Well i have limited knowledge of VMWare really mate, only what a few reps have come in and reeled off as a sales speel and what i have read up.
We are going to virtualise 12 or so servers onto 2 boxes, while at the same time implementing a Windows domain (have the domain up and running withing our dept, just needs rolling out to everyone (1000 users, 56 sites and just little old me!!)) and file server to replace our current Novell set-up.
As i understand it, if i have 2 VMWare servers each holding 6 Server 2k3 servers, if they work out between them that a couple of servers have not been accessed or used for a period of time or that the requests are low, it can move them all across onto 1 box of active servers and put the other box into 'standby' mode, thus saving power etc? Excuse me if that sounds massively jumbled....
What was this you mentioned about backups? Currently have all the servers on my domain and they are backed up to a SAN/NAS using Backup Exec 12.....will this not work through VMWare? have heard iSCSI mentioned for replication, can i implement something with that?!
Reading stuff and hearing bits and bobs about it all, it does seem to be quality and will help out with testing patches and service packs etc, especially as we have to conform with certain standards and stuff and prove all patches and SP's are tested before roll out
Just want to get a heads up before all this comes to fruition.....
Cheers