Org move to Server 2008

I manage in a global org and I have a directive to prepare us for adoption of
server 2008.

Part of my initiative is to provide some kind of testing platform for the
depts that are responsible for different business critical applications to
test.

I want to enble them to do this and not control it (as in me putting up a
lab).

Should I?


1.) Create a server 2008 virtual server with our org's specifications and
issue it? We are appropriately licensed.

or

2.) Should I utilize the 2008 vhd trial ? It would not be set up how we set
servers up?

or


3.) ShouldI utilize a 2008 r2 beta virt server? i assume this requires 64bit
hardware which may an initial propblem.

My overall objective is that they can control their testing enviroment while
utilizing my org's std server setup.

any help brainstorming would be good.

thanks in advance.

Hello JohnSp,

Do you talk about a domain or a workgroup?

A test environment you can run in VM's, easiest way. If you have needed licenses
i would not use the trial. Do NOT use the 2008 R2 beta to test the upgrade
of your system, this you should do with up to date OS.

Best regards

Meinolf Weber
Disclaimer: This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers
no rights.
** Please do NOT email, only reply to Newsgroups
** HELP us help YOU!!! http://www.blakjak.demon.co.uk/mul_crss.htm


> I manage in a global org and I have a directive to prepare us for
> adoption of server 2008.
>
> Part of my initiative is to provide some kind of testing platform for
> the depts that are responsible for different business critical
> applications to test.
>
> I want to enble them to do this and not control it (as in me putting
> up a lab).
>
> Should I?
>
> 1.) Create a server 2008 virtual server with our org's specifications
> and issue it? We are appropriately licensed.
>
> or
>
> 2.) Should I utilize the 2008 vhd trial ? It would not be set up how
> we set servers up?
>
> or
>
> 3.) ShouldI utilize a 2008 r2 beta virt server? i assume this requires
> 64bit hardware which may an initial propblem.
>
> My overall objective is that they can control their testing enviroment
> while utilizing my org's std server setup.
>
> any help brainstorming would be good.
>
> thanks in advance.
>

We have multiple domains but that is not what needs tested. We have
departments that are in charge of applications like for antiviru, mail, etc.

So my thinking is I would like to give these departments a standardized
virtual server of 2008 .

What would I need to facillitate this?

I assum they need a box to run he vm. Can I leverage virtual server 2005?
Can I use pc 2007? How can I make the configuration portable etc.

thanks in advance.

"Meinolf Weber [MVP-DS]" wrote:

> Hello JohnSp,
>
> Do you talk about a domain or a workgroup?
>
> A test environment you can run in VM's, easiest way. If you have needed licenses
> i would not use the trial. Do NOT use the 2008 R2 beta to test the upgrade
> of your system, this you should do with up to date OS.
>
> Best regards
>
> Meinolf Weber
> Disclaimer: This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers
> no rights.
> ** Please do NOT email, only reply to Newsgroups
> ** HELP us help YOU!!! http://www.blakjak.demon.co.uk/mul_crss.htm
>
>
> > I manage in a global org and I have a directive to prepare us for
> > adoption of server 2008.
> >
> > Part of my initiative is to provide some kind of testing platform for
> > the depts that are responsible for different business critical
> > applications to test.
> >
> > I want to enble them to do this and not control it (as in me putting
> > up a lab).
> >
> > Should I?
> >
> > 1.) Create a server 2008 virtual server with our org's specifications
> > and issue it? We are appropriately licensed.
> >
> > or
> >
> > 2.) Should I utilize the 2008 vhd trial ? It would not be set up how
> > we set servers up?
> >
> > or
> >
> > 3.) ShouldI utilize a 2008 r2 beta virt server? i assume this requires
> > 64bit hardware which may an initial propblem.
> >
> > My overall objective is that they can control their testing enviroment
> > while utilizing my org's std server setup.
> >
> > any help brainstorming would be good.
> >
> > thanks in advance.
> >
>
>
>

Hello JohnSp,

If you not need to rebuilt the complete domain, i would use Virtual server
2005(use the latest patches to get 2008 running) and create a basic 2008
VM, sysprep it and shutdown. So you have a basic VM which you can always
just copy and start it. Sysprep will take care that even if you need one
in a test domain no computername/SID is more then one time available.

See here about Sysprep:
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/l.../cc766049.aspx

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/l.../cc722158.aspx

Best regards

Meinolf Weber
Disclaimer: This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers
no rights.
** Please do NOT email, only reply to Newsgroups
** HELP us help YOU!!! http://www.blakjak.demon.co.uk/mul_crss.htm


> We have multiple domains but that is not what needs tested. We have
> departments that are in charge of applications like for antiviru,
> mail, etc.
>
> So my thinking is I would like to give these departments a
> standardized virtual server of 2008 .
>
> What would I need to facillitate this?
>
> I assum they need a box to run he vm. Can I leverage virtual server
> 2005? Can I use pc 2007? How can I make the configuration portable
> etc.
>
> thanks in advance.
>
> "Meinolf Weber [MVP-DS]" wrote:
>
>> Hello JohnSp,
>>
>> Do you talk about a domain or a workgroup?
>>
>> A test environment you can run in VM's, easiest way. If you have
>> needed licenses i would not use the trial. Do NOT use the 2008 R2
>> beta to test the upgrade of your system, this you should do with up
>> to date OS.
>>
>> Best regards
>>
>> Meinolf Weber
>> Disclaimer: This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and
>> confers
>> no rights.
>> ** Please do NOT email, only reply to Newsgroups
>> ** HELP us help YOU!!! http://www.blakjak.demon.co.uk/mul_crss.htm
>>> I manage in a global org and I have a directive to prepare us for
>>> adoption of server 2008.
>>>
>>> Part of my initiative is to provide some kind of testing platform
>>> for the depts that are responsible for different business critical
>>> applications to test.
>>>
>>> I want to enble them to do this and not control it (as in me putting
>>> up a lab).
>>>
>>> Should I?
>>>
>>> 1.) Create a server 2008 virtual server with our org's
>>> specifications and issue it? We are appropriately licensed.
>>>
>>> or
>>>
>>> 2.) Should I utilize the 2008 vhd trial ? It would not be set up how
>>> we set servers up?
>>>
>>> or
>>>
>>> 3.) ShouldI utilize a 2008 r2 beta virt server? i assume this
>>> requires 64bit hardware which may an initial propblem.
>>>
>>> My overall objective is that they can control their testing
>>> enviroment while utilizing my org's std server setup.
>>>
>>> any help brainstorming would be good.
>>>
>>> thanks in advance.
>>>