Setting up a virtual machine to run Windows Server 2003 is no different than setting up any other unmodified operating system.
Here are a few items to remember:
Unmodified operating systems, such as Windows Server 2003, must run in full virtualization mode, which requires the computer running the virtualization host server to support hardware-assisted virtualization.
The most recent version of the operating system should be installed on the virtual machine.
The minimum amount of RAM must be enough to run the host operating system and the operating system of each virtual machine you plan to run simultaneously.
For example, simultaneously running four Windows Server 2003 R2 Standard Edition virtual machines on a SUSE Linux Enteprise Server 10 virtualization host server requires 1024 MB of total system memory (4 x 128 MB for each virtual machine plus 512 MB for the virtualization host server).
This example uses theoretical minimums. For real-world configurations, system memory should be increased to at least the recommended amount for each virtual machine.
For more information on minimum, recommended, and maximum amounts of memory required for operating systems, consult the vendor’s published information.
The virtual machine should be set up using the Create Virtual Machine Wizard, which is available by running +++.
An x86 64-bit computer can host virtual machines running both 32-bit and 64-bit operating systems.
The option to set up a virtual machine based on an existing disk or disk image is only supported if the existing disk or disk image was originally set up through the Create Virtual Machine Wizard.
The operating system installation source can be launched from CD/DVD or from ISO image files.
Virtual disks can be based on a file, partition, volume, or other type of block device.
Virtual machines are managed using the Virtual Machine Manager, which is available by running ++