Vendor says Virtualizing a no-no

[Libadmingeek]

We are upgrading our finance system and the selected vendor says they cannot support a production system that is virtualized. We, for business continuity purposes, would prefer that they virtualize the system so we are at an impasse. They said they would not mind us having a DR site with virtualized server at the ready. So, the question.. We can replicate data with our SAN but how can I make regular images of the finance system servers? I thought maybe a product like Platespin might work but I don't know enough about it. Any recommendations?

[srochford]

How is the data stored? (SQL or similar database; some other type of database?)

What else changes regularly apart from the data?

I ask because this might affect what you need to back up regularly. We use Opera for finance - it stores data in (hundreds!) of DBF files and also creates PDF files and all sorts of other stuff. We have virtualised this and it works fine; we take a backup of the VHD overnight and also copies of all the files but if we couldn't virtualise it then taking backups more than once per day could be hard work.

Our personnel system is based on SQL server. There are lots of other files but they're essentially programs, forms etc and only change when an upgrade happens. As long as the SQL database is backed up then you can easily move to another system (you keep a "warm" system up to date with the programs etc and make sure it's updated whenever you have an upgrade). If the main system fails it's just a case of restoring the last backup of the database and off you go (fingers crossed!)

Have they said why they won't support a virtualised system? I would have thought that in California you could almost tell them that you will shop them for being "un-green" unless they start supporting virtualisation :-) (I do know there are reasons for not going virtual - Exchange 2007, isn't supported, for example)

[nicholab]

I don't don't know why your worried I would get on with it. How is running on a virtual system going to stop it working also the support they provide is never going to be effected?

Exchange 2007 can be run in a virtual environment there is an articles on the VM ware site where someone build a cluster supporting 15,000 mail boxes on one physical box.

A school is never going to get that level of vendor support where they need to do a VM to physical migration.

[somabc]

Hello Post from 3 years ago!

[Butuz]

I would select a new vendor if possible..

*edit* oh no damn you nicholab you made me post to a 3 year old thread!!!

Butuz

[Dos_Box]

Thread Lemming!!!!