I plan to load Ubuntu on a new laptop (not purchased yet), and would like to use it to host two VHD's via VirtualBox: Win 7 Pro and Win 8. The options I'm having trouble deciding on, and would be grateful for comment on, are :
(A) loading everything on one large SSD.
(B) loading Ubuntu on a small SSD, and using a much larger HD on same laptop to hold the two VHD's, applications, a swap file, and /home , /var , and any other directories best to keep off of the small SSD.
(C) using two SSD's in one laptop.

I understand that (C) might be the most trouble-free and expensive option, but maybe options (A) and (B) are not that much more problem-prone, thereby making the savings worthwhile. I plan to forego an onboard CD//DVD if I ultimately go with option B or C. This would not be a production environment. I just want to get hands-on experience with a bunch of OS's at once. My training to this point in Linux is all theory, through CompTIA Linux+ lectures and simulations.

Regards,

Jeff in Colorado

Hello vmzhuk, welcome to LQ,

I have no experience with SSD but here some thoughts. The Virtualmachines once running are mostly in the RAM, so for them it will probably make no big difference (regarding the speed) if the Virtual Machine are on an SSD or a HD. But you should have enough of RAM in your new computer.

As for Ubuntu (or Linux in general), you could use the search function here in the forums (at the top of the page) and search for SSD, there have been several threads recently about this subject, you will find many information.

Markus

I try to not use ssd and swap but if you have to you have to.

There may be a small performance gain if one has two drives. One for the virtual hard drive files and the normal host os and vm host.

I don't fully agree with the idea that vm's run in ram. The application may but there is a huge file access issue to the virtual hard drive files. Those files can be quite huge and may even (usually) require grow operations and other maintenance work that can consume huge amounts of drive access. Normal vm running accesses the vm files just as much as a normal os would otherwise.


Guess you could use alternate installs to use real partitions on the vm. It is not really a good thing to do (yet?).

Be sure the laptop has vm support in cpu and motherboard. Laptops tend to be poor choices for vm's but again, use what you got.

Thank you for your answers!