• Microsoft Virtual Server 2005 allows a single server to be divided into several "virtual machines," each running its own environment and operating system, which can even be virtually networked together
• Written by a key member of Microsoft''s Virtual Server product team, this guide shows programmers how they can use these virtual machines to keep their development environment separate from their computing environment, test software on a variety of platforms from a single machine, and test networking applications
• Packed with real-world examples, the book examines how to install Linux under Virtual Server, create VM libraries, tweak performances, troubleshoot installation glitches, and access the Virtual Server COM API
• Offers a clear explanation of how to best understand virtual devices, networks, and storage systems and handle debugging in virtual machines

Get ready to tap into the full potential of your system and dramatically improve your development and testing environment. From installation and configuration to clustering and performance enhancements, this book shows you how to get the most out of Microsoft Virtual Server. Written by a key member of the Virtual Server product team, it focuses on maintaining and developing Virtual Server environments so that you can get up and running quickly.

Some of the critical features you''ll learn how to take advantage of include integrated backup support, offline virtual hard disk manipulation, and the Virtual Server COM Interface. You''ll also discover how to get the best performance out of your virtual machines while creating a secure system. And you''ll find expert tips and techniques on how to use Virtual Server for general development and debugging of applications.

What you will learn from this book

• All about the new features of Virtual Server 2005 R2 SP1

• Steps for creating a virtual machine library for rapid and flexible deployment

• How to build applications that control and interact with Virtual Server using Visual Basic.NET, C#, and ASP.NET

• Ways to perform a P2V migration using Microsoft tools

• Methods for clustering and configuring virtual machines

• How to automate virtual machine operations using VBScript and PowerShell

Who this book is for

This book is for system administrators who want to implement solutions with Virtual Server as well as developers who are trying to build end-to-end solutions with Virtual Server.

Wrox Professional guides are planned and written by working programmers to meet the real-world needs of programmers, developers, and IT professionals. Focused and relevant, they address the issues technology professionals face every day. They provide examples, practical solutions, and expert education in new technologies, all designed to help programmers do a better job.

Ben Armstrong hails from Brisbane, Australia. He relocated to California in 2001 to start working on virtualization software being developed by Connectix Corporation. When Microsoft acquired the Connectix technology in 2003, he worked as a Program Manager on Microsoft's new virtualization team. Ben has been working with virtualization for over five years and has been involved in the release of five major virtualization products (from both Connectix and Microsoft).
In his spare time, Ben messes around with virtual machines, plays computer games, messes around playing computer games in virtual machines, and apparently writes books.
Ben maintains a blog as Virtual PC Guy at http://blogs.msdn.com/virtual_pc_guy.