2007 hardware config?   

I'm reading the 2007 deployment documentation to attempt to spec out my 
hardware requirements, and it lists the maximum processor configuration for a 
CAS server as 4 proc cores.

I was hoping to load both the HT and CAS roles on boxes that had 8 proc 
cores, which is the maximum configuration for a HT server.  Are the maximum 
values hard limits or just the point where you start to see the point of 
diminishing returns?  Will the CAS role install on a 8 processor core box?

date: Mon, 5 Mar 2007 14:46:08 -0800   author:   SilverICE

Re: 2007 hardware config?   

On Mon, 5 Mar 2007 14:46:08 -0800, SilverICE
 wrote:

>I'm reading the 2007 deployment documentation to attempt to spec out my 
>hardware requirements, and it lists the maximum processor configuration for a 
>CAS server as 4 proc cores.
>
>I was hoping to load both the HT and CAS roles on boxes that had 8 proc 
>cores, which is the maximum configuration for a HT server.  Are the maximum 
>values hard limits or just the point where you start to see the point of 
>diminishing returns?  Will the CAS role install on a 8 processor core box?

There has been a lot of annoyance about this. Microsoft have worked
hard to ensure that the word Recommended is as prominent as possible.
Perhaps Microsoft shouldn't have decided to presume to know your
hardware market and offer advice on what they think your diminishing
returns in terms of hardware/price/performance is, but they have. I
think it's right.
Personally I wouldn't go putting my HT and CAS onto a single 8
processor unit. I'd be happier in putting the two roles onto a couple
of dual proc, quad core, boxes. That gives you the resilience. If you
use a monster box for CAS and HT you will receive pressure to explain
why such a large box is so grossly underused.

Alternatively the use of VMware on that box and running the HT and CAS
as separated virtuals would be a good idea if you have something else
that's underused and could get three or four systems virtualised. That
however is a much bigger debate.

date: Tue, 06 Mar 2007 08:03:19 +0000   author:   Mark Arnold [MVP]

Re: 2007 hardware config?   

Hi Mark, yes, I was thinking either two quad core procs or 4 dual core procs 
- not 8 single core processors.  So the CAS will install onto a server with 8 
processor cores, correct?

Is running Exchange 2007 on VMWare fully supported by MS?  That may be an 
option if supported.

"Mark Arnold [MVP]" wrote:

> On Mon, 5 Mar 2007 14:46:08 -0800, SilverICE
>  wrote:
> 
> >I'm reading the 2007 deployment documentation to attempt to spec out my 
> >hardware requirements, and it lists the maximum processor configuration for a 
> >CAS server as 4 proc cores.
> >
> >I was hoping to load both the HT and CAS roles on boxes that had 8 proc 
> >cores, which is the maximum configuration for a HT server.  Are the maximum 
> >values hard limits or just the point where you start to see the point of 
> >diminishing returns?  Will the CAS role install on a 8 processor core box?
> 
> There has been a lot of annoyance about this. Microsoft have worked
> hard to ensure that the word Recommended is as prominent as possible.
> Perhaps Microsoft shouldn't have decided to presume to know your
> hardware market and offer advice on what they think your diminishing
> returns in terms of hardware/price/performance is, but they have. I
> think it's right.
> Personally I wouldn't go putting my HT and CAS onto a single 8
> processor unit. I'd be happier in putting the two roles onto a couple
> of dual proc, quad core, boxes. That gives you the resilience. If you
> use a monster box for CAS and HT you will receive pressure to explain
> why such a large box is so grossly underused.
> 
> Alternatively the use of VMware on that box and running the HT and CAS
> as separated virtuals would be a good idea if you have something else
> that's underused and could get three or four systems virtualised. That
> however is a much bigger debate.
>

date: Tue, 6 Mar 2007 05:49:25 -0800   author:   SilverICE

Re: 2007 hardware config?   

On Tue, 6 Mar 2007 05:49:25 -0800, SilverICE
 wrote:

>Hi Mark, yes, I was thinking either two quad core procs or 4 dual core procs 
>- not 8 single core processors.  So the CAS will install onto a server with 8 
>processor cores, correct?
>
>Is running Exchange 2007 on VMWare fully supported by MS?  That may be an 
>option if supported.
>
>"Mark Arnold [MVP]" wrote:
>
Think very carefully about your processor versus traffic loading. A
couple of dual cores is going to prove plenty in a lot of cases.
VMware will be supported by the vendor you get it off. We do this
level of support and the actual Microsoft support arangements do not
actually matter since you are supported by a vendor. There isn't going
to be one damn thing in a VMware instance that is going to go wrong
which could not also go wrong in physical.

If you are in a risk averse kind of environment then the
virtualisation is not for you. If you are in an organisation that is
forward thinking then it's a total no brainer to do.

date: Tue, 06 Mar 2007 14:19:59 +0000   author:   Mark Arnold [MVP]