EXC17 Exchange Virtualization

1
EXC17Exchange Virtualization

• Devin L. Ganger (3Sharp LLC) deving_at_3sharp.com
• (e)Mail Insecurity http//blogs.3sharp.com/blog/d
  eving/

2
Your Feedback is Important

• Please fill out a session evaluation form and
  either put them in the basket near the exit or
  drop them off at the conference registration
  desk.
• Thank you!
• Download the most up-to-date version of these
  slides at
• http//www.3sharp.com/files/deving/exc17-ganger-f0
  8.ppt

3
Session Objectives

• Understand Microsofts support boundary for
  virtualized Exchange
• Understand the challenges of deploying
  virtualized Exchange
• Understand how Microsoft solutions can add value
  to virtualized Exchange

4
Who Needs Support?
5
Microsofts Official Word (part 1)

• Windows virtualization support policy
  http//support.microsoft.com/?kbid897615
• Premier will investigate potential issues,
  may require the issue to be reproduced
  (although can be in Hyper-V)
• Microsoft will work with vendors of validated
  SVVP solutions
• See http//support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/9
  57006/ for Microsoft apps that are supported
  virtualized

6
Microsofts Official Word (part 2)

• Exchange virtualization support policy for
  Exchange 2007http//technet.microsoft.com/en-us/l
  ibrary/cc794548.aspx
• Exchange 2007 SP1 or greater
• on Windows Server 2008.
• Virtual machine otherwise meets Exchange 2007
  requirements
• UM role not supported in virtual machine
• Fixed VHD, pass-through VHD, or iSCSI storage
• No other server apps on the host
• No virtual machine snapshots
• No more than 21 ratio of virtual to physical
  processors

7
Virtualization is easy!
8
Virtualization Challenges

• Processor allocation
• Storage configuration
• Type of storage
• Location of storage
• Network configuration
• Backup and restore
• High availability and disaster recovery
• Clustering
• Virtual machine portability

9
Processor Recommendations

• Monitor and allocate the appropriate number of
  virtual processors for the host
• Understand how processors and applications are
  monitored (http//go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId
  125377)
• Stress test your guest machines to ensure you get
  expected scalability
• Be careful tuning resource control ensure you
  need to
• Follow hypervisor vendor recommendations

10
Storage Recommendations

• Plan for host storage and network I/O impact do
  not put another I/O intensive load on the same
  host
• Large mailbox support will require CCR
  (hardware-based VSS is not supported under
  virtualization)
• Rely on Exchanges HA/DR mechanisms, not the
  hypervisors
• Yes, you can mix virtual and physical nodes for
  CCR/SCR
• Dont use virtual machine migration its not
  Exchange-aware
• This may have an impact on uptime and availability

11
Storage Impact

• Why not dynamic VHDs?
• 10-15 performance increase (4KB writes better)

(from the Virtualization team blog)
12
Storage Design

• Use separate LUNs for
• Host operating system
• Each guest operating system disk
• Each mailbox database volume
• Each transaction log volume
• Can use same underlying storage object for
  similar LUNs as long as the design provides the
  total aggregate IOPS
• Each VM OS disk fixed size 15GB RAM
• 8GB RAM guest minimum 23GB OS disk
• Physical HBAs? Pass-through VHDs
• Each host OS disk depends on virtualization
  solution
• OS and virtualization solution overhead
• Solution-specific support files per guest VM

13
Network Recommendations

• Dont pass-through disks limit portability?
• Yes, but they provide best performance almost no
  additional overhead
• Guest VM network drivers/stack do not have all
  the same features (no jumbo frames)
• Use dedicated network cards for iSCSI
• Enable jumbo frames for best throughput
• Do not bind to a Hyper-V Virtual Network Switch
• If you require better portability
• iSCSI initiator in guest VM is supported

14
Backup Recommendations

• VSS in Hyper-V does not support
• Root-based backups of pass-through VHDs.
• Root-based backups of iSCSI volumes in guest VMs
• Instead, use guest-based Exchange-aware streaming
  backup or VSS backup (such as Data Protection
  Manager 2007)
• VSS in Hyper-V does support root-based backups of
  VHDs
• Hardware-based VSS backups of Exchange storage?
• Supported by the vendor, not Microsoft
• Remember that CCR gives you two copies of the
  data
• Backup operations on the passive node

15
Exchange 2003 Support

• Virtual Server 2005 R2 or later
• Exchange 2003 SP2 or later
• VS 2005 R2 Virtual Machine Additions installed
• Exchange is in stand-alone configuration (no
  cluster)
• Microsoft Virtual Machine PCI SCSI Controller
  driver
• Installed when VMA is installed
• VMA must be reinstalled if SCSI adapter is added
  later
• No undo disks!

16
Exchange 2003 Recommendations

• Use VS 2005 R2 SP1, not RTM
• Single processor limits scalability of Exchange
  guest VM
• Use a dedicated backup virtual network interface
• You can backup storage VHDs
• This will not truncate logs you must still do
  Exchange backups!
• Separate fixed-size VHDs for
• Mailbox database volumes
• Storage group/log file volumes
• Put each VHD on separate physical spindles on
  host
• Dont even think about iSCSI inside the guest VM
• Virtual network adapter will severely limit
  performance
• Use iSCSI at the host level
• Block A/V scanning of VHD files

17
Do I have to use Microsoft?
18
Microsoft Virtualization Solutions

• More than just Hyper-V/Virtual Server
• Con Not the market leader
• Show of hands who uses VMWare?
• How about Hyper-V?
• Virtual Server?
• Pro Free OS licensing for running instances
• Windows Server 2008 SE 1 running virtual
  instance
• Windows Server 2008 EE 4 running virtual
  instances
• Windows Server 2008 DE Unlimited running virtual
  instances
• Similar for Windows Server 2003 Virtual Server
  2005 R2
• Pro System Center Data Protection Manager 2007
  SP1
• Pro System Center Virtual Machine Manager 2008
• Manages Hyper-V, VS 2005 R2, and VMWare ESX
• Self-Service Portal
• Integrated VM Library

19
Resources

• Microsoft Support Policies and Recommendations
  for Exchange Servers in Hardware
  Virtualization http//technet.microsoft.com/en-us
  /library/cc794548.aspx
• You Had Me at EHLO Microsoft Virtualization and
  Licensing Announcementshttp//msexchangeteam.com/
  archive/2008/08/19/449621.aspx
• Windows Server Virtualization Validation Program
  http//windowsservercatalog.com/svvp.aspx?svvppage
  svvp.htm
• Licensing Microsoft Server Products in Virtual
  Environments(Word document)

20
Questions?