I have finally been able to create a fully-functional Project Server 2007 Virtual PC image, including POP3 email service for testing email functions! To celebrate this accomplishment, I've decided to share my process, step-by-step, screenshots included. Because documenting this process with screenshots is so lengthy, it will be broken into a series of posts on this blog.
Although I ask that you don't consider this to be the ultimate authority on how to create a Project Server 2007 VPC image, you should still be able to use this procedure to build a fully-functional image for Project Server 2007 demos and development work.
Before proceeding, here are a couple of assumptions:
1. You have access to all of the required software:
2. This will not be a lesson on how to use Virtual PC; I'll assume that you are already familiar with the tool and are capable of building a basic virtual machine using Windows Server 2003.
That being said... let's dive in!
Part 1: Getting Started, Installing IIS, and Installing .NET Framework 2.0
Start by building a VPC “base image” with a clean installation of Windows Server 2003
VPC settings:
Memory: set a value which is at least half of the physical memory on your host machine
Networking: 1 adapter, mapped to a network adapter on your local machine
Install Virtual Machine Additions:
VPC Actions menu > Install or Update Virtual Machine Additions
Perform Windows Update inside the virtual machine
Select Start > All Programs > Windows Update
Follow the instructions and install all available updates, including Internet Explorer 7
Install IIS with .NET Framework 2.0
Select Start > Control Panel > Add or Remove Programs:
In the Add or Remove Programs dialog box, click the Add / Remove Windows Components button on the left side:
In the Windows Components Wizard dialog box, highlight the Application Server option, then click the Details button:
In the Application Server dialog box, highlight the Internet Information Services (IIS) option, then click the Details button:
In the Internet Information Services (IIS) dialog box, highlight the World Wide Web Service option, then click the Details button:
In the World Wide Web Service dialog box, select the Active Server Pages option, the Server Side Includes option, and the World Wide Web Service option, then click the OK button:
Click OK twice more to close the dialog boxes and return to the Windows Components Wizard dialog box:
Scrolling down the list of options, locate and deselect the Internet Explorer Enhanced Security Configuration option:
Scrolling a bit further down the list of options, locate and select the Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0 option:
Click the Next button to begin the IIS installation; you may be asked to insert the Windows Server installation media.
When the installation is complete, click the Finish button:
You should now have a fully-functional IIS web server installed inside your VPC image.
In Part 2, we'll look at how to install and configure POP3 email service inside the VPC image.