Question VMs in Windows 10 or Trial Server 20xx ?

[EspiOne]

I am looking to re-install an OS on my old Lab Desktop. Specification listed below. I originally built this machine to study Windows 7 and Server 2008, later repurposed for Server 2012, back in the day.

I am looking to set up another lab, were I can run Windows Server and Windows 10, to work on my Windows Desktop Administrator Certification, (I know that is not the correct name, something like "endpoint admin")

I am debating about purchasing another Windows 10 License for this machine, I have a Windows 10 Home License, that "might" be able to re-use, but I am not sure about that. Now I have watched a few video and running VMs on Windows 10, but I understand it runs better on Pro as apposed to Home.

The other choice I have...is to just run a Server Version, I understand you can run it for 180 days and not worry about any purchase.

As with my studies back with Windows 7 and Server 2008, I only ran three servers and 5 client OSes. I might do the same thing, here.

Additionally, I am looking to run Kali Linux and Linux to work with them. Even some RED hat linux.


Any ideas?? Let me know if more information is needed.

Intel® Xeon® Processor E3-1220 v3​

H87M Pro4
32GB RAM
either 760 or 780 GPU

 

[jeremyj_83]

I am looking to re-install an OS on my old Lab Desktop. Specification listed below. I originally built this machine to study Windows 7 and Server 2008, later repurposed for Server 2012, back in the day.

I am looking to set up another lab, were I can run Windows Server and Windows 10, to work on my Windows Desktop Administrator Certification, (I know that is not the correct name, something like "endpoint admin")

I am debating about purchasing another Windows 10 License for this machine, I have a Windows 10 Home License, that "might" be able to re-use, but I am not sure about that. Now I have watched a few video and running VMs on Windows 10, but I understand it runs better on Pro as apposed to Home.

The other choice I have...is to just run a Server Version, I understand you can run it for 180 days and not worry about any purchase.

As with my studies back with Windows 7 and Server 2008, I only ran three servers and 5 client OSes. I might do the same thing, here.

Additionally, I am looking to run Kali Linux and Linux to work with them. Even some RED hat linux.


Any ideas?? Let me know if more information is needed.

Intel® Xeon® Processor E3-1220 v3​

H87M Pro4
32GB RAM
either 760 or 780 GPU

Why not just install Proxmox on the machine and have a proper hypervisor to build VMs? Otherwise I would do Win 10 and run VMware Workstation Pro (it is now free) instead of Hyper-V on Win 10.

 

[faalin]

You could just install windows 10 pro on your computer and leave it unlicensed. This would allow you to then install Hyper-V and install all your VMs there.


I run Hyper-v on my work computer with multiple VM's 10 and 11 unlicensed, and a few Server 2016, 2019, and 2022. Most of the time i will test new software on them and then revert them back to before the software install. You can also install any server version with a 180 day free trial.


I also have VirtualBox install with 19VM's.....Most of them were just because i could, not because i needed them.
2 copies of Win 11
2 copies of Win 10
2 copies of Win7
xp
2000
ME
NT 5.0
98 2nd edition
98
95
3.1
UwUntu
Kali
Linux mint
Ubuntu
Tails