BlackBerry Forums Support Community
              

Closed Thread
 
Thread Tools
Old 08-18-2006, 11:40 AM   #1
Scott Lancaster
New Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Model: 8820
Carrier: Sprint
Posts: 2
Default BES in VMware

Please Login to Remove!

Has anyone here been successful configuring a BES to run in a Virtual Machine environment? VMWare is saving us a ton of money on new servers.
Offline  
Old 08-18-2006, 11:46 AM   #2
x14
BlackBerry Extraordinaire
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: NYC
Model: 9800
OS: 6.0.0.546
Carrier: AT&T
Posts: 2,344
Default

Can be done. I did my BES 4.0 -> 4.1 upgrade testing using VMware. I would not run my production server in it though.
Offline  
Old 08-18-2006, 11:51 AM   #3
boma0021
Talking BlackBerry Encyclopedia
 
boma0021's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: LE
Model: Pearl
Carrier: T-Mobile
Posts: 202
Default

works, but not supported by RIM
Offline  
Old 08-18-2006, 12:11 PM   #4
NJBlackBerry
Grumpy Moderator
 
NJBlackBerry's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Somewhere in the swamps of Jersey
Model: SGS7
Carrier: Verizon
Posts: 27,948
Default

And when we asked RIM about supporting BES on VMWare, they told us that officially it wasn't, but, well, that's what they (RIM) were using...

We have had no issue with BES on VMWare.
Offline  
Old 08-18-2006, 12:48 PM   #5
dropscience
Talking BlackBerry Encyclopedia
 
dropscience's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Model: 8800
Carrier: Rogers
Posts: 216
Default

We run VMWare here as well and when we asked they stated it's on the "roadmap" for the future.
Offline  
Old 08-18-2006, 12:51 PM   #6
juwaack68
iPhone Convert
 
juwaack68's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Tulip City - MI
Model: iP5
OS: 6.0.2
PIN: to beans
Carrier: I'm not
Posts: 13,878
Default

We've been using it for one of our BES servers (4.0) for over a year. Works great.
__________________
No longer a BES Admin, but it was fun while it lasted!
Offline  
Old 08-18-2006, 12:56 PM   #7
bradk50
Knows Where the Search Button Is
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Minneapolis
Model: 7100t
Carrier: tp-mobile
Posts: 26
Default

No issues whatsoever. VMWARE is used everywhere running a lot more more intensive apps then BES with no issues. If you call for support don't even mention its a vm, as it has no effect on the software. Heck microsoft will even support linux on the virtual server, so that shows you that vm's are not an issue at all.
Offline  
Old 08-18-2006, 02:57 PM   #8
bertiebassett
CrackBerry Addict
 
bertiebassett's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: London, UK
Model: 9700
Carrier: O2
Posts: 961
Default

one of the UK's mobile operators uses VMware for all of their Blackberry tech support trial systems. Allows them to run multiple bb instances, and different version levels on the same box..

not yet supported but watch this space..
Offline  
Old 08-18-2006, 03:53 PM   #9
|||||||
CrackBerry Addict
 
|||||||'s Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Model: 7100
Carrier: Rogers
Posts: 615
Default

Make sure you set up your network connections correctly and Give it lots of Hardware. These are the two main reasons it is not supported.
Offline  
Old 08-18-2006, 09:46 PM   #10
TDOERR
Thumbs Must Hurt
 
TDOERR's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Alabama
Model: 9000
Carrier: Cingular AT&T
Posts: 67
Default Works on Windows platform

We run a second BES on Windows Enterprise x64 server R2 with Windows 2005 Virtual Server. Works great.
Offline  
Old 08-18-2006, 11:45 PM   #11
udontknowjack
Talking BlackBerry Encyclopedia
 
udontknowjack's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: State of Confusion
Model: 9000
Carrier: T-Mobile
Posts: 483
Default

No issues with BES on VMWare for me. It will be officially supported in BES 4.1 SP2. RIM uses it like crazy and has for quite a while in Waterloo. I don't know why one poster said not to use it for production. It works great. Like what was said, if you ever call for support, just don't tell them it is VM.
Offline  
Old 08-19-2006, 10:20 PM   #12
Jobsdone
New Member
 
Jobsdone's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: New York
Model: 8700C
Carrier: Cingular
Posts: 7
Default

While attending a Blackberry web seminar, I asked the question:

Does Blackberry recommend a preferred Virtual environment?

The answer:

We should be supporting VMWare ESX server as of BES 4.1.2, scheduled for the fall timeframe.

Regards,

Warren James
BlackBerry Solutions Group
Research In Motion |

...music to my ears.
Offline  
Old 08-20-2006, 08:03 PM   #13
danielccc
Knows Where the Search Button Is
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: AUS
Model: 8300
Carrier: Telstra
Posts: 23
Default

Just so I understand.... are you saying if you have 1 server it is better to Install exchange on it and then install vmware on that machine and run BES using VM?
Offline  
Old 08-20-2006, 09:01 PM   #14
autsoldnow
Thumbs Must Hurt
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Canada
Model: 7250
Carrier: Telus
Posts: 131
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Jobsdone
While attending a Blackberry web seminar, I asked the question:

Does Blackberry recommend a preferred Virtual environment?

The answer:

We should be supporting VMWare ESX server as of BES 4.1.2, scheduled for the fall timeframe.

Regards,

Warren James
BlackBerry Solutions Group
Research In Motion |

...music to my ears.
Of course they want to use ESX server and spend a lot more money.

I would suggest for testing purposes to use VMWare Server 1.0.1 as it's 100% free, and the nicest thing is you can install it on your 64bit machine and create x64 sessions with it with either one or two processors. I can't complain as it rocks on my Dual Core which is going to be a Core 2 Duo soon.

Andrew
Offline  
Old 08-21-2006, 04:01 AM   #15
Tim Warren
New Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Leeds
Model: multi
Carrier: o2
Posts: 2
Default

We are running 3 BES4 machines on ESX server and have been for well over a year without any issues
Offline  
Old 08-21-2006, 10:26 AM   #16
middlj
Knows Where the Search Button Is
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Philadelphia, PA, USA
Model: 8820
PIN: 24313302
Carrier: Cingular/AT&T
Posts: 41
Default

We currently run our production BES server in VMWare on an ESX server and have had no issue. Just make sure you have the RAM for it.

BTW, we have about 30 users on the server right now.
Offline  
Old 08-21-2006, 07:14 PM   #17
ashworth
CrackBerry Addict
 
ashworth's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Ontario, Canada
Model: 9000
OS: 4.6
Carrier: Rogers
Posts: 625
Default

I use vmware as my failover for my BES server.
__________________
Cheers,
Ash


My BlackBerry GPS Golf Application | Mileage Calculator
Offline  
Old 08-30-2006, 10:17 AM   #18
ckcox
New Member
 
ckcox's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Oklahoma
Model: 8700c
Carrier: Cingular
Posts: 5
Default Suggested Config

I have 1000 users on BES 4.0. Can anyone give me a SWAG on how the VM should be configured, memory, processor etc.

Also, we don’t control the VMWare farm and there is concern that other applications running on the same hardware as BES could impact performance. Please excuse my ignorance on the product but all I have to go by is my experience with Exchange servers sharing space on our SAN with other applications like SQL and Oracle. Performance takes a hit and there is nothing visibly wrong on Exchange.

Any information will be helpful.
Offline  
Old 08-30-2006, 10:53 AM   #19
qc_metal
CrackBerry Addict
 
qc_metal's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Rockford, IL
Model: 9530
OS: 4.7.x
Carrier: Verizon
Posts: 590
Default

Each server gets allocated their pool of resources as configured by the VMWare admin. I would ask your VW admin to get you a list of resources allocated as well as a summary of how the shares are configured (not to be confused with Windows/Samba shares) if they are running Virtual Center. If another virtual server has higher priority shares, then the other servers will give up some memory resources, etc. to allow the higher priority server to process.

I'm a little rusty on this, but that's the general idea. If you have further questions, I would refer you to the VMWare support forums, the guys there are VERY knowledgable.

Link --> VMTN Discussion Forums: Forum Home
__________________
Provision, maintain, and report on users via web: the NEW BerryStats | FAQ
Offline  
Old 08-30-2006, 12:40 PM   #20
CanuckBB
BlackBerry Extraordinaire
 
CanuckBB's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: YYZ
Model: 9900
Carrier: Rogers
Posts: 1,183
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by ckcox
I have 1000 users on BES 4.0. Can anyone give me a SWAG on how the VM should be configured, memory, processor etc.

Also, we don’t control the VMWare farm and there is concern that other applications running on the same hardware as BES could impact performance. Please excuse my ignorance on the product but all I have to go by is my experience with Exchange servers sharing space on our SAN with other applications like SQL and Oracle. Performance takes a hit and there is nothing visibly wrong on Exchange.

Any information will be helpful.
I'd use a real server. Virtualization is a beutifull thing but there is a point of diminishing returns. Disk aside, the only expensive part of a server is memory and OS. VM still requires a license of the OS on each virtual machine. And at a certain point it's cheaper to get 2 servers with less memory than 1 with a lot more.
Offline  
Closed Thread


Thread Tools

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


Dec/Adac Corp. D4-10390 Rev 6 Model 1664ATTL Output Pulse Board 1983 (B16) picture

Dec/Adac Corp. D4-10390 Rev 6 Model 1664ATTL Output Pulse Board 1983 (B16)

$189.99



Niedermaier vintage Mannequins Visual Display Props Dec. 1991 Catalogue picture

Niedermaier vintage Mannequins Visual Display Props Dec. 1991 Catalogue

$141.00



VINTAGE Bruker Board DEC W4P3042 for SpectroSpin 250 picture

VINTAGE Bruker Board DEC W4P3042 for SpectroSpin 250

$99.99



Adec Vintage Adjusting Dentist Doctor Medical Stool Rolling Swivel Chair picture

Adec Vintage Adjusting Dentist Doctor Medical Stool Rolling Swivel Chair

$199.99



VINTAGE WESTERN ELECTRIC METER ORDNANCE A322525 WWII ERA DECEMBER 1943 picture

VINTAGE WESTERN ELECTRIC METER ORDNANCE A322525 WWII ERA DECEMBER 1943

$30.00



HSS 12pcs Valve Seat & Face Cutter 45dec 30dec 20dec for Vintage Car, Bikes ,Jee picture

HSS 12pcs Valve Seat & Face Cutter 45dec 30dec 20dec for Vintage Car, Bikes ,Jee

$235.94







Copyright © 2004-2016 BlackBerryForums.com.
The names RIM © and BlackBerry © are registered Trademarks of BlackBerry Inc.