HOW TO: Create a Sharepoint 2010 VM in 32 bits host machine

The objetive of this serie of posts is to explain in detail how to create a 64 bits virtual machine with Sharepoint 2010 in a 32 bits host machine.

The first thing we have to do is download all the necessary software for our Sharepoint 2010 VM.  This is the list of software we need:

1.       SUN VirtualBox 3.0: this software enables create 64 bits guest machine into 32 bits host machines. You can download this free software from http://www.virtualbox.org/wiki/Downloads.

2.       Microsoft Windows Server 2008 64 bits: you can download a trial version from Microsoft site (http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2008/en/us/trial-software.aspx).

3.       Microsoft SQL Server 2008 64 bits: you can download a trial version from Microsoft site (http://www.microsoft.com/sqlserver/2008/en/us/trial-software.aspx).

Before we can start the installation we have to enable Intel® VT and AMD-V virtualizations extension in BIOS. You must open the BIOS setup utility of your computer, then access the processor section and enable intel®virtualization technology or AMD-V.

Now that we already have all the necessary software to create the virtual machine, we are going to start installing VirtualBox 3.0.

I won’t explain the steps to install VirtualBox. You have all the necessary information in the user manual (http://www.virtualbox.org/manual/UserManual.html).

Once we have installed VirtualBox we’re going to create the virtual machine:

1.       Run VirtualBox 3.0: double click in desktop icon.

2.       Click New and you’ll see the wizard window:

3.       Once you have created the shared folder you are able to access its content through the windows explorer of the VM with the following URL \\vboxsvr\<shared folder name>:

 

3.       Introduce the VM name (for example “Sharepoint 2010”) and select the OS version (Microsoft Windows 2008 64 bit):

4.       Microsoft Sharepoint Server 2010 TP: you only can obtain this software through the Microsoft Technical Preview Program.

5.       Microsoft Office 2010 TP: you only can obtain this software through the Microsoft Technical Preview Program.

4.       Next define the RAM memory to asign to VM:

5.       Next define the name, size and location of a new virtual disk:

6.       Finally click Finish is the summary windows and you’ll have your VM created:

Now we have the VM ready to install all the software. First of all we have to install Windows Server 2008 64 bit:

1.       Select the VM is VirtualBox and click Configuration button.

2.       Select CD/DVD-ROM section and introduce the location of the ISO image file downloaded from Microsoft site:

3.       Save the changes and the Start button to iniciate the VM

4.       VirtualBox will execute the installation of Windows Server 2008. Select language, date format and keyboard and click Next:

5.       Wait till all steps of installation have been completed and then enter the new password for Administrator.

6.       Once you have logged in the VM, change other settings like date and time, keyboard, display resolution, etc.

Finally you have to install Sun VirtualBox Guest Addtions 3.0 clicking In the option Install Guest Additions of the Devices menu:

After the installation you must restart the virtual machine.

Continuing with the installation of our Sharepoint 2010 VM, in this post we’re going to install SQL Server 2008.

Before we can start, we need to create a shared forlder in order to access the installation software stored in the host machine.

To create a shared folder:

1.       Click in Shared Folder option of the devices menu of your VM.

2.       Click the icon to create a new Shared folder and select the path of your host machine where you have downloaded the SQL Server 2008 software:

12.   Next you have to enter the account for SQL Server Administration:

13.   Next you have to decide if send errors and logs to Microsoft:

14.   Then installation rules are checked:

15.   Next a installation summary is shown and when you click Install the installation process begins:

16.   After installation is finished you are able to view the log file:

Finally we’re going to install Sharepoint Server 2010 TP.

Before we proceed with the installantion, we’ll create a second virtual disk to stored all data.

To create a second virtual disk:

1.       With the VM off, click in Configuration button and select virtual disks section:

2.       Click the icon to create a new Virtual Disk and select the path and size of the virtual disk:

3.       Then click Ok in the configuration window of VM.

4.       Then start the VM, run the Server Manager and message box will be shown to activate the new disk. Click Ok and create a volume with the new disk:

5.       Finally run the SQL Management Studio, open the Server Properties, select the Database Settings section and change the Database Default Location to a path of the new virtual disk:

11.   Next you have to enter the account credentials for different services:

10.   Next disk space requirements are cheked:

9.       Next you have to select the instance ID and the instance root directory:

7.       If no errors ocurres you can change to the Installation section and execute the stand-alone installation.

8.       First you have to select the feature you want to install:

6.       In the planning section you have to execute the System Configuration Checker:

3.       SQL Server 2008 also requires Hotfix KB942288. Click ok in the message box and the Hotfix will be installed.

4.       At this point you must restart the virtual machine.

5.       After you restart the virtual machine you must execute Setup again, and this time the SQL Server Installation center is opened:

Now we are ready to install SQL Server 2008 64 bit:

1.       Execute the Setup program.

2.       A message box is shown advicing you that SQL Server 2008 requires Microsoft .NET framework 3.5 SP1. Click Ok and .NET framework will be installed: