Can I virtualize Exchange Server 2010 and be supported?

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I was asked this by a university in Southern California. The answer is yes. Microsoft supports Exchange Server 2010 in production on hardware virtualization software only when all the following conditions are true:

 

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  • The hardware virtualization software is running:
    • Windows Server 2008 with Hyper-V technology
    • Windows Server 2008 R2 with Hyper-V technology
    • Microsoft Hyper-V Server 2008
    • Microsoft Hyper-V Server 2008 R2
    • Any third-party hypervisor that has been validated under the Windows Server Virtualization Validation Program.
  • The Exchange guest virtual machine:
    • Is running Microsoft Exchange 2010.
    • Is deployed on the Windows Server 2008 with SP2 or Windows Server 2008 R2 operating system.
    • Doesn't have the Unified Messaging server role installed. All Exchange 2010 server roles, except for the Unified Messaging server role, are supported in a virtualization environment. This is due to the real-time response requirements associated with voice communications with the Unified Messaging server role.
    • Meets all of the Exchange 2010 requirements set forth previously in this topic.

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