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Guv
Enthusiast
Enthusiast

Windows 2008 Virtual Machines Performance

We are using ESX 3.5 update 2 and VC 2.5. We mainly use windows 2003 virtual machines, but now want to start installing windows 2008 OS and also exchange 2007. Are there any issues in running this OS version on this version of ESX or is it best to upgrade to VSPhere for better performance.

Any advice please.

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tomparisi
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Contributor

Running the same environment you described and we have installed many Windows 2008 servers. Make sure you use the Windows 2008 Enterprise edition to take advantage of the virtual licensing rules. One anomaly we have seen related to performance is that the x64 version of Windows 2008 actually runs a little better in uniprocessor mode. In general I would say avoid x64 if you can as it may not play nicely with he available device drivers for your pre-existing environment.

Tom Parisi, Director - Advanced Technology Group, Medical Information Technology, Inc., MEDITECH Circle, Westwood, MA 02090
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Guv
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Enthusiast

Actually we do not 64 bit w2008 servers especially for exchange 2007 which can only run on a 64 bit server.

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tomparisi
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Contributor

Again - we are running almost all 64 bit so you can do it. You just may need to play with the number of processors depending on your physical host setup. We do not run Exchange so I can't give any particulars on that.

Tom Parisi, Director - Advanced Technology Group, Medical Information Technology, Inc., MEDITECH Circle, Westwood, MA 02090
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