While the validation of SAP applications on Windows Server 2008 R2
currently still goes on, SAP has made last week an important
announcment regarding the use of Windows Server 2008 R2 for Hyper-V
Server purposes. It's now officially supported by SAP to use the new
Hyper-V implementation in Windows Server 2008 R2 for SAP installations
in Virtual Machines (at the current time however, the VM's have to be
on Windows Server 2008 or Windows Server 2003). The support statemenst
of SAP can be found on SDN
(http://www.sdn.sap.com/irj/sdn/windows-virtualization) or in SAP note
1409608. The advantage to use Windows Server 2008 R2 as Hyper-V Server
especially for SAP applications is as followes:
- Live Migration is available
- Processor Compatibility enables migrations between older and newer server (different chipsets)
- Support for logical processors on the parent, 64 processors vs. 32 in Windows Server 2008
- Support for Second Level Address Translation
- Support in the Network configurations of VM's like Jumbo-Frames, TCP-Offload for iSCSCI
- Dynamic Add/Remove of storage in a VM
- Performance improvements in network, storage and memory management of VM's
- Support of Core Parking in the parent improves the energy efficiency
The
capabilities of Hyper-V in Windows Server 2008 R2 makes it very
attractive for SAP installations at an excellent price point....