This annoys me! "MS don't support Vmware so we can't help you"

[FunkyD]

Right. I installed SBS 2003 on Vmware Server and came across a problem to do with one of the wizards.

I popped the question to one of the SBS support sites http://www.smallbizserver.net

One of the admins replied: "SBS 2003 on VMWare is not supported."

You can read the thread here:

http://www.smallbizserver.net/Default.aspx?tabid=53&forumid=11&tpage=1&view=topic&postid=74314#74441

Anyone have any comments?

[RDPetruska]

Do like most ppl here do, and just omit that fact when you ask MS for help.

[FunkyD]

That's the stupid thing! If I hadn't mentioned Vmware.....sigh...

[asatoran]

Unfortunately, the response you got about reproducing the problem on a physical machine is the usual line that you'll get from MS concerning any issue on a virtualized server, even if it was virtualized using their product, although obviously much less so and sometimes not necessary with premier support.

But in general, you have to prove to MS that it's thier fault and not the fault of the non-MS virtualization.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/897615

[esiebert7625]

See this post also...

http://www.vmware.com/community/thread.jspa?messageID=747506

[Andrew_Judge]

Right. I installed SBS 2003 on Vmware Server and came

across a problem to do with one of the wizards.

I popped the question to one of the SBS support sites

http://www.smallbizserver.net

One of the admins replied: "SBS 2003 on VMWare is not

supported."

You can read the thread here:

http://www.smallbizserver.net/Default.aspx?tabid=53&fo

rumid=11&tpage=1&view=topic&postid=74314#74441

Anyone have any comments?

If you got MS support and disclosed that it was VMware you used, they will support it.

If you installed ISA, then that's where you screwed yourself. ISA is the only product I know that doesn't work on VMware.

Best regards,

Andrew Judge

MCSE: Security, RHCE, ACHDS, ACTC, CSSA, CCA, NCIE, A, Security, 3Com VoIP, VCP, VSP

CEO, Grove Networks Inc.

Microsoft Gold Certified Partner

Certified Apple Consultant Network Member

3Com Voice Authorized Partner

Silver Citrix Partner

VMware VIP

Phone: 305.448.6126

Fax: 305.437.7685

http://www.grovenetworks.com

[jlauro]

If you got MS support and disclosed that it was

VMware you used, they will support it.

If you installed ISA, then that's where you screwed

yourself. ISA is the only product I know that doesn't

work on VMware.

We have been running ISA fine under Vmware. I am not aware of any issues. Only using the proxy portion though, and we run under enterprise (might be stanard) 2003, and not SBS.

[ChuckN]

I had this same issue with W2003 AD installed on VMWare. The problem was in the server, not something that VMWare caused. They would not open a ticket when I told them it was running on VMWare. I waited a couple of hours and called back. They opened a ticket and then found out it was on VMWare. Once it was open though, they supported me.

One thing you need to do though if you don't tell them is to hide the VMtools icon in the toolbar. They seem to know very well what that is.

Chuck Neville

Senior Consultant

Neville Data Solutions

(502) 655-0099

Virtualization and Workload Portability Solutions

[esiebert7625]

I only give them the info they will need that is relevant to the problem. It also helps to play dumb: "VMware what's that? The server guys never told me this was a virtual server"

[dsisean]

I have run ISA Stnd under vmware without any problems. I have run a lot of Microsoft software under vmware but I do agree with not telling Microsoft that when you need them for support.