Ubuntu-64 on Vista 32 - beginner questions

[virtualfish]

Hi,
I am a j2ee developer - a noobie in virtualization/virtual box.
my config:
Vista 32bit, Dual core, 4gb RAM, 128 graphics

my intended vbox config:
ubuntu64bit, 3gb ram, 10 gb hdd

I have numbered my questions, not to make it into one paragraph of multiple questions.

1) I want to understand the optimum configuration for my virtualbox on Vista.I understand that Vista only uses 3 gb ram( out of 4gb ram). Is there a way, I can make use of the extra 1gb ram in ubuntu64? How much memory is optimum for Vista to host virtualbox.

2) If i install ubuntu-64bit on my virtual box and set it to 3GB RAM, will Vista still be usable, when I switch back (on the same box)?. Switching between vbox and vista often - is this ok?. I need to pick on my ubuntu skills before working on ubuntu only. So I need both of them equally powerful. I run eclipse/netbeans once in a while on Vista.

3) Am i correct in my assumption that virtualbox and vista have dedicated memory space? if so - how would vista get more ram if required if i set virtualbox to a maxed ram?

4) how much hdd size should i use for swap?

also, I read elsewhere on the forum that even if my box as dual core, my virtualbox will behave just as 1core - is this true?

[Perryg]

1) I want to understand the optimum configuration for my virtualbox on Vista.I understand that Vista only uses 3 gb ram( out of 4gb ram). Is there a way, I can make use of the extra 1gb ram in ubuntu64? How much memory is optimum for Vista to host virtualbox.

You are limited to 4 Gig of which Windows will only be able to use about 3.4 Gig. Windows and Ubuntu will have to share this amount.

2) If i install ubuntu-64bit on my virtual box and set it to 3GB RAM, will Vista still be usable, when I switch back (on the same box)?. Switching between vbox and vista often - is this ok?. I need to pick on my ubuntu skills before working on ubuntu only. So I need both of them equally powerful. I run eclipse/netbeans once in a while on Vista.

You will not be able to assign more that 50% of the available memory, so 2 Gig is all you will be able to use, but this is enough for a Linux Distro.
For the most part you will see very little degradation in the Host/Guest and in some aspects you should see an improvement. As for switching back they actually run together. You can run the Ubuntu in seamless mode as I do and have both OS's running 24/7 on the same desktop.

3) Am i correct in my assumption that virtualbox and vista have dedicated memory space? if so - how would vista get more ram if required if i set virtualbox to a maxed ram?

Again the Max amount will be limited to the 32 bit host and the fact that you can not give it more than 50% of the available memory

4) how much hdd size should i use for swap?

Ubuntu will suggest the amount of swap if you let it auto configure your system. I have not seen a need to manually do this myself, others may disagree though.

also, I read elsewhere on the forum that even if my box as dual core, my virtualbox will behave just as 1core - is this true?

VirtualBox 3.0.0 is in beta and does support SMP so that is something to look forward too.

Also you should check before hand that you have the capability to do Hardware Virtualization inside the BIOS. If it is not there then you do not have it and will not be able to run 64 bit OS in VirtualBox.

[baf]

Another thing. Running a 32-bit linux will probably be faster. So unless you must develop for 64-bit stick to a 32-bit guest.
Or try both and see which you like better.

One tip make your virtual disk considerably bigger then you need but only partition what you think you need. A dynamic disk will not take much space for parts that hasn't been used. If you think you will need 10G make the disk 40G. Then partition it with say 1G swap and 9G root the rest unpartitioned. You can later expand that partition with gparted if you need too.

[virtualfish]

thanks perryg for your answers.

@baf please can you ellaborate on your tips:

One tip make your virtual disk considerably bigger then you need but only partition what you think you need. A dynamic disk will not take much space for parts that hasn't been used. If you think you will need 10G make the disk 40G. Then partition it with say 1G swap and 9G root the rest unpartitioned. You can later expand that partition with gparted if you need too.

Thanks for tip, I assumed that the 64bit would take advantage of dual-core, which was wrong. I will go with the 32bit.

I was thinking of keeping 2G hard disk size (increase as you go - dynamic allocation) kind of virtual disk. Is that good enough?

[baf]

The size you set for the disk is the maximum it can reach. If you make it bigger then you need and later use something like gparted to grow your partition that is when the diskfile will start growing.
So ask yourself this:
Is it easy to make a harddisk bigger? Answer no.
Is it easy to start using unused space on it. Yes.