VMWare Workstation - optimal environment for software testing
I would like to ask a question about using VMWare Workstation when doing software testing.
I tried to look for some answers online, but could not find any best practices for this specific purpose.
I need to test different versions of the software on different versions of Windows, including installation of the software. I would like to set up the working environment in an optimal way (in terms of disk storage, performance, convenience). One more thing to consider is that the VMs should be shared later with the other developers, so that they can grab and clone a specific setup that they need,
At first I tried setting up a clean installation of Windows, then make a full clone of the machine and install version 1 of our software, then make another clone from clean installation and install version 2.
Then I learned about snapshots, which seemed like a convenient and space-saving way to do the same thing in just one VM, having one snapshot for clean Windows installation and a snapshot for each version of the software. An example of this: Example setup
Then I found about the linked clones too, which might be similar to method 1 and save some space too.
So, I would like to know which way I should choose and if there are any gotchas I should be aware of.
P.S. If you have any suggestions for resources, e.g. articles, videos, courses or books about this topic, I'd be glad to hear about them.
virtual-machine vmware vmware-workstation clone
asked Jan 31 at 12:22
DonatasDonatas
1
add a comment |
I would like to ask a question about using VMWare Workstation when doing software testing.
I tried to look for some answers online, but could not find any best practices for this specific purpose.
I need to test different versions of the software on different versions of Windows, including installation of the software. I would like to set up the working environment in an optimal way (in terms of disk storage, performance, convenience). One more thing to consider is that the VMs should be shared later with the other developers, so that they can grab and clone a specific setup that they need,
At first I tried setting up a clean installation of Windows, then make a full clone of the machine and install version 1 of our software, then make another clone from clean installation and install version 2.
Then I learned about snapshots, which seemed like a convenient and space-saving way to do the same thing in just one VM, having one snapshot for clean Windows installation and a snapshot for each version of the software. An example of this: Example setup
Then I found about the linked clones too, which might be similar to method 1 and save some space too.
So, I would like to know which way I should choose and if there are any gotchas I should be aware of.
P.S. If you have any suggestions for resources, e.g. articles, videos, courses or books about this topic, I'd be glad to hear about them.
virtual-machine vmware vmware-workstation clone
asked Jan 31 at 12:22
DonatasDonatas
1
Which way you choose would depend on your needs. Your biggest gotcha will be Windows licensing and activation...especially if you're trying to share VMs. I've used linked clones in the past, since it saves a lot of setup time and space.
– essjae
Jan 31 at 18:00
add a comment |
I would like to ask a question about using VMWare Workstation when doing software testing.
I tried to look for some answers online, but could not find any best practices for this specific purpose.
I need to test different versions of the software on different versions of Windows, including installation of the software. I would like to set up the working environment in an optimal way (in terms of disk storage, performance, convenience). One more thing to consider is that the VMs should be shared later with the other developers, so that they can grab and clone a specific setup that they need,
At first I tried setting up a clean installation of Windows, then make a full clone of the machine and install version 1 of our software, then make another clone from clean installation and install version 2.
Then I learned about snapshots, which seemed like a convenient and space-saving way to do the same thing in just one VM, having one snapshot for clean Windows installation and a snapshot for each version of the software. An example of this: Example setup
Then I found about the linked clones too, which might be similar to method 1 and save some space too.
So, I would like to know which way I should choose and if there are any gotchas I should be aware of.
P.S. If you have any suggestions for resources, e.g. articles, videos, courses or books about this topic, I'd be glad to hear about them.
virtual-machine vmware vmware-workstation clone
asked Jan 31 at 12:22
DonatasDonatas
1
I would like to ask a question about using VMWare Workstation when doing software testing.
I tried to look for some answers online, but could not find any best practices for this specific purpose.
I need to test different versions of the software on different versions of Windows, including installation of the software. I would like to set up the working environment in an optimal way (in terms of disk storage, performance, convenience). One more thing to consider is that the VMs should be shared later with the other developers, so that they can grab and clone a specific setup that they need,
At first I tried setting up a clean installation of Windows, then make a full clone of the machine and install version 1 of our software, then make another clone from clean installation and install version 2.
Then I learned about snapshots, which seemed like a convenient and space-saving way to do the same thing in just one VM, having one snapshot for clean Windows installation and a snapshot for each version of the software. An example of this: Example setup
Then I found about the linked clones too, which might be similar to method 1 and save some space too.
So, I would like to know which way I should choose and if there are any gotchas I should be aware of.
P.S. If you have any suggestions for resources, e.g. articles, videos, courses or books about this topic, I'd be glad to hear about them.
virtual-machine vmware vmware-workstation clone
virtual-machine vmware vmware-workstation clone
asked Jan 31 at 12:22
DonatasDonatas
1
asked Jan 31 at 12:22
DonatasDonatas
1
asked Jan 31 at 12:22
DonatasDonatas
1
asked Jan 31 at 12:22
DonatasDonatas
1
asked Jan 31 at 12:22
DonatasDonatas
1
1
Which way you choose would depend on your needs. Your biggest gotcha will be Windows licensing and activation...especially if you're trying to share VMs. I've used linked clones in the past, since it saves a lot of setup time and space.
– essjae
Jan 31 at 18:00
add a comment |
Which way you choose would depend on your needs. Your biggest gotcha will be Windows licensing and activation...especially if you're trying to share VMs. I've used linked clones in the past, since it saves a lot of setup time and space.
– essjae
Jan 31 at 18:00
Which way you choose would depend on your needs. Your biggest gotcha will be Windows licensing and activation...especially if you're trying to share VMs. I've used linked clones in the past, since it saves a lot of setup time and space.
– essjae
Jan 31 at 18:00
Which way you choose would depend on your needs. Your biggest gotcha will be Windows licensing and activation...especially if you're trying to share VMs. I've used linked clones in the past, since it saves a lot of setup time and space.
– essjae
Jan 31 at 18:00
add a comment |
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Which way you choose would depend on your needs. Your biggest gotcha will be Windows licensing and activation...especially if you're trying to share VMs. I've used linked clones in the past, since it saves a lot of setup time and space.
– essjae
Jan 31 at 18:00