VMware Server on a Laptop (SUSE Linux 10), part 3

[ previously: part 1, part 2 ]

I had to give up on my hope of running SUSE Linux 10 and Windows XP Pro simultaneously on my laptop using VMware Server. Although I technically was able to get them to run simultaneously by reducing the amount of RAM allocated to each, I found in practice that everything ran too slowly.

I think the main issue is that even though I was allowing sufficient RAM for the host OS (also SUSE 10), I wasn't leaving sufficient RAM for caching the hard disk, and that killed the performance unacceptably. Perhaps if I had reduced both guest OS's to 256 Mbytes it would have worked, but that is less memory that I like to run either of those OS's with.

Instead, I've restored my SUSE 10 guest OS to 640 Mbytes RAM, and my Windows XP Pro guest to 512 Mbytes RAM. I can't run them simultaneously, but sleeping one OS before I restore the other is currently a faster solution overall.

This is a limitation of working on a laptop that is limited to 1 Gbyte RAM. I'm already looking for possible replacement laptops, but it's not simple because I'm after a high-end laptop that is still light and small enough to carry easily when travelling. I'm after the following:

• Supports at least 2 Gbytes RAM;
• Hard disk at least 100 Gbytes;
• 64-bit processor;
• Screen no larger than 14 inches;
• Horizontal resolution no less than 1280 pixels;
• Maximum mass 2kg (4.5lb);
• Minimum battery life 3 hours.

There are a few laptops around that come close to this spec, but I haven't found anything that quite hits the mark. However, I'll be very surprised if we don't see this specification during 2006, so I can wait a while longer.