Virtual PC 2004 & Project Server 2003

[Mike]

I would like to create a Project Server 2003 demo/development environment
using Virtual PC 2004. First, Do I need to create two virtual machines, one
with an application OS (Windows XP or Windows Professional 2000) for Project
Professional 2003, Internet Explorer, Outlook..etc and the other with Windows
Server 2003 to store SQL 2000 Enterprise Edition & Project Server 2003
application? Is there a document or guide that I can acquire that will walk
me through each step to complete what I'm trying to accomplish?

 

[Gary L. Chefetz [MVP]]

Mike:

For demo purposes, use a single virtual machine. Create your VM, copy a
backup of it, and then install using the standard installation guide.

 

[Rolly Perreaux]

Hi Mike,

If you just wanted to do a quick & dirty demo machine for potential
customers in the capabilities of Project Server then do it all on one machine.

Personally I would create 3 VPC images
One image for a Domain Controller with POP3 service (cheap mail server)
One image for the Project Server with SQL, Analysis Services, and WSS
One for Windows XP Client with Project Pro, Excel and Outlook

As it was once explained to me by someone on the Project Server Team, the
'E' in EPM stands for Enterprise, hence using Active Directory.

But to answer your question, there is no document that details the
installation of Project Server on a Virtual PC. But there enough VPC Bloggers
out there that have detailed information on creating VPC images. I would then
use the Project Server Installation Guide to install once you've created the
VPC images.

Good Luck

 

[Gary L. Chefetz [MVP]]

Hey Rolly, where'd you get your dual 3ghz xeon processor laptop with 4 gigs
of RAM? I need one of those so I can run 3 virtual machines, too!

 

[FaisalM]

You can use the single virtual machine on VPC 2004 for demo purposes (as Gary
said)

But if you want to test it in dual-server configuration scenario then you
can use two virtual machines.

I think Virtual PC 2004 doesn't support running multiple virtual macine at
the same time. (Tell me if Im wrong on this) If it doesn't than you can use
Virtual Server 2005 or Vmware product to run multiple virtual machines
simultaneously. For details check the product sites.

Virtual Server 2005
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserversystem/virtualserver/default.mspx

Virtual PC 2004
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/virtualpc/default.mspx



--
FaisalM
http://www.FaisalMasood.com/

My Project Blog
http://www.faisalmasood.com/blog/msproject

 

[Rolly Perreaux]

Hi Gary,

To be honest I run 5 VPC images that I use to demo Project Server
1 - Domain Controller
1 - Front End Project Server with Windows SharePoint Services
1 - View Processing and Session Manager
1 - SQL Server and Analysis Services
1 - SharePoint Portal Server

Don't have a dual Xeon processors, but I do have 2 GB RAM
on my Dell Latitude D800 so no problems here.

After all we're only demo'ing the solution and not managing projects on the
notebook ;-)

Cheers

--
Rolly Perreaux, PMP
Project Server Trainer/Consultant

Hey Rolly, where'd you get your dual 3ghz xeon processor laptop with 4 gigs
of RAM? I need one of those so I can run 3 virtual machines, too!

 

[FaisalM]

Im also running three virtual servers (DC with POP3, Project & SQL) on my
Vmware with 1G RAM. for demos / testing.

Performance tune each of your virtual server to run them efficiently.
(Disabling extra services is just a quick suggestion.)


--
FaisalM
http://www.FaisalMasood.com/

My Project Blog
http://www.faisalmasood.com/blog/msproject

Hey Rolly, where'd you get your dual 3ghz xeon processor laptop with 4 gigs
of RAM? I need one of those so I can run 3 virtual machines, too!

 

[Rolly Perreaux]

Hi Faisal,

Actually Virtual PC 2004 handles multiple VPC images to be run at the same
time. That's what I'm doing

 

[FaisalM]

Glad to hear that.

--
FaisalM
http://www.FaisalMasood.com/

My Project Blog
http://www.faisalmasood.com/blog/msproject

 

[Brian K - Project MVP]

I would like to create a Project Server 2003 demo/development environment
using Virtual PC 2004. First, Do I need to create two virtual machines, one
with an application OS (Windows XP or Windows Professional 2000) for
Project
Professional 2003, Internet Explorer, Outlook..etc and the other with
Windows
Server 2003 to store SQL 2000 Enterprise Edition & Project Server 2003
application? Is there a document or guide that I can acquire that will walk
me through each step to complete what I'm trying to accomplish?

Most of the people at MS and in the partner community that demo project
server do it on a single VPC that runs Windows Server 2003, WSS and
Project Server and also has Project Pro installed. Get a machine with
2gigs of RAM and give the VPC 1 gig of it. At that point just install the
OS and from there it is the same as installing Project Server.

You CAN do it like Rolly talked about if you need to give a more technical
technology walkthrough to the IT guys at a company where you are talking
about the more complex subjects of how the servers are talking but for
your standard feature demo having three VPCs is a little bit of overkill.

 

[Mike]

Thanks......all of you for your help!

Most of the people at MS and in the partner community that demo project
server do it on a single VPC that runs Windows Server 2003, WSS and
Project Server and also has Project Pro installed. Get a machine with
2gigs of RAM and give the VPC 1 gig of it. At that point just install the
OS and from there it is the same as installing Project Server.

You CAN do it like Rolly talked about if you need to give a more technical
technology walkthrough to the IT guys at a company where you are talking
about the more complex subjects of how the servers are talking but for
your standard feature demo having three VPCs is a little bit of overkill.

 

[Rolly Perreaux]

Most of the people at MS and in the partner community that demo project
server do it on a single VPC that runs Windows Server 2003, WSS and
Project Server and also has Project Pro installed. Get a machine with
2gigs of RAM and give the VPC 1 gig of it. At that point just install the
OS and from there it is the same as installing Project Server.

You CAN do it like Rolly talked about if you need to give a more technical
technology walkthrough to the IT guys at a company where you are talking
about the more complex subjects of how the servers are talking but for
your standard feature demo having three VPCs is a little bit of overkill.

I disagree Brian

Without having an Active Directory domain (read: Domain Controller) you
can't effectively demonstrate AD Group Synchronization with Project
Server User Groups or the Enterprise Resource Pool.

But I guess it depends what you want to demonstrate...

Cheers,

--
Rolly Perreaux, PMP
Project Server Trainer/Consultant

IT Summit Series
Advanced Microsoft Technology Training
http://www.itsummitseries.com

 

[Brian K - Project MVP]

Without having an Active Directory domain (read: Domain Controller) you
can't effectively demonstrate AD Group Synchronization with Project
Server User Groups or the Enterprise Resource Pool.

But I guess it depends what you want to demonstrate...

That is why I said that if you wanted to demonstrate things like AD synch
and other such 'back end' features that the multiple VPC configuration you
are talking about is great. But for doing the kind of demo that is
required about 90% of the time for key decision makers a single VPC is
perfectly fine.

I have demonstrated Project Server at least 200 times during various
points in the sales cycle and have never once needed to demonstrate AD
synch live. In my experience the people that require a synch demonstration
are perfectly happy to see it demonstrated in their Proof of Concept
deployment. I generally find it counter productive to give demonstration
of such features to decision makers.

Like I said the multiple VPC config you describe could be useful in a
certain situation that is possible to imagine but it is one I have not
seen that myself nor have I heard of it happening among my contacts in the
partner community.

 

[Rolly Perreaux]

That is why I said that if you wanted to demonstrate things like AD synch
and other such 'back end' features that the multiple VPC configuration you
are talking about is great. But for doing the kind of demo that is
required about 90% of the time for key decision makers a single VPC is
perfectly fine.

I have demonstrated Project Server at least 200 times during various
points in the sales cycle and have never once needed to demonstrate AD
synch live. In my experience the people that require a synch demonstration
are perfectly happy to see it demonstrated in their Proof of Concept
deployment. I generally find it counter productive to give demonstration
of such features to decision makers.

Like I said the multiple VPC config you describe could be useful in a
certain situation that is possible to imagine but it is one I have not
seen that myself nor have I heard of it happening among my contacts in the
partner community.

I understand what you're saying Brian.

But I tell ya there's nothing like seeing the expression on the Decision
Makers faces when you successfully synchronize a couple of thousand AD
Users in the Enterprise Resource Pool and then for the "coup de gras"
show the Project Server User list ;-)

And this demo would take about 5 minutes. To me it worth it, because you
don't have to be a geek to appreciate the HUGE time saving that AD
Synchronization does <G>

Cheers,

--
Rolly Perreaux, PMP
Project Server Trainer/Consultant

IT Summit Series
Advanced Microsoft Technology Training
http://www.itsummitseries.com

 

[Brian K - Project MVP]

I understand what you're saying Brian.

But I tell ya there's nothing like seeing the expression on the Decision
Makers faces when you successfully synchronize a couple of thousand AD
Users in the Enterprise Resource Pool and then for the "coup de gras"
show the Project Server User list ;-)

And this demo would take about 5 minutes. To me it worth it, because you
don't have to be a geek to appreciate the HUGE time saving that AD
Synchronization does <G>

I tend to prefer to keep the conversation at a higher level with those
that are responsible for writing checks. There is a danger in getting that
far down into the application when you are talking to CIOs. AD synch is a
benefit for sure but it provides no direct benefit to the CIO of a
company. It does not help them make business decisions. It is not helping
the company manage their projects and resources better.

Everybody has their own way of going about the demo process. That is why I
said that your configuration was good for demo'ing this feature. Im just
saying that It is not something I have ever seen be necesary in my
experience.

 

[Rolly Perreaux]

I tend to prefer to keep the conversation at a higher level with those
that are responsible for writing checks. There is a danger in getting that
far down into the application when you are talking to CIOs. AD synch is a
benefit for sure but it provides no direct benefit to the CIO of a
company. It does not help them make business decisions. It is not helping
the company manage their projects and resources better.

Everybody has their own way of going about the demo process. That is why I
said that your configuration was good for demo'ing this feature. Im just
saying that It is not something I have ever seen be necesary in my
experience.

<sigh> You're missing the point Brian.

All I said is I disagreed with your comment saying, "You CAN do it like
Rolly talked about if you need to give a more technical technology
walkthrough to the IT guys at a company where you are talking about the
more complex subjects of how the servers are talking but for your
standard feature demo having three VPCs is a little bit of overkill."

Presenting Project Server 2003 in a realistic environment serves more to
reinforce your _complete_ understanding of the product and more
importantly, the Enterprise Project Management solution with _any_
Decision Maker.

It's not just about managing projects and showing the Executive bling-
bling Portfolio Analyzer views, but managing projects and understanding
the technology behind the product. That provides a complete solution.
But adding the Executive bling-bling doesn't hurt either ;-)

Besides, with RAM so cheap these days, it's just one extra Virtual PC to
create to cover _all_ potential questions/demonstrations that might come
up when presenting your EPM Solution.

It's just my opinion

Cheers,

--
Rolly Perreaux, PMP
Project Server Trainer/Consultant

IT Summit Series
Advanced Microsoft Technology Training
http://www.itsummitseries.com

 

[Brian K - Project MVP]

<sigh> You're missing the point Brian.

I understand your point completely and have agreed that your approach is
one way to go.

All I said is I disagreed with your comment saying, "You CAN do it like
Rolly talked about if you need to give a more technical technology
walkthrough to the IT guys at a company where you are talking about the
more complex subjects of how the servers are talking but for your
standard feature demo having three VPCs is a little bit of overkill."

This is my opinion based on my experience over the past several years.

Presenting Project Server 2003 in a realistic environment serves more to
reinforce your complete understanding of the product and more
importantly, the Enterprise Project Management solution with any
Decision Maker.

It's not just about managing projects and showing the Executive bling-
bling Portfolio Analyzer views, but managing projects and understanding
the technology behind the product. That provides a complete solution.
But adding the Executive bling-bling doesn't hurt either ;-)

I have not yet seen a deal where the deciding factor (or even a major
contributing factor) the purchase decision was based on a live demo of the
AD synch. Nobody buys Project Server because it can synch to AD. Dont get
me wrong. It is a great feature that can save a lot of time. but the
features that sell the product are around scheduling and reporting because
those are the features of the product that make a day to day impact on the
management of projects, tasks and resources. Im not suggesting that it
should be about flash (bling). Im just suggesting that I have not seen the
AD synch play a major role in the process of selling Project Server.

Besides, with RAM so cheap these days, it's just one extra Virtual PC to
create to cover all potential questions/demonstrations that might come
up when presenting your EPM Solution.

It's just my opinion

Once again I understand it is your opinion and have stated a few times now
that I agree that your multi-VPC configuration would be great for demo'ing
such things as the AD synch. You have no arguement from me on that score.
We only disagree on the importance of having that feature as part of the
standard demo.

 

[Rolly Perreaux]

<snipped lots of stuff>

Brian,

You're still missing the point. It's not about demo'ing AD Synch, it's
about being prepared to demo questions that wouldn't be in your standard
demo VPC images.

Have I had to demo AD Synch every time? No, I've done it a couple of
times as the Decision Maker has read something about AD and Project
Server.

But do I get questions about the integration of Project Server and
SharePoint Portal Server being able to working together? You bet!! At
least 75% of the time.

So all I'm saying is you can have VPC images at the ready to demonstrate
all facets of the product in case the question arises, or you can say
something clever like" Oh yeah Project Server can work with SPS" or
"Yeah the AD Synch tool works great". IMHO being prepared for _all_
potential questions and being able to demo the answer is a slam dunk
approach.

But that works for me and not necessarily for you.
So let's just agree to disagree and leave it at that.

Cheers,

--
Rolly Perreaux, PMP
Project Server Trainer/Consultant

IT Summit Series
Advanced Microsoft Technology Training
http://www.itsummitseries.com

 

[Brian K - Project MVP]

But that works for me and not necessarily for you.
So let's just agree to disagree and leave it at that.

I have been trying to do this for 3 posts now.

 

[Mike]

Okay...Looks like I only have 512MB of RAM. Can I still succesfully and
efficiently do a one server deployment? Or will I have performance issues due
to lack of memory?
Please assist.