I currently provide consulting services and use a WindowsXP laptop running IIS, SQL Server, WebLogic, and multiple software specific servers/services. I am a longtime Mac user, and am interested in a MacBook for the road. However, I need to ensure that all of the aforementioned items will work properly. The servers/services are accessed internally, meaning that I am simulating a full multiple server environment but only accessing locally. Database configurations and websites look to the PC/Host name, not a specific IP address. Has anyone experienced setting up an environment like the above? Are there any items that appear problematic to anyone reading this? Will it be possible to access the servers (such as websites) being served from XP on the MacOSX side? Any information would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, -Dan
The usecase you described is perfectly fits with virtual machine concept and should work with Parallels products fine.
Parallels RC2 handles it beautifully. I run 2 Windows Server 2003 VMs on my Macbook Pro as well as a Windows XP Client VM. The servers both have AD, DNS, IIS, one SQL Server Express, and the other Oracle 9i. All machines have a static IP address and and joined to a virtual domain. The static IPs were done so that it would not interact with my work's network, although I have had DHCP working on all VMs with my home network.
