Exchange 2007 Virtualization supportability

Greetings everybody,

Today's post is regarding Exchange 2007 Virtualization supportability for Microsoft and non-Microsoft hardware Virtualization.

In a way that Virtualization is taking over server boxes and changing the Datacenter paradigm, many architects and system administrators come across with some design doubts. Can we virtualize Exchange 2007 or not?

I am afraid that this is not the answer you were waiting for, but I have to say that at the moment you just can't use hardware virtualization for the supported version of Exchange 2007 (64-bit). You may use hardware virtualization on Exchange 2007 32-bit for testing on a lab environment.

Here is the full explanation from the Technet article Exchange Server 2007: Platforms, Editions, and Versions for Exchange 2007 virtualization supportability with Microsoft Virtual Server and Microsoft Virtual PC.

Neither Exchange 2007 nor Exchange 2007 SP1 is supported in production in a virtual environment. However, as stated previously, Microsoft Virtual Server is a good environment for training, labs, and demos. Exchange 2007 and Exchange 2007 SP1 are supported in production environments using only the 64-bit version of Exchange 2007, and currently neither Microsoft Virtual Server nor Microsoft Virtual PC supports 64-bit guest systems. Exchange 2007 and Exchange 2007 SP1 are also not supported in production in a virtual environment using virtualization software that is not Microsoft software. For details about the Microsoft support policy for third-party virtualization software, see Microsoft Knowledge Base article 897615, Support policy for Microsoft software running in non-Microsoft hardware virtualization software. The first 64-bit guest support is expected to be included with Hypervisor, which is an add-in for Windows Server 2008 from Microsoft that is scheduled to ship within 180 days of Windows Server 2008. Note that this is within 180 days, meaning it could ship the same day as Windows Server 2008, or it could ship 180 days after Windows Server 2008 ships. For more information about Microsoft virtualization plans, see the Microsoft Machine Virtualization Roadmap Chat Transcript.


Regarding the support policy for Exchange 2007 for non-Microsoft virtualization, the kb article 897615- Support policy for Microsoft software running in non-Microsoft hardware virtualization software addresses that situation which also applies to all other Microsoft products.

Supportability for non-Premier customers running non-Microsoft hardware virtualization: Microsoft does not test or support Microsoft software running together with non-Microsoft hardware virtualization software. For Microsoft customers who do not have a Premier-level support agreement, Microsoft will require that the issue to be reproduced independently from the non-Microsoft hardware virtualization software. Where the issue is confirmed to be unrelated to the non-Microsoft hardware virtualization software, Microsoft will support its software in a manner that is consistent with support provided when that software is not running together with non-Microsoft hardware virtualization software.

Supportability for Premier customers running non-Microsoft hardware virtualization:
For Microsoft Premier-level support customers running non-Microsoft hardware virtualization software from vendors with which Microsoft does not have an established support relationship that covers virtualization solutions, Microsoft will use commercially reasonable efforts to investigate potential issues with Microsoft software running together with non-Microsoft hardware virtualization software. As part of that investigation, Microsoft may require the issue to be reproduced independently from the non-Microsoft hardware virtualization software. Where issues are confirmed to be unrelated to the non-Microsoft hardware virtualization software, Microsoft will support its software in a manner that is consistent with support provided when that software is not running together with non-Microsoft hardware virtualization software.

Supportability for customers running non-Microsoft hardware virtualization from vendors with a joint support relationship:
Microsoft will jointly support certain non-Microsoft hardware virtualization software from vendors with which Microsoft has established a support relationship that covers virtualization solutions. This joint support will include coordinating with the vendor to investigate support issues. As part of the investigation, Microsoft may require the issue to be reproduced independently from the non-Microsoft hardware virtualization software. Where issues are confirmed to be unrelated to the non-Microsoft hardware virtualization software, Microsoft will support its software in a manner that is consistent with support provided when that software is not running together with non-Microsoft hardware virtualization software.

For a complete list of vendors that Microsoft has established a joint support relationship for non-Microsoft hardware virtualization check the kb article 944987 - Support partners for non-Microsoft hardware virtualization software.

At the moment the only company listed is Novel, Inc. but it is subject to change.

R-Tape Loading error,
Luís Rato

New Windows Live products and services + MSN Portugal

Today Microsoft marked a big step forward with the launch of the new generation of Windows Live.

This release brought for the first time an integrated suite of Windows Live products and services at the same time, making it easy for customers to connect and share anywhere.

Windows Live represents a great upgrade for the Windows experience that 1 billion people around the world enjoy every day. The integrated approach combined with the power of software plus services create a compelling reason for customers to choose Windows Live. One experience that really shines in this release is photos – capturing, managing, and most importantly, sharing photos.

Try this new release by visiting http://www.windowslive.com/ and start using Windows Live to share photos, communicate with your friends and family, as well as help protect your PCs and your family while on-line.

Here are just a few of the great new capabilities in this release of Windows Live:

· Now you can post your photos to Flickr in addition to Windows Live Spaces directly from inside Windows Live Photo Gallery
· Going on vacation and want to let your friends and family know? Set up a vacation auto-reply in Windows Live Hotmail
· Use the unified contacts for all your communications in Windows Live, including pictures and gleam notifications in Windows Live Messenger to keep up with updates from your contacts on Windows Live Spaces
· Automatically rotate and group your photos by time when you import them using Windows Live Photo Gallery
· Windows Live Writer lets you work off-line and easily add maps, videos, pictures, and more to your blog
· Keep all your e-mail in one place using Windows Live Mail
· Use Windows Live OneCare Family Safety to keep track of your what children are doing on-line
· Set up your events, manage invitations, and collect photos from everyone using Windows Live Events

I am also proud to annouce that today Microsoft launched the MSN Portugal (http://pt.msn.com). Great news for the Portuguese community.

R-Tape Loading error,

Luís Rato

Troubleshoot Active Directory Client applications ADInsight v1.0

Hi guys,

just to announce that Microsoft released ADInsight v1.0. This is another tool from sysinternals that does real-time monitoring to troubleshoot Active Directory client applications during client-server communication.

It is a nice tool to solve issues with Windows authentication, Exchange, DNS, and other problems.

Check for more details and download on the link below:
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/sysinternals/utilities/adinsight.mspx

Here are some more useful tools in their latest version:

PsExec v1.90: This version of PsExec, a command-line tool for executing programs locally and remotely, significantly improves handling of arguments passed to the specified application by not modifying spacing or quotation marks. It also fixes a number of minor bugs, including ones related to running programs in alternate terminal server sessions.

Process Explorer v11.04: This update fixes a memory leak in the threads tab.

ADExplorer v1.01: This release of ADExplorer, an Active Directory browser/editor, fixes a number of minor issues.

DebugView v4.72: DebugView, a real-time debug output monitor, has several minor bug fixes.

Process Monitor v1.26: This release of Process Monitor contains minor bug fixes

BgInfo v4.12: Improved reporting of CPU cores and logical processors for multi-core and multi-proc machines.

R-Tape Loading error,
Luís Rato