Comprehensive, multi-flavor Vista testing environment?

[gmiles]

Hi all,
We run a lab at our organization to test software we develop against common configurations of machines used within the organization. Currently, for the Windows side, this is fairly easy: We have a lone Win2K box, a couple XP Home boxes, several XP Pro boxes, and a couple new Vista machines. We keep a few images of each machine. With the XP boxes, there are SP1 and SP2 images, both clean and with older versions of our software installed.

However, with Vista slowly being adopted by our users, we run into a conundrum: There are 4 versions of Vista that our users will realistically be running. Once SP1 comes out, it is going to create a testing environment that will become rather untenable to maintain. That ends up being 16 images per machine. Is there an easier way? I would rather avoid keeping 16 images patched on each of a bunch of different machines from a bunch of different manufacturers.

Do you guys have any ideas? Is anyone else in a similar scenario?

Thanks!
-gmiles

 

[linney]

If you want to test your software in every conceivable configuration then you are stuck with your present system and method.

You could see whether using Beta Testers (and their machines) is an alternative method.

 

[biglebowski]

Install VMware ESX on acouple of blades and you will give yourself scope to add o/s later.

Most testers are now using ESX I know fujitsu use it to test large exchange designs (20,000+ users)

When I was born I was so suprised I didn't talk for 18 months

 

[Nelviticus]

You could just use Microsoft's free Virtual PC 2007. You'd only need one box and lots of hard drive space then.

One advantage is that since the emulated hard drives are files you can set it up to roll back any changes when you shut a virtual PC down.

One possible disadvantage, depending on what type of software you're testing, is that the vPCs only emulate basic graphics cards.

Regards

Nelviticus