New PC choice - Linux or Windows host

[rob.g]

VBox has already proven usefull, and I'm thinking more apps will be installed in their own virtual machine going forward. I'm upgrading my very old PC to an i7 3.4Ghz (4 core, 8 threads).
I'm trying to decide which 64 bit OS to install on the new PC as host.

I'm looking for recommendations as to choosing Ubuntu Linux as the host, with VirtualBox guests of Windows and Linux - or Chosing
Windows 8 Home, or Windows 7 Pro

All advice and suggestions are welcome.

[martyscholes]

There was a similar discussion here viewtopic.php?f=1&t=58876

I run several VMs on a Solaris host and am somewhat partial to Solaris for hosting. Some things to consider include:
1. If the applications need access to resources which do not easily translate from guest to host, such as video, 3D, USB and video cameras, then it is better to have those applications run on the host and let that dictate your decision.
2. Generally it is better to have a more server-like operating system as the host because it can better manage resources used by multiple guests. Solaris does an amazing job with disks virtualization (ZFS), network virtualization (Crossbow) and CPU scheduling. All of those translate well to hosting guests.
3. The more likely an OS instance needs to be rebooted, the better off it is as a guest.

[rob.g]

Thanks Marty,

I'd never considered Solaris, though have heard of it. Does it run on Intel PC architectures like the i7? Is it PD at this point like Linux?

[martyscholes]

Thanks Marty,

I'd never considered Solaris, though have heard of it. Does it run on Intel PC architectures like the i7? Is it PD at this point like Linux?

Solaris does run well on Intel/AMD. Our server has AMD Opterons. I am not clear on Oracle's direction for Solaris or the legal specifics, but I recall that it is basically free to evaluate in a non-production setting. It will not run on a 32-bit CPU, but feel free to download and install it as a guest or on some hardware you may have laying around and decide for yourself if it is for you.