[ExchangeList] Re: Exchange and virtualization

Microsoft support policy has always favored there own virtualization product 
(Windows Server 2008, Microsoft Virtual PC, and Microsoft Virtual Server). They 
will make a reasonable effort to resolve problems in a Vmware environment and 
may request you duplicate the problem in a physical environment if needed.

 

Microsoft is trying to restrict customers' flexibility and freedom to choose 
virtualization software by limiting who can run their software and how they can 
run it. Microsoft is leveraging its ownership of the market leading operating 
system and numerous applications that are market leaders in their respective 
categories (Exchange, SQL Server, and Active Directory) to drive customers to 
use Microsoft virtualization products. Their tactics are focused on software 
licensing and distribution terms (for SQL Server, Exchange, Windows Server, and 
Vista) and through the APIs and formats for virtualized Windows. 

In particular, Microsoft does not have key virtual infrastructure capabilities 
(like VMotion), and they are making those either illegal or expensive for 
customers; Microsoft doesn't have virtual desktop offerings, so they are 
denying it to customers; and Microsoft is moving to control this new layer that 
sits on the hardware by forcing their specifications and APIs on the industry. 
Included below in this document are explanations with supporting details of 
some of these specific areas.

Virtualization opens up new enabling models for IT customers and technology 
vendors. To fully achieve this vision, the industry must ensure fundamental 
market choice and ecosystem interoperability. Microsoft operating systems and 
applications are both market dominant and they deliver value to customers. 
However, customers and vendors require freedom of choice to implement and 
deliver applications and operating systems from any vendor with any chosen 
virtual hardware platform. Microsoft is not acting in customers' best interests 
when they attempt to force an integrated virtual hardware/operating 
system/application stack for their operating system and applications. Customers 
require an "any to any" interoperability model where Microsoft application 
stacks can run freely with licensing, open APIs, and support equivalence on 
non-Microsoft virtual hardware to Microsoft's own virtualization technologies.

 

 

Vmware Says peace of mind you can host Exchange on ESX-Vmware

 

Support policy for Microsoft software running in non-Microsoft hardware 
virtualization software

 

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/897615

 

Vmware Says peace of mind you can host Exchange on ESX-Vmware

 

 

http://www.vmware.com/solutions/business-critical-apps/exchange/

 

Vmware says you can run SQL 

 

http://www.vmware.com/solutions/business-critical-apps/sql/

 

 

http://www.vmware.com/company/news/releases/svvp.html

 

Please check the below for Microsoft Virtualization Licensing and Distribution 
Terms

 

http://www.vmware.com/solutions/whitepapers/msoft_licensing_wp.html

 

 

 

  Thanks and Regards

PRABHAKAR KAMUNI |  ECG- De Beers Project | Tech Lead

Unisys Global Services India  |  135/1 Residency Road  |  Bangalore |  Business 
Phone +91 4159 4828|Net 759 4828

Mobile: 0091-9945333367

 


THIS COMMUNICATION MAY CONTAIN CONFIDENTIAL AND/OR OTHERWISE PROPRIETARY 
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this in error, please contact the sender and delete the e-mail and its 
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________________________________

From: exchangelist-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx 
[mailto:exchangelist-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Patrick
Sent: Friday, January 30, 2009 9:28 PM
To: exchangelist@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [ExchangeList] Re: Exchange and virtualization

 

Thanks Prabhakar,

 

Just out of curiosity, I see from your post that you migrated from physical to 
virtual sql. Any issues? Like I said we going to be running this app that uses 
sql for about 7000 users. Seen any issues yet?

 

________________________________

From: "Kamuni, Prabhakar" <Prabhakar.Kamuni@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: exchangelist@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Friday, January 30, 2009 3:03:22 PM
Subject: [ExchangeList] Re: Exchange and virtualization

Patrick,

 

Even I was in confusion when I implemented few clusters on Physical as well in 
Vmware/ESX

 

Please check the below link (Which I raised with Microsoft forum)

 

http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/exchangesvrmigration/thread/f623ef7e-261f-44f3-ab20-398ee7bac4b9/

 

 

 

  Thanks and Regards

PRABHAKAR KAMUNI |  ECG- De Beers Project | Tech Lead

Unisys Global Services India  |  135/1 Residency Road  |  Bangalore |  Business 
Phone +91 4159 4828|Net 759 4828

Mobile: 0091-9945333367

 


THIS COMMUNICATION MAY CONTAIN CONFIDENTIAL AND/OR OTHERWISE PROPRIETARY 
MATERIAL and is thus for use only by the intended recipient. If you received 
this in error, please contact the sender and delete the e-mail and its 
attachments from all computers.

 

 

 

________________________________

From: exchangelist-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx 
[mailto:exchangelist-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Patrick
Sent: Friday, January 30, 2009 8:25 PM
To: exchangelist@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [ExchangeList] Re: Exchange and virtualization

 

Well, that is the key thing though, if MS do not support the implementation, 
then you leave youself exposed

 

________________________________

From: " Kamuni, Prabhakar " <Prabhakar.Kamuni@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: exchangelist@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Friday, January 30, 2009 2:17:05 PM
Subject: [ExchangeList] Re: Exchange and virtualization

As per my understanding MS will not support Exchange on Vmware/ESX which ever 
version :-)

 

But I think when MS release HYPER-V they will support Exchange on 
virtualization.

 

Cheers!!!

Prabhu

 

  Thanks and Regards

PRABHAKAR KAMUNI |  ECG- De Beers Project | Tech Lead

Unisys Global Services India   |  135/1 Residency Road  |  Bangalore |  
Business Phone +91 4159 4828|Net 759 4828

Mobile: 0091-9945333367

 


THIS COMMUNICATION MAY CONTAIN CONFIDENTIAL AND/OR OTHERWISE PROPRIETARY 
MATERIAL and is thus for use only by the intended recipient. If you received 
this in error, please contact the sender and delete the e-mail and its 
attachments from all computers.

 

 

 

________________________________

From: exchangelist-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx 
[mailto:exchangelist-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Chris Wall
Sent: Friday, January 30, 2009 7:33 PM
To: exchangelist@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [ExchangeList] Re: Exchange and virtualization

 

Just an FYI  - Microsoft does support Exchange 2007 virtualization on all 
server roles except for the Unified Communications role.

 

See the following links for exact information:

 

http://blogs.technet.com/ucedsg/archive/2008/11/12/exchange-server-2007-sp1-now-supported-on-vmware.aspx

 

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc794548.aspx

 

From: exchangelist-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx 
[mailto:exchangelist-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Kamuni, Prabhakar
Sent: Friday, January 30, 2009 8:41 AM
To: exchangelist@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [ExchangeList] Re: Exchange and virtualization

 

Patrick,

 

There is no direct answer with me but let me tell you my view

 

Are you going with MSCS?

 

How many users? You have? Based on this answer I can explain you.

 

If it is a small amount of users and you are not having MSCS, without thinking 
any you can go-ahead and install your exchange in Vmware.

 

If you have 1000ʼs of users and if youʼre planning to go with MSCS personally I 
suggest you to go with Physical boxes.

 

 

Even if you have Exchange 2007 for - HUB, CAS, UM, Edge you can go with VM 
servers, but for mailbox cluster nodes in Exchange 2007 also I suggest to go 
with Physical servers.

 

 

 

  Thanks and Regards

PRABHAKAR KAMUNI |  ECG- De Beers Project | Tech Lead

Unisys Global Services India   |  135/1 Residency Road  |  Bangalore |  
Business Phone +91 4159 4828|Net 759 4828

Mobile: 0091-9945333367

 


THIS COMMUNICATION MAY CONTAIN CONFIDENTIAL AND/OR OTHERWISE PROPRIETARY 
MATERIAL and is thus for use only by the intended recipient. If you received 
this in error, please contact the sender and delete the e-mail and its 
attachments from all computers.

 

 

 

________________________________

From: exchangelist-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx 
[mailto:exchangelist-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Patrick
Sent: Friday, January 30, 2009 7:00 PM
To: exchangelist@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [ExchangeList] Re: Exchange and virtualization

 

Thanks. So it would be recommended to install both on physical boxes? I have 
seen the document on MS not supporting VMware

 

________________________________

From: " Kamuni, Prabhakar " <Prabhakar.Kamuni@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: exchangelist@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Friday, January 30, 2009 1:15:24 PM
Subject: [ExchangeList] Re: Exchange and virtualization

Patrick,

 

There is no harm running Exchange in ESX/Vmware environment

 

Only thing since it is high I/O operations application Microsoft will not 
suggest to Install SQl/Exchange in Vmware Environment.

 

Note: If you have any problem with Exchange, Microsoft PSS will not support you 
:-)

 

 

 

  Thanks and Regards

PRABHAKAR KAMUNI |  ECG- De Beers Project | Tech Lead

Unisys Global Services India   |  135/1 Residency Road  |  Bangalore |  
Business Phone +91 4159 4828|Net 759 4828

Mobile: 0091-9945333367

 


THIS COMMUNICATION MAY CONTAIN CONFIDENTIAL AND/OR OTHERWISE PROPRIETARY 
MATERIAL and is thus for use only by the intended recipient. If you received 
this in error, please contact the sender and delete the e-mail and its 
attachments from all computers.

 

 

 

________________________________

From: exchangelist-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx 
[mailto:exchangelist-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Patrick
Sent: Friday, January 30, 2009 6:12 PM
To: exchangelist@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [ExchangeList] Exchange and virtualization

 

Hi Guys,

 

We have an exchange 2003 server in a VMware environment. I am sure I have read 
somewhere that it is not adviceable to run either Exchange or Sql on VM's. 
Anyone got any documentaion / whitepaper to back that up, or have I got it 
wrong.

 

 

 

Thanks

 

Patrick

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