Multiple Physical Servers mapped to a single virtual server possible (for DR Scenario)

[WPJ]

We have a group of relatively small servers (2 processors each) in a remote location that we would like to consider for use in "backing up" (for a disaster recovery scenario) a heavily-utilized 4-cpu application server that is using 4 dual-core processor slots. To be able to do this, I assume that we need to be able to configure a VMware Virtual Server that will span multiple physical boxes (at least two, I assume). I know we can map multiple virtual servers onto one physical box, but can we do the reverse? I can't seem to find any references to this anywhere. Is this possible? Is it advisable?

[Dave_Mishchenko]

You will not be able to combine the resources of many ESX hosts to run a single VM accross them at the same time. A VM will only be able to run on a single ESX host. Currently ESX only supports 4 virtual CPU VMs so the disaster recovery server would only be able to use the processing capacity of 4 physical CPU cores on the host that it's running on.

[TomHowarth]

The amount of times that this question comes up. you'd think somebody would sit up and take notice. Unfortunately it can not be done it cannot e done with any VMware product, there was a competitor of VMware called Virtual Iron that had a product out that did this however has died a death, Massimo and myself disagree on this but I do lament the loss of that product, it did show promise.

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Kind Regards

Tom,

[WPJ]

Dave,

Thanks - I had a feeling that this may be the case, but this verifies

it.

Have a good day.

[WPJ]

Tom,

Thanks - I had a suspicion that this would not work, but you've

confirmed it. We will have to explore other solutions.

Have a good day.