has anyone used the mac pro to build virtual machines?

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has anyone used the mac pro to build virtual machines?

Im looking to build a virtual network. At my old job we built and designed and maintained all servers, like exchange, SQL,basically a windows environment.

At my new job, we do nothing like it and I don't want to lose touch and when i need to look for another job, I am behind the times.

I have always been a mac person, so I would like to know if a mac pro can do this well. I don't want to spend a lot of money for 'its ok'

If I have to go PC just for this part, I will go kicking and screaming.

any ideas?

Posted on Jun 28, 2014 8:00 AM

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Answer 1

Jun 28, 2014 8:16 AM in response to k0a

If you use software to create a virtual machine environment, such as VMware Fusion, Parallels, Virtual Box, etc., you can create VM's to your heart's content. I currently have Windows 95 through Win 8.1 Pro set up to run on my Mac Pro, as well as various Linux flavors and recent Mac OS X versions.

If you want to try that out, VMware is currently testing a beta version of their next release, available here.

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Answer 2

lllaass

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210,519 points

Jun 28, 2014 8:18 AM in response to k0a

VirtualBox by Oracle is free.

Parallels is a paid virtual platform. I use Parallels

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Answer 3

k0a Author

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Jun 28, 2014 8:22 AM in response to FatMac-MacPro

thank you, my biggest concern is performance. So you Mac Pro is running smooth. no issues?

how much ram do you have on yours?

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Answer 4

Jun 28, 2014 8:32 AM in response to k0a

There is no interference between the VM of, say, Windows 7 Pro, and the Mac, though, you can tell the fans are speeding up to keep it cool. I have 32 GB installed in the 2010 Mac Pro, but if I give 8 GB to Windows, most of the rest is unused. It seems to work just as well on a MBP with Retina display with 16 GB of installed RAM. The biggest performance boost comes from using an SSD to run both the Mac OS and the VM.

As far as performance goes, I've been surprised to see Firefox, for example, run faster in the Windows VM than it does natively on the Mac. And even XPMode in Windows 7 runs acceptably.

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Answer 5

lllaass

Level 10

210,519 points

Jun 28, 2014 8:36 AM in response to k0a

The virtual machine is slower than on real hardware.

In Parallels and VB you can allocate number of cores and memory used by the virtual machine.

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Answer 6

The hatter

Level 9

61,031 points

Jun 28, 2014 9:57 AM in response to k0a

Obviously the hardware you choose and configure play a role in how well and how much you can allocate in terms of cores and memory. I would start with at least a 6-core and 32GB.

http://www.bing.com/search?q=vmware+fusion+6+vs+parallels+9

Comparison of the two, Wikipedia entry on running VMs

Even OS X can itself be run in VMs as guest to Mac OS.

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Answer 7

k0a Author

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Jun 28, 2014 5:25 PM in response to The hatter

Looks like I would be better off with the 6 core Mac Pro then the 4 core.

and at least 32M of RAM.

agree?

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Answer 8

Jun 28, 2014 5:48 PM in response to k0a

The six-core has always been a sweet spot for multi-Processor work in both the silver towers and the black cylinders. Pretty fast, and not crazy expensive.

Most Mac Pros are I/O bound, so be sure you do not put too much on one drive -- unless that is a screaming fast drive like an SSD.

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Answer 9

Jun 28, 2014 7:15 PM in response to k0a

k0a wrote:

Looks like I would be better off with the 6 core Mac Pro then the 4 core...

I should have added to my earlier response that I'm running the 6 core 3.33 Mac Pro; Grant Bennet-Alder is right about it being the sweet spot (I think I was following his advice when I ordered it back then).

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