Need to rewrite FreeBSD based database-centric app under VMware server 1.0.2, advice?

[Sten Daniel Soersdal]

For a period of time i need to run FreeBSD 6 or 7 as a PostgreSQL server 
w/Apache (PHP) to emulate one of our servers - to rewrite a very 
database-centric management application.
The application wont be due until sometime late this year (Christmas).
I thought it would be wise to ask you (pioneers of emulation) for advice.

My Dell Inspiron 9400 has 2ghz Core2Due with 4m cache, 2 GB of dual 
channel memory and a rather slow 5400 rpm "PATA" emulated SATA hard 
drive. It runs Windows XP Pro SP2.

The emulated server ( PE2850 2x2 core Intel, 4 GB memory, RAID 1+0 on 
battery backed SCSI (mpt)) runs 32bit FBSD 6.1 today but could run 64bit 
version on application release (reinstall either way necessary).

The applications it runs today are PostgreSQL (old), Java (old), Apache 
1.3, PHP 5 something, FreeRADIUS (old), PowerDNS (old)

My questions are at least four fold;

- 64 bit or 32 bit, now or then?

- Any suggestions on which of the FreeBSD versions i should base myself 
on? I'm thinking 7 but if that is known to be impossible then i should 
perhaps delay this choice?

- Are there any gotcha's that i need to address to get an emulated 
(32bit or 64bit, FBSD 6 or 7, etc) off the ground at all?

- Would VMware server 1.0.2 cause many emulation problems running 32bit 
or 64bit on single or dual core?

- I need only serving performance for my personal use only are there any 
settings i should specifically look into?

- Recommendations and experiences are very welcome!!



-- 
Sten Daniel Soersdal