AD and EMail Vertualization - Help for choosing Vmware products..

[Zrilanka]

Dear Exports !

We have planned to impliment following servers on VMware. on Two Physical servers with Direct attached Storage.

Servers :

•       Windows 2008 AD
•       Windows 2008 AD Replication
•       Exchange Server 2010

option 1
Physical Servers:
    RAM     :  24GB
    Proce     :  1 Processor 4 Core

option 2
Physical Servers:
    RAM     :  24GB
    Proce     :  2 Processor 6 Core

We  have planned to purchase licernsing as follows please be suggest the  idial vmware products and licernse , will helpful for me.

	Description	Quantity
1	MS Windows 2008 R2 Standard Editions	02
1.1	MS Exchange 2010 Standard Edition	01
2	VMware vSphere Essential plus for 1 processor	02
2.1	Production Support/Subscription for VMware vSphere Essential   plus for 1 processor for 3 years	02
3	VMware vCenter Server 5 Foundation for vSphere	01

thanks

ZriLanka

[marchlam]

In this case, do you still need 2 DC in ths same network?

You will put you VM in 2 physical server and I assume that they will vmotion with each other.

So in this case, the second VM is optional.

On the other hand, exchange Server is a RAM eater!

It eat many RAM in VM!

So you may need to install 2 VM for exchange so that you can put 2 VM in each physical node!

For vSphere license, you don't have too much choose!

MC

[NickMarshall9]

Hi Zrilanka,

Given your two servers only have direct attached storage, I'd say your most limiting factor it that you're not going to be able to use the more advanced features of vCenter like vMotion and DRS.

VMware does offer a product that allows you to share this local storage (vSphere Storage Appliance), but it's not the cheapest and may not be in budget. There are also similar products that do this which can be googled. The VSA can be bundled in with an Essentials Plus kit but the cost goes from 4,495 RRP to 7,995 - http://www.vmware.com/products/vsphere/pricing.html - Regardless, for only 3 servers you are trying to virtalise I'm not that's the best product.

Could you advise on what size environment these are going into? Are the two physical servers sitting in the same site? How big is the exchange environment? Have you considered splitting out exchange into DAGs for redundancy?

I'd be happy to advise some more if you could list your requirements.

Cheers,

[Zrilanka]

Thank you very much giving reply me.

Dear marchlam, You correct 2nd DC is can be removed. then our plan is to use followings

VM s :

•       Windows 2008 AD     
•       Exchange Server 2010

Enabled the vmotion.

Use Data Recovery Appliance.

User requrement is 300 users and 300 mail boxes.

I suppose to by following software licenses

• 1 x MS Windows 2008 R2 Standard Editions
• 1 x MS Exchange 2010 Standard Edition
• 1 x VMware vSphere Essential plus.

Please let me know wheather its correct or not. if not please advice me.

* another important factor is "Is it OK to install Active directory on VM? ".

again thanks for providing your time for me.

reg

Zrilanka

[Zrilanka]

Thank you very much giving reply me.

Dear NickMarshall, I mentioned above.

[marchlam]

Re: * another important factor is "Is it OK to install Active directory on VM? ".

Yes, I saw some companies put Domain controller on VM.

But: you must handle traditional Active Directory Problem.

You must understand the good is that VM can vmotion easily on such platform. It won't be shutdown by ESX.

The drawback is : DC could shutdown by other reason(e.g. by patching or Virus).

And together vCenter sometime relies on DC to login.

When DC is down by some reason, you may still need to login to vCenter for troubleshooting.

That's why,

When you configure your ESXi, don't forget to let Root Login and configure VMs.

If your environment scale-out later on , you can consider setup next DC Vitrual machine.

once again, becareful when you handle permission and credital problem.

Re: Exchange server

Once again, I suggest 2 Exchange Server, so that some more memory will be used.

This is up to you becasue if you have one exchange, the other ESX would work as a stand-by becasue resource is left and no one use.

You don't ask hardware question. So I assume that you know you better need a share storage.

MC

(from Hong Kong)

[Zrilanka]

Thank you very much marchlam.

can you provide me the best VMware license for this solution.?

reg

Zrilanka

[marchlam · Accepted solution]

re: VM license

First I would like you to consult local VMware partner, (like us).

Second, I personally think that vSphere Essential + is enough.

Thirth, you physical server in option 2 has 2 CPU. But quotation only quote 1. Please let your vendor explain!

The easy way to do is to purchase Server with VMware license from same vendor.

e.g. purchase from Dell with vSphere essential plus, do it online .

e.g. purchase HP, let them quote with premium support.

For pricing,don't ask me!

I am system consultant only. you need get quote from sales!

MC

(from Hong Kong)

*********Important ********

If you think I have answer your question, please mark it as "Answered".

Thanks!

[Zrilanka]

Thank you very much giving advice me.

[marchlam]

http://kb.vmware.com/selfservice/search.do?cmd=displayKC&docType=kc&externalId=2002054&sliceId=1&doc...

Althrough it a little bit old, I think it is a good reference for you.

Thanks!

[hbato]

Also as an advice, kindly look on guidelines on virtualizing your AD. This is somehow important to note since this could bring you some troubles later on.

Regards, Harold