If labbing, don't make wsus store any patch to save some gigabyte would be my first suggestion. Second, If the hypervisor limit the number of VM, yes you could use another version or a ESXi or xenserver (basic version are free to use). The goal is to learn the OS, unless you wanna play more with the hyperv role. MCP | MCTS 70-236: Exchange Server 2007, Configuring Want to follow me ? | Blog: http://www.jabea.net | http://blogs.technet.com/b/wikininjas/

Hi folks, I'm after peoples advice / arrangements on how they have configured themselves for a flexible home (e.g. AMD3870/16GB hardware) TechNet test rig i.e. in order to gain experience with / evaluate the various new (and older) MS products and be able to construct / tear down test arrangements. Apologies if this is the wrong place for such a question - I'm not that experienced with navigating these forums yet. I've installed 2012 Standard and added WSUS (which was the first technology I was interested in) and also the AD/DNS/File&Storage&Print/HyperV/IIS roles. However, noting the 2 VM limit on standard, I'm now wondering if I should trash that and start again with 2012 DataCentre and HyperV and run other roles (servers / workstations) in virtuals. Though obviously not keen to download the WSUS gigabytes again and I notice that converting to Standard ->DC appears to be supported e.g. down the bottom here - http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/jj574204.aspx Interested in peoples thoughts / experiences / arrangements ? Thanks.

If labbing, don't make wsus store any patch to save some gigabyte would be my first suggestion. Second, If the hypervisor limit the number of VM, yes you could use another version or a ESXi or xenserver (basic version are free to use). The goal is to learn the OS, unless you wanna play more with the hyperv role. MCP | MCTS 70-236: Exchange Server 2007, Configuring Want to follow me ? | Blog: http://www.jabea.net | http://blogs.technet.com/b/wikininjas/