We are running VMware ESXi Version 5.5.0
On an Intel Server with Xeon E5-2650 v2 2.60Ghz processors, with 64GB of memory. 4 Network cards.
VWware truly takes advantage of multiple processors. It is a Linux based OS.
You will not have to deal with it. Just enter an IP. That is it.
The installation process is flawless, and the VMWare client is 100% windows application.
EVO and ACT uses sql servers (ACT MS SQL Server 2008), it needs the best Hard Drives. The fastest the better.
Consider buying enterprise HD's. Don't use regular HD's. Do not mix hard drives, same brand, same size, and same batch.
RAID!! very important. We tried several configurations. The best? the fastest? RAID 10!! by far.
10 HD's , 8 RAID 10 and 2 Hot spares
Our HD's are 3 years old, we will change them when they are 7 old
This time we will use enterprise SSD. Expensive but I seen them in action. Very, very fast.
We still using Pervasive V10, good enough, no plans to change it.
Money well spent, but because evo's programming language limitations (It is quite old) Evo will not get any faster. Never, no matter what.
As per you ACT, it will be fast believe me...
have fun,
Kelloggs