Pondering SharePoint vNext environment and virtualization choices. Are you into virtualization yet? Well if you're not and you're in, or planning to be in, SharePoint development now and moving forward then plan on it. With so many different client and server scenarios, it's impossible not to virtualize.

 

Here's a link to Microsoft's non-Microsoft virtualization partners - http://support.microsoft.com/kb/944987, which include:

 

Cisco Systems, Inc.
Citrix Systems, Inc.
Novell, Inc.
Oracle, USA Inc.
Sun Microsystems
Unisys Corp.
Virtual Iron Software
VMware, Inc.

 

Up until now I've been using a mixture of Microsoft Virtual PC 2007, Virtual Server and Windows 2008 HyperV, and VMWare workstation. But I'm now evaluating 'bare metal' options including Citrix XenServer (FREE) and VMWare ESX.

 

If you're working in SharePoint development, test, design, admin, etc etc., you'll possibly need to factor in SQL 2000 SP2 through SQL 2008, Windows 2003 RC2 32bit / 64bit through Windows Server 2008, and several different clients in 32bit and 64bit - XP, Vista and Windows 7. Remember, you need to ensure that whatever virtualization platform you choose to go with will be compatible with your client/server scenarios. For example, if you look at the supported virualization options for SQL server - http://support.microsoft.com/kb/956893 - you'll see Hyper-V mentioned but also configurations supported through the 'Server Virtualization Validation Program'. This doesn't mean to say that SQL won't run on your existing choice but it won't necessarily be supported if something goes wrong. This is especially important if you are contemplating on running some or all your servers in virtualization in production.

 

Remember if you're contemplating moving into SharePoint Server 2010 development, etc., don't forget to check out the preliminary system requirements http://blogs.msdn.com/sharepoint/archive/2009/05/11/announcing-sharepoint-server-2010-preliminary-system-requirements.aspx.