Book excerpt: Microsoft Virtual Server 2005 allows a single server to be divided into several "virtual machines," each running its own environment and operating system, which can even be virtually networked together Written by a key member of Microsoft's Virtual Server product team, this guide shows programmers how they can use these virtual machines to keep their development environment separate from their computing environment, test software on a variety of platforms from a single machine, and test networking applications Packed with real-world examples, the book examines how to install Linux under Virtual Server, create VM libraries, tweak performances, troubleshoot installation glitches, and access the Virtual Server COM API Offers a clear explanation of how to best understand virtual devices, networks, and storage systems and handle debugging in virtual machines