what is needed to install EV in Virtual Environment.

[Amin123]

what is needed to install EV in Virtual Environment. is there a different between Virtual server and standalone server with EV,

[Liam_Finn1]

The requirements to install EV on a virtual server are the same as a physical server.
Where EV is concerned there is no real difference.

The only thing you need to watch for is performance as from all I have heard from others on the forums and seen there is a performance decrease in a virtual environment. If you stick within the guide lines and make sure that you do not overload the server then you should be OK

Just implement it in stages and watch closely the performance of the Virtual machine. Also ensure that the virtual disk that houses the indexes and the data has enough disk in the array on your storage to support the necessary IO

[Chai]

Hi Admin123,

I can't speak for MSCS, but here's the admin guide on how to install VCS:
ftp://exftpp.symantec.com/pub/support/products/Storage_Foundation_for_Windows/306341.pdf

Then you can follow the technote below on how to configure VCS with EV
ftp://exftpp.symantec.com/pub/support/products/Exchange_Mailbox_Archiving_Unit/336833.pdf

[jprknight-oldax]

We have installed most, and soon to be all of our EV servers into our virtual environment. We have actually seen a performance increase since we moved off of our old physical servers. However it is worth keeping in mind our old servers we under powered and our company has invested heavily in the virtual platform. We are moving our server estate to something like 70 - 80% virtualised if that gives you sime idea of the level of commitment we have for virtualisation.

Note Scanner001's comments, depending on what actual hardware your virtual environment has you may need to be seriously concerned on the performance you will get.

[Liam_Finn1]

 I agree 

If you compare going from new physical to new virtual the common reported throughput has been seen to show a decrease but if you are going from old to new hardware it will ballance or maybe even show an improvement

It will depend on where you are coming from and going to. Some systems are very good for the virtual world but some apps just cant do it. If you are planning on going virtual with EV then get new quad core high powered servers with lots and lots of memory. If you are unsure then work with a VM partner to help you correctly size your VM environment

[JesusWept3]

What i will say is, don't install on VMWare, i know EV supports ESX but the big problem is, Microsoft does not
i can't tell you how many arguments we had because as soon as they realised we were using vmware for our labs, they'd immediately close the case

Hyper-V maybe your best option

[MichelZ]

Hi there

This is NOT true anymore.
http://www.windowsservercatalog.com/svvp.aspx

Microsoft DOES support it's OS'es on other Vendors Virtualization platforms.

/Michel

[MichelZ]

You can even check it here:
http://www.windowsservercatalog.com/svvp.aspx?svvppage=svvpwizard.htm

It does say "Supported".  :)

[JesusWept3]

read the fine print mate, you have to get it through a vendor and have the specific virtualization support which is expensive
believe me, i've been on more calls with MS and arguing about this point at my time in symantec than i care to remember

[jprknight-oldax]

So essentially make it easy on yourself and circum to the fact that although Microsoft were late into the virtualisation game, they are the ONLY provider. Remember the ONLY provider, the ONLY pro, the ONLY....

I am sure you are right JW2. I do not know for sure, but I bet we have written a blank cheque for MS support on ESX.

[JesusWept3]

the thing is microsofts support policies are so convoluted that its only certain configurations but they wont tell you what configurations have actually been certified
i should send you a rather entertaining back and forth email between microsoft and myself going over their support requirements and contracts