Turning an application server into a Hyper-V machine?

[cajuntank]

My thoughts were to have a dedicated server running BES v5 only, but life has changed and since I have no money to buy another server, I was wondering about adding the Hyper-V role to my BES server(HP DL160 G5 running 2008 64bit) so I could get a 2003 R2 32bit install out of it for my OCS 2007 CWA that I have to keep at R1 for Blackberry operability.
My BES only handles 25 or so devices, so it's never breaking a sweat.

Am I missing something where this might be a problem?

 

[cajuntank]

Never mind, found a DL320 G5 server that I had already setup as a Hyper-V machine, just didn't want to overtax it as it maxes out to 8GB of ram and I already have 2 other vm's running on it. Should be ok.

 

[58sniper]

A dedicated server running BES is WAY overkill for 25 users. It places a TON of load on the exchange server storage. But it's low footprint as an app.

I have a virtualized BES that's handling hundreds of BBs (at least until we switch over to Windows devices and save tons of money).

Pat Richard MVP
Plan for performance, and capacity takes care of itself. Plan for capacity, and suffer poor performance.

http://www.ucblogs.net/blogs/exchange/

 

[cajuntank]

If I could do it all over, I would for sure... I might look into it once I'm done with my OCS deployment, which has gone pretty good so far.

Can you elaborate a little on your statement of "It places a TON of load on the exchange server storage."
Is it just because it's BES, or is their something in my scenario mentioned causing it?

Thanks.

 

[58sniper]

It's BES. BES uses MAPI crawling, which constantly is hitting the mailboxes of the BES users. I've seen it increase IOPS per BES user by 600%.

Pat Richard MVP
Plan for performance, and capacity takes care of itself. Plan for capacity, and suffer poor performance.

http://www.ucblogs.net/blogs/exchange/

 

[kmcferrin]

Before you get too far down that road, keep in mind that OCS isn't supported in a virtual environment, not even on Hyper-V.

Also, Microsoft very strongly recommends that you do not run any applications inside the parent partition on Hyper-V (i.e., don't add the Hyper-V role on your BES server). It can lead to performance and security problems.

________________________________________
CompTIA A+, Network+, Server+, Security+
MCTS:Windows 7
MCTS:Hyper-V
MCTS:System Center Virtual Machine Manager
MCSE:Security 2003
MCITP:Enterprise Administrator

 

[cajuntank]

According to Microsoft, it is supported for several of their roles

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...21-3b48-44e4-b42b-19704a2b81b0&displaylang=en

Just an update... I have used the Sysinternals Disk2VHD to capture my BES install on one server and create a VM under Hyper-V on another. I shut the first BES down, loaded the "new" BES under Hyper-V, let it find new hardware, rebooted, and so far it tests just fine. I will make sure for the next day or two, but all in all... That was very nice

 

[58sniper]

ANYTHING involving voice shouldn't be put on Hyper-V, including Exchange UM, and OCS voice roles. Your users won't be happy with the experience if you do.

Pat Richard MVP
Plan for performance, and capacity takes care of itself. Plan for capacity, and suffer poor performance.

http://www.ucblogs.net/blogs/exchange/