Processory/Memory Resource question

[twistedpair]

Am looking at Virturalization and if I have 4GB RAM and Xenon X5450 3GHz processor - and the program i want to run on one virtual machine will use maximum 1GB RAM and needs Pentium 4 2.4 GHz or higher- will I be safe to be running the other server for DC? Is this a realistic use of virtualization?

I heart these classes!

[Biggles77]

What other server are you refering to?

[Coach]

Yeah, I'm with Biggles on this one, can you give me a little more information?

[twistedpair]

I meant the other virtual machine - this is all on one server

[Biggles77]

Paint us a picture twistedpair. We have too much to guess about to be able to understand what you have setup.

How many virtuals are your running?
What O/S do the Virtuals use?
etc
etc
etc

[twistedpair]

Have one server (2008) and need to run as DC and Active directory, and also need to run mail software (non-exchange, small less than 100 mailboxes). Would like to configure hyper-v and run two virtual servers - one for mail and the other for admin purposes. After I install the Hyper-v on 64bit windows server 2008 - do I configure two virutal machines? Hope this expains what I'm trying to do. Want to utilize virtualization due to cost constraints and inability to purchase additional hardware right now.

[twistedpair]

I hope I clarified my situation above. Any input?

[Coach]

Well, your machine will be fine for virtualization, but in general:

1. DC's shouldn't be virtualized
2. Mail servers shouldn't be virutalized

While it's true that you can virtualize both, if you're going to be running a mail server and a DC on the same host box, either on separate VM's or just on one OS, I see two options for your situation.

1. Just run your mail server and DC on the same box. You've got a small environment, it should be fine for at least a while. Eventually you'll probably want to split the roles between two physical boxes.
2. Go ahead and run both boxes in VM's using Hyper-V. When your network outgrows the box, you can use WDS to grab an image of each VM and then redeploy your DC and mail server on two separate physical boxes. This solution would get you by for the time being, and also make your future migration to physical boxes easier.

Hope this helps!

Your friendly neighborhood instructor,
Coach Culbertson

[twistedpair]

Can you briefly explain why DCs and Mail Servers should not be virtualized, and also what you mean by a while (in terms of years)

Also can an image of a VM be redeployed on box that is not virtualized?

Thanks again Coach!

[Biggles77]

........ and also what you mean by a while (in terms of years)

This can be best answered by using other questions etc as examples.
How long is a piece of string?
I will be home soon or I won't be long.
I live just down the road. (in Australia, down the road can be several dozen miles).

[twistedpair]

This can be best answered by using other questions etc as examples.
How long is a piece of string?
I will be home soon or I won't be long.
I live just down the road. (in Australia, down the road can be several dozen miles).



"Not everything that counts can be counted, and not everything that can be counted counts." (Sign hanging in Einstein's office at Princeton)

[twistedpair]

"Not everything that counts can be counted, and not everything that can be counted counts." (Sign hanging in Einstein's office at Princeton)