Hyper V Server - Questions

[markyb]

I'm planning on testing with Hyper-V Server. My only issue is I can't test Hyper-V server on VMware as it seems I can't communicate to it via the network. From what I've read people are having the same issues with networking on VMware as well.

I wish to Virtualize the following...

- Windows 2003 (File Server, AD & DNS)
- Windows 2003 (DHCP Server, Possible Additions in the future)
- Open SuSE 11.1 (Testing)

I have a HP ML115, 1x160Gb (OS Drive) and 3x320Gb Raid 5 (Storage) with 3.5Gb of RAM.

I have a few questions about Hyper-V-Server...

- General feelings and views on Hyper-V-Server
- Anyone use it in production?
- Anyway to get the networking to work in VMware? I can ping to all machines from the Hyper-V Server but unable to ping in.
- Will Hyper-V's virtual machines pick up my RAID5 strorage?

 

[markyb]

Agreed, although at this stage it is just a test server.

I wanted to use VMWare with Hyper-V just to test and get a feel if I could.

My only concern with Hyper-V Server is that it will install all of it's own hardware rather than use the HP's native controllers e.t.c. With this in mind how would it then pickup the Nvidia RAID Controller? ...If you get what I mean

 

[markyb]

It was only just to have a look inside of the OS without installing it on the server first. It gave me a insight into the setting up of the VMWare Server. I never planned to use it properly within WMWare.

I plan to install it this week but unsure if it will pick up the RAID5 volume.

 

[markyb]

We use Hyper-V to run the company from one server and SAN. Adamantly it's not a huge company (under 20 staff) but we have 8 servers virtualised.

For what you’re wanting to do it would be easiest to install a full version of Server 2008 on the hardware, and then add the Hyper-V role.

Next create the two virtual machines for the two Server 2003 machines.

Your RAID5 volume will be accessible by the Server2008 install on the physical hardware and is where you will want to store the vhd files that make up the two Server 2003 virtual machines.
Inside the Server 2003 machines you can create another vhd file and add that to the machine as a separate data store or whatever, this too would be stored on the physical RAID5 volume.

For the vmware setup I have no idea, never used it.

I've built up a Windows 2008 on another Server with the Hyper-V role installed and worked very well.

However I currently do not have access to a 2008 Server Licence and would prefer, If I can, to do this without any more additional cost.

I guess the remaining question is will any of the virtual machines which will be run from Hyper-V Server will allow me to use the storage volume on the RAID controller.