you shut this virtual machine down for good, it will never
> ever be started again....
> Make the VHD file holding its disk read-only too.
> And you can as well erase the VMC file associated with this guset too,
> it will not be needed anymore.
>
> 3) Now you create a new virtual disk for the next virtual machine
> using the virtual disk wizard. When you do this you will select disk
> type as a differencing disk. You will now be asked to point to the
> "parent" disk and now you select the VHD file from step 2.
>
> 4) Repeat 3 for as many guests you like to have based on the original.
>
> 5) Now you have reached the point where you create a new virtual
> machine. In the wizard you select "existing virtual hard drive" and
> point it to one of the drives created in steps 3-4.
>
> 6) Now when you start this newly created guest machine it will be as
> if you started the original, only all changes you make will be saved
> to the new "differencing" disk file (hence the parent can be made
> read-only).
>
> 7) Repeat 5-6 for as many vm:s as you like, they will all be separate
> but based on the original install.
>
> The beauty of this is that the original is never changed, so if you
> want you can simply erase the differencing disk and start over with a
> new virtual machine, which uses another differencing disk etc.
>
> I thought that this process would be a bit harder to understand so
> when I suggested the VHD copy procedure I did not mention it. But now
> when it has surfaced anyway, there you are.
>
> By the way, is there a reason you are using Virtual Server rather than
> VirtualPC? With VirtualPC 2007 you get a better desktop integration
> and the general management is also simpler than for VS2005.
> Of course if you need your virtual machines to start up as soon as
> your host machine starts then VPC2007 will not fit the bill....
>
> VPC2007 is not a Windows service, but VS2005 is.
>
>
> --
>
> Bo Berglund (Sweden)

> Thanks for your instructions on that.
>
> I have to admit I didnt know there was a difference between virtual
> server and virtual pc I think I just merged the two phrases together
> thinking people called one thing by two different names. Im a little
> confused then. I dont know what the difference is between virtual pc
> and virtual server?
>
> Regards

>Thanks for your instructions on that.
>
>I have to admit I didnt know there was a difference between virtual
>server and virtual pc I think I just merged the two phrases together
>thinking people called one thing by two different names. Im a little
>confused then. I dont know what the difference is between virtual pc
>and virtual server?
>
>Regards