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Installing DC on Virtual Machine
Hello,
I am planning to install Windows 2008 R2 64x on a ESX server VM. I would like some links or documentation on what I should look for in terms of prerequisite before the install of the OS. How should the VM be configured are there any special considerations to look out for when creating the disks for the AD database etc.
Thanks for your help in advance.
I am planning to install Windows 2008 R2 64x on a ESX server VM. I would like some links or documentation on what I should look for in terms of prerequisite before the install of the OS. How should the VM be configured are there any special considerations to look out for when creating the disks for the AD database etc.
Thanks for your help in advance.
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hmmm...so far no special requirements I'm aware of, actually just allocate sufficient amount of ram and you really dont need Tier 1 disk group for it
DC dont normally take a lot of resources and disk i/o is generall quite low
DC dont normally take a lot of resources and disk i/o is generall quite low
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There have also been some good discussions over at activedir on this questions over the last few years. One of my favorite threads on it
http://www.activedir.org/ListArchives/tabid/55/forumid/1/tpage/1/view/topic/postid/38204/Default.aspx
As you can read there, time sync is very important and the USN issue that Tony mentioned is also key.
I'd still always have a few "regular' non virtual DCs. What we are doing is going virtual in our regions and at HQ still have two phsical boxes.
Thanks
Mike
http://www.activedir.org/ListArchives/tabid/55/forumid/1/tpage/1/view/topic/postid/38204/Default.aspx
As you can read there, time sync is very important and the USN issue that Tony mentioned is also key.
I'd still always have a few "regular' non virtual DCs. What we are doing is going virtual in our regions and at HQ still have two phsical boxes.
Thanks
Mike
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Here is what our company did:
We had 2 Physical AD Servers.
Installed Server 2003 (at the time) promoted it to the domain.
Made the newest physical server the primary domain controller.
Removed/Demoted one of the physical domain controllers.
VMware does have great articles on P2V of domain controllers but it is still not recommended. You can save tons of possible headaches by taking an hour out of your time installing Server 2003/2008 and promoting it to a an AD controller on your existing domain, then the domain info will replicate to the new server.
I would still recommend keep a physical DC, DNS, DHCP server (while still having them in virtual) just in case something happens in your virtual environment that could halt these services from running for a period of time. This way the basics will still be working and allow users to authenticate, resolve addresses, and get their systems connected to the network.
We had 2 Physical AD Servers.
Installed Server 2003 (at the time) promoted it to the domain.
Made the newest physical server the primary domain controller.
Removed/Demoted one of the physical domain controllers.
VMware does have great articles on P2V of domain controllers but it is still not recommended. You can save tons of possible headaches by taking an hour out of your time installing Server 2003/2008 and promoting it to a an AD controller on your existing domain, then the domain info will replicate to the new server.
I would still recommend keep a physical DC, DNS, DHCP server (while still having them in virtual) just in case something happens in your virtual environment that could halt these services from running for a period of time. This way the basics will still be working and allow users to authenticate, resolve addresses, and get their systems connected to the network.
Regards,
~coolsport00