Virtual Appliance OS independent Confuse

[Kookaburra_vm]

It is my first time here, but I am confuse about what is Virtual Appliance.

1. Do I need any host OS to start VMWare (player or workstation) to run the Virtual Appliance?

2. if ESX server can run VM image, can it run independently without VC ?

[RDPetruska]

It is my first time here, but I am confuse about what

is Virtual Appliance.

A Virtual Appliance is a pre-built, pre-installed, pre-configured, possible tweaked application + Operating System all in one. It's much like a hardware appliance, but completely in software.

1. Do I need any host OS to start VMWare (player or

workstation) to run the Virtual Appliance?

If you want to run Player, Server, or Workstation, then yes. They are hosted products and require a host OS.

2. if ESX server can run VM image, can it run

independently without VC ?

Yes. VC makes managing multiple ESX Servers easier (and allows for the advanced functionality such as VMotion, HA, DRS, etc.). But it is not needed to merely run a guest VM.

[tsubasa168]

Regarding #1, a virtual appliance is just a virtual machine that someone has already installed an OS and an application on. It's like instant :smileyhappy: noodles... just add water. In this case, water = (vmplayer, vmware workstation, vmware server, vmware fusion, or vmware ESX server )

Regarding #2, nope. VC is only required if you want to manage and move VM(s) amoungst a group of ESX servers. Note that you will also need VC to clone a VM easily.

If you want to try out an "appliance" on your desktop, you can use:
\- workstation (usb support)
\- vmplayer (usb support)
\- vmware server (no usb support)

If you want to run the appliance on a dedicated system:
\- vmware server
\- esx server
\- esx server + VC (to vmotion/clone/etc)

Message was edited by:

tsubasa168

Message was edited by:

tsubasa168

Message was edited by:

JohnTroyer