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05.08.2008 at 03:10PM PDT, ID: 23387863

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7.5

Recommended editions and associated rationale for specific infrastructure services

Zones: Windows 2003 Server, Windows 64-bit, VMWare

Tags: Microsoft, Windows Server, 2003 R2, 32-bit and 64-bit editions

I am installing a completely new Windows Server 2003 R2 infrastructure in my environment. I would like input as regards which edition, namely the 32-bit or 64-bit version, would be best suited for each of the following services (deployed as described):

**The following will run on dedicated Sun 6000 physical blades**
2 Domain Controllers
2 Load-balanced Terminal Servers
(The above is mission critical and will serve OpenOffice/Office 2007, IBM Personal Communications, and Adobe Reader.)
1 File Server
1 WSUS Server

**The following will run (alongside other OSs) as ESX virtual vachines across four (4) Sun 6000 physical blades**
1 DHCP virtual server running in an ESX environment
1 Print virtual server running in an ESX environment
1 CA virtual server running in an ESX environment
1 Sub CA virtual server running in an ESX environment

Assume approximately 350 total users, 100 or more of whom will eventually use Terminal Services exclusively as redirected Sun Ray clients. Please include your rationale for each decision.

Thanks!

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Question Stats

Zone: OS

Question Asked By: carnesc

Solution Provided By: purplepomegranite

Participating Experts: 4

Solution Grade: B

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05.08.2008 at 03:46PM PDT, ID: 21529095

Rank: Guru

Burns2007:

Unless you specifically have software that will not run on it I would use x64 for all the servers. It provides better performance from your resources and since the 6000 blades will support that you should utilize it.

The 1 place you may run into trouble is on the print server as you just need to make sure the print drivers are available.

Assisted Solution

05.08.2008 at 03:49PM PDT, ID: 21529101

Rank: Master

purplepomegranite:

My view is that the machines that would benefit most from 64bit OS are the two terminal server machines, as these are going to be the most heavily used (100 people working directly from them). These therefore want to have the most potential for memory upgrade and processing power.

Two domain controllers for 350 users should easily be handled by 32bit OSs (i.e. lower spec servers). The file server's main requirement would be fast hard drive access for the serving of files, though it may also benefit from increased memory for caching - so it may be worth considering 64bit for this, but I don't see that there'd be a problem with 32bit (as that can support up to 32Gb RAM, which should be sufficient!).

As an interesting point, I just put an example set-up to estimate the domain controllers hardware requirements through Active Directory Sizer Tool (admittedly geared towards 2000, but still useful). It came back with a server requirement of a Pentium II 400MHz Xeon with 512Mb RAM. So I don't think you're likely to hit any problems with the domain controllers as 32bit...

The WSUS server also I would be inclined to settle for 32bit. It is essentially a large file server with database, and there shouldn't be too much stress on it for that many machines.

As for the four other virtual servers; in themselves they do not require much processing power, so 32bit would be fine for them. Of course, the hardware required would depend upon what OSs were running alongside them on the same servers.

Accepted Solution

05.08.2008 at 04:20PM PDT, ID: 21529267

Kutyi:

Where ever possible go with 64bit. Although 32 bit will handle your situation future Server OS will be 64bit, Exchange is 64 bit etc. If you buy the hardware now then you might not be obsolete so fast. However check your software for the terminal servers, printers and anything else you have to make sure that you can run 64bit boxes.

05.08.2008 at 07:29PM PDT, ID: 21530078

Rank: Master

BestWay:

Hi

One thing, i never recommend that you have all your DCs as VMs.

So for security reasons(to prevent VM shutdown) you must have Backup DC as a physical machine

About 32 or 64 bits, if have servers that is compatible with 64 bits, then you can use for better performance. But don't forget that 64bit license are more expensive. so if you going to use/install any third party software, that will more expensive. If not, if you only use Microsoft products, then go for it

Jail

05.09.2008 at 06:38AM PDT, ID: 21532623

carnesc:

I apologize that I need to clarify this. I prefer and plan to use 64-bit systems wherever possible, and the reason has less to do with increased performance in the immediate time frame than future-proofing as much as possible. When (if ever) I upgrade to Server 2008, for instance, I'd like to do so using the 64-bit edition. I simply believe the time has come to bite the bullet, so long as doing so does not bring down the business or create a need for me to grow another set of hands.

Since I have never deployed a production 64-bit system, however, I am very unfamiliar with possible administrative headaches. An account of actual experience with these headaches, per server function, is the ideal answer I am seeking. This will assist me most in making deployment decisions. For instance, does or does not the admin pack work with 64-bit systems; I believe the answer is no. And along those lines, where has this caused any of you the most problems? Another question I have is more specific still: have any of you actually successfully deployed a sustained, headache-free x64 implementation of load-balanced Terminal Servers with MS Office 2007, itself presumably running in 32-bit compatibility mode? Finally, as "purple..." seemed to allude to, is it just less of a nightmare to stick with 32-bit systems where possible and ONLY use 64-bit when 32-bit performance has peaked or is known to be insufficient? There are not a lot of benchmarks for this stuff.

Thanks again. I appreciate your responses.

05.09.2008 at 07:54AM PDT, ID: 21533462

Rank: Master

BestWay:

Hi

First i have used admin pack in 64-bit with no problem.

I never used all the admin tools, but the tools that i used, i see no problem

And like i said, 64-bit have a very good performance

About load balance terminal servers. never used with Ms Office.

But i see no issues, 32-bit or 64-bit in this matter

Jail

Assisted Solution

05.09.2008 at 02:23PM PDT, ID: 21536482

Rank: Master

purplepomegranite:

Just to clarify, I wasn't trying to allude to there being any problems with 64bit - with desktop OS's, yes, you'd have driver issues and all sorts, but for servers this isn't the case.

If you can go for 64bit everything, do! None of the software you have listed should have a problem that I can see, so I don't see any reason not to 64 bit everything.

Assisted Solution

05.09.2008 at 09:29PM PDT, ID: 21537862

carnesc:

Affirmative on the admin pack, BestWay. What version did you use successfully with Server 2003 R2 x64? This particular version of Windows Server is the one I keep noticing as missing from all Microsoft's admin pack compatibility lists. It's what I'll be installing.

Has anybody managed a Terminal Server running Office 2007 on Server 2003 R2 x64? Annoyances? Hiccups? Meltdowns?

05.15.2008 at 10:26PM PDT, ID: 21580215

Rank: Master

BestWay:

Hi

All the Windows 2003 x64 servers that i work with, was R2. And the admin pack, i have downloaded from Microsoft site. Did not use the CD version.

Jail

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