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1. Summary 2. What's New?
1. Summary
This product
bulletin announces support of Microsoft Virtual Server 2005 R2 SP1 with
Windows® Server 2003 and NetApp FCP and iSCSI storage systems. Microsoft Virtual Server is a virtualization platform supported
by Microsoft with Windows Server 2003 and numerous x86 operating systems in
guest environments to enable server consolidation and rehosting of legacy
operating systems and their applications, and to support disaster recovery
plans that require application portability across server platforms. For more information about Microsoft Virtual Server, see http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserversystem/virtualserver/. NetApp support of Microsoft Virtual Server means that FCP and
iSCSI storage systems are supported with host and I/O stack configurations
outlined in the NetApp Interoperability Matrix: http://now.netapp.com/NOW/products/interoperability/. Additionally, SnapDrive® 5.0 for Windows is supported in iSCSI
configurations with a NetApp supported Microsoft software iSCSI initiator
from within a Windows guest operating system. Support of Microsoft Virtual
Server with SnapDrive in FCP and iSCSI configurations running from the host
operating system is targeted for future SnapDrive releases. 2. What’s
New This product bulletin is an overview of current NetApp support of Microsoft Virtual
Server 2005 R2 SP1 with FCP or iSCSI storage systems and the ongoing support
strategy for SAN connectivity with Microsoft Virtual Server 2005. NetApp supports Virtual Server 2005 as it does any other
host application and does not require additional qualification beyond that
required to support FCP and iSCSI with Windows Server 2003. However, in
certain instances (defined later in this document), Windows virtual machine registry
setting changes are required to ensure proper operation. Microsoft Virtual Server 2005 is a service that runs on
top of a host operating system. Therefore Microsoft Virtual Server 2005
relies on the underlying host operating system to provide the FCP and iSCSI
drivers for connecting to a SAN. This is different from VMware ESX Server,
which is its own operating system with FCP and iSCSI initiator drivers and
requires specific qualification for support with NetApp storage systems. Support Requirements NetApp supports Virtual Server 2005 with FCP and iSCSI
storage systems in two primary configurations: ·
A NetApp supported software iSCSI initiator running from within a
Virtual Server 2005 guest operating system. This configuration is supported
with SnapDrive 5.0 for Windows. ·
A NetApp supported Windows Server 2003 FCP or iSCSI initiator running
from the host operating system, on top of which Microsoft Virtual Server
runs. These configurations are not currently supported with SnapDrive for
Windows; support is targeted for future SnapDrive releases. The following table lists the hardware and software
platform requirements for support of Microsoft Virtual Server 2005 with FCP
and iSCSI storage systems.
·
Use of Virtual Server 2005 requires a NetApp supported Windows Server
2003 initiator and host configuration. See the NetApp Interoperability Matrix for the latest
Windows Server 2003 supported configurations: http://now.netapp.com/NOW/products/interoperability/.
·
Windows guest operating systems using virtual SCSI disks require registry- setting
updates. Disk Class Timeout in a Windows Guest operating system
with virtual disks must be changed to 60 seconds (Windows Registry
setting HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\disk). See the latest iSCSI Windows
Host Utilities for Native OS Release Notes here
or FCP Windows Host Utilities for Native OS Release Notes here
for additional information and instructions on how to change the registry
setting. ·
SnapDrive for Windows 5.0 is supported with a NetApp supported
Microsoft software iSCSI initiator from within a Windows guest operating
system. SnapDrive
for Windows is not currently supported with FCP or iSCSI running from the
host operating system; this support is targeted for future SnapDrive releases. There is no new product offering
for support of Microsoft Virtual Server 2005. Software Subscription Plans Not applicable. Upgrades Not
applicable with Host Utilities. Periodic refreshes to Host Utilities will
occur over time. For
the latest support information, see the NetApp Interoperability Matrix: http://now.netapp.com/NOW/products/interoperability/.
Quoting There is no NetApp license, part
number, or price for support of Microsoft Virtual Server 2005. NetApp support
is available through existing SupportEdge contracts and processes. Product Availability NetApp continues to offer the Data
ONTAP® iSCSI license through the iSCSI Enablement Program free of charge to
customers who meet certain requirements. Details about the free iSCSI license
enablement program are available here. The NetApp iSCSI Host
Utilities are available free of charge for download from the NOW™ (NetApp on the Web) site, with a valid
NOW login ID. Microsoft Virtual Server 2005
R2 SP1 software is available free of charge from Microsoft at http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/eval/virtualserver/default.mspx. Products need to be validated against the Netapp
Regulatory Compliance Country List prior to order submission. The list is
available at PartnerCenter
Compliance Information. This is required to ensure that products are
being sold only in the countries in which NetApp has received regulatory
compliance certification. For further information of this requirement, please
see the Regulatory
Compliance Verification Product Bulletin. TBD For the latest NetApp support information, see the NetApp
Interoperability Matrix: http://now.netapp.com/NOW/products/interoperability/.
Additional information on Microsoft Virtual Server
2005 is available on the Microsoft web site: ·
Virtual
Server 2005 R2 SP1 Product Overview ·
Virtual
Server 2005 Product Documentation ·
Microsoft
Virtual Server TechCenter Contact Information: Please contact your Network
Appliance sales or channel partner representative with questions about this product
bulletin.
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