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4,688 Views 14 Replies Last post: Oct 25, 2009 1:06 PM by plq RSS
tsmerian Enthusiast
tsmerian
51 posts since
Nov 16, 2004
Currently Being Moderated

May 28, 2008 1:46 PM

Windows 2003 SP2 Support?

Hi gang,

 

 

 

OK, so I know my corporation is only like a year behind here, but we are planning on upgrading some Windows 2003 machines to Service Pack 2. Some of these machines are VMware Server hosts (and a couple are GSX). According to the system documentation for host system requirements, only Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 1 is supported. Is this indeed true?

 

 

Thanks for the feedback in advance!

Peter_vm Guru
Peter_vm
9,058 posts since
Feb 1, 2006
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1. May 28, 2008 3:50 PM in response to: tsmerian
Re: Windows 2003 SP2 Support?

If you read it to the letter, only SP1 is supported.

tsmerian Enthusiast
tsmerian
51 posts since
Nov 16, 2004
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2. May 29, 2008 2:32 PM in response to: Peter_vm
Re: Windows 2003 SP2 Support?

 

This is the answer I received from VMware Support:

 

 

The following is the official list of supported Windows Hosts

 

 

 

 

 

Server 1.x

 

 

Windows Host Operating System Requirements You must use a Microsoft Windows server operating system. To use the VMware Management Interface, Internet Information Server (IIS) 5.0 or 6.0 must be installed.

 

 

NOTE Operating systems and service packs that are not listed are not supported for use as a host operating system for VMware Server.

 

 

64bit host computers can run the following operating systems for 64bit extended

 

 

systems:

 

 

  • Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Enterprise, Standard, and Web Editions, R2

 

 

  • Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Enterprise, Standard, and Web Editions, Service Pack 1

 

 

32bit host computers can run the following operating systems:

 

 

  • Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Enterprise, Standard, and Web Editions, R2

 

 

  • Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Enterprise, Standard, Web, and Small Business Editions, including Service Pack 1

 

 

  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Advanced Server, Service Pack 3 and Service Pack 4

 

 

  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Server, Service Pack 3 and Service Pack 4 VmPerl API requires Perl 5.005x or higher.

 

 

VMware Management Interface requires one of these browsers:

 

 

  • Internet Explorer 5.5 or 6.0 (6.0 highly recommended)

 

 

  • Firefox 1.x

 

 

  • Mozilla 1.x

 

 

  • Netscape Navigator 7.0

 

 

NOTE VMware tests the VMware Management Interface for stability and reliability with new browser versions. VMware makes every effort to add support for new browser versions in a timely manner, but until a browser is added to the above list, its use with the product is not supported.

 

 

 

 

 

Server 2.0

 

 

Windows Host Operating Systems

 

 

You must use a Windows server operating system.

 

 

64bit host computers can run the following operating systems for 64bit extended

 

 

systems:

 

 

  • Windows Server 2008 x64 Standard Edition Windows Server 2008 x64 Enterprise Edition NOTE Operating systems and service packs that are not listed are not supported for use as a host operating system for VMware Server.

 

 

Introduction and System Requirements

 

 

BETA DRAFT

 

 

  • Windows Server 2003 x64 Standard Edition, SP1, SP2, R2 Windows Server 2003 x64 Web Edition, SP1, SP2, R2 Windows Server 2003 x64 Enterprise Edition, SP1, SP2, R2

 

 

32bit host computers can run the following operating systems:

 

 

  • Windows Server 2008 Standard Edition

 

 

Windows Server 2008 Enterprise Edition

 

 

  • Windows Server 2003 Standard Edition, SP1, SP2, R2 Windows Server 2003 Web Edition, SP1, SP2, R2 Windows Server 2003 Enterprise Edition, SP1, SP2, R2

 

 

  • Windows Small Business Server 2003 Standard Edition, R2 Windows Small Business Server 2003 Premium Edition, R2

 

 

  • Windows 2000 Server SP3, SP4

 

 

Windows 2000 Advanced Server, SP3, SP4

 

 

Peter_vm Guru
Peter_vm
9,058 posts since
Feb 1, 2006
Currently Being Moderated
3. May 29, 2008 2:38 PM in response to: tsmerian
Re: Windows 2003 SP2 Support?

Yes, VMware Server 2.0 (currently in Beta 2) supports Windows 2003 SP2.

 

But since you were posting in non-Beta group, I have replied about 1.0.x version.

tsmerian Enthusiast
tsmerian
51 posts since
Nov 16, 2004
Currently Being Moderated
4. May 29, 2008 2:50 PM in response to: Peter_vm
Re: Windows 2003 SP2 Support?

 

 

 

 

And you are correct sir!

 

 

Deems Novice
Deems
16 posts since
Jul 11, 2008
Currently Being Moderated
5. Jul 11, 2008 5:35 AM in response to: Peter_vm
Re: Windows 2003 SP2 Support?

 

I installed VMware Server 2.0 Build 101586.  AOK. 

 

 

I then installed Windows Server 2003 R2 Standard Edition. AOK.

 

 

I then installed SP2 using Windows Update.  The network stopped working.  Device Manager no longer liked the AMD network device.  It was in default bridged mode.  I uninstalled SP2 and everything worked again.

 

 

This appears to be a VMWare Server 2.0 compatibility issue with SP2, right?

 

 

Thanks.

 

 

 

 

 

Peter_vm Guru
Peter_vm
9,058 posts since
Feb 1, 2006
Currently Being Moderated
6. Jul 11, 2008 6:18 AM in response to: Deems
Re: Windows 2003 SP2 Support?

Wrong.

 

For those running SP2 on host:

 

Try to disable TCP chimney and DisableDOS on host OS.

 

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/945977

1. Click Start, click Run, type cmd, and then click OK.

2. At the command prompt, type:

Netsh int ip set chimney DISABLED

3. Press the ENTER key.

 

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/898468/en-us

1. Click Start, click Run, type regedit in the Open box, and then click OK.

2. Locate and then click the following registry subkey:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\LanManServer\Parameters

3. On the Edit menu, point to New, and then click DWORD Value.

4. Type DisableDos for the name of the DWORD value, and then press ENTER.

5. Right-click DisableDos, and then click Modify.

6. In the Value data box, type 1 to disable denial of service attack detection, and then click OK.

7. Quit Registry Editor

Deems Novice
Deems
16 posts since
Jul 11, 2008
Currently Being Moderated
7. Jul 11, 2008 6:23 AM in response to: Peter_vm
Re: Windows 2003 SP2 Support?

Thanks Peter.  I'll give it a try.

saurabhroy Novice
saurabhroy
7 posts since
Jul 8, 2008
Currently Being Moderated
8. Jul 11, 2008 7:36 AM in response to: tsmerian
Re: Windows 2003 SP2 Support?

 

mate, there is no problem running VMware server with Windows server 2003 with SP2. it works perfect.

 

 

 

 

Deems Novice
Deems
16 posts since
Jul 11, 2008
Currently Being Moderated
9. Jul 13, 2008 9:31 AM in response to: saurabhroy
Re: Windows 2003 SP2 Support?

Thanks for the posts.

 

I tried Peter's suggestions; they didn't work. So I installed 1.0.6. Everything worked fine.

 

 

In summary...

 

 

I'm running a Dell Inspiron 530 and W2K3 R2 SP2 as a host.

 

 

W2K3 R2 works as a guest OS under VMware server 1.0.6 and VMware Server 2.0 RC1.

 

 

W2K3 R2 SP2 works as a guest OS under VMware server 1.0.6; it doesn't work with VMware server 2.0 RC1. The AMD NIC shows problems in Device Manager.

 

 

Any ideas?

 

 

Thanks.

Peter_vm Guru
Peter_vm
9,058 posts since
Feb 1, 2006
Currently Being Moderated
10. Jul 13, 2008 1:17 PM in response to: Deems
Re: Windows 2003 SP2 Support?

Can you post/attach "vmware.log" from guest directory on your physical host? At that time that you had problems with NIC?

Deems Novice
Deems
16 posts since
Jul 11, 2008
Currently Being Moderated
11. Jul 13, 2008 3:52 PM in response to: Peter_vm
Re: Windows 2003 SP2 Support?

Sure.  Many thanks for looking into this.

 

 

EDIT:  I just installed VMware Tools and the virtual network adapter now works!  Device manager is now happy with the virtual NIC.

Attachments:
Peter_vm Guru
Peter_vm
9,058 posts since
Feb 1, 2006
Currently Being Moderated
12. Jul 13, 2008 6:10 PM in response to: Deems
Re: Windows 2003 SP2 Support?

Your config looks good.

Try to redetect Ethernet adapter in your guest OS.

For Windows you may need to cleanup ghost device first :

1. Click Start

2. Click Run

3. Type cmd and click OK

4. Type set devmgr_show_nonpresent_devices=1 and hit ENTER

5. Type cd\windows\system32 and hit ENTER

6. Type start devmgmt.msc and hit ENTER

7. When the device manager opens, click the View menu

8. Click Show Hidden Devices

9. Browse to Network Adapters and delete ghost AMD NIC

 

 

Install appropriate VMware Tools.

Deems Novice
Deems
16 posts since
Jul 11, 2008
Currently Being Moderated
13. Jul 14, 2008 5:47 AM in response to: Peter_vm
Re: Windows 2003 SP2 Support?

I will set up a 2nd VM, try your suggestion and post the results.  Thank you Peter.

plq Novice
plq
7 posts since
Nov 15, 2006
Currently Being Moderated
14. Oct 25, 2009 1:06 PM in response to: Deems
Re: Windows 2003 SP2 Support?

 

I hit the problem where when I upgraded a VM to Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 2, the network card disappeared completely and I couldnt see a way of getting it back

 

 

Revert to snapshot and reinstall SP2 produced the same thing again

 

 

Then I installed vmware tools, and the network card appeared again.

 

 

Weird ! That was using free vmware server 2.x

 

 

 

 

 

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