Over the past week or so Microsoft have clarified the support statement for server products running in virtual environments.  The most significant announcement was the Server Virtualisation Validation Program (SVVP).  To quote "The Server Virtualization Validation Program (SVVP) is open to any vendor who delivers a virtualization machine solution that hosts Windows Server 2008, Windows 2000 Server Service Pack 4 and Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 2 and subsequent service packs. The virtualization solution can either be hypervisor-based or a hosted solution. The program enables vendors to validate various configurations so that customers of Windows Server can receive technical support in virtualized environments. Customers with validated solutions will benefit from the support provided by Microsoft as a part of the regular Windows Server technical support framework."

The participating vendors (at time of writing are):

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

The SVVP does not mean that Microsoft support the products from the vendors listed above.  The SVVP means the validated third party product provides a suitable environment upon which the Microsoft operating system can run.  If you think about it, the SVVP is very similar to the hardware certification for Microsoft operating systems.

Now that you know the supportability of your Microsoft operating systems turn your eyes to the support statements for Microsoft server software. Microsoft server software and supported virtualization environments. 

You'll find statements for :

• Microsoft Application Virtualization (App-V)
• Microsoft BizTalk Server
• Microsoft Commerce Server
• Microsoft Dynamics AX
• Microsoft Dynamics CRM
• Microsoft Dynamics NAV
• Microsoft Exchange Server
• Microsoft Forefront Client Security
• Microsoft Intelligent Application Gateway (IAG)
• Microsoft Forefront Security for Exchange (FSE)
• Microsoft Forefront Security for SharePoint (FSP)
• Microsoft Host Integration Server
• Microsoft Internet Security and Acceleration (ISA) Server
• Microsoft Office Groove Server
• Microsoft Office PerformancePoint Server
• Microsoft Office Project Server
• Microsoft Office SharePoint Server and Windows SharePoint Services
• Microsoft Operations Manager (MOM) 2005
• Microsoft Search Server
• Microsoft SQL Server 2008
• Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager
• Microsoft System Center Data Protection Manager
• Microsoft System Center Essentials
• Microsoft System Center Operations Manager
• Microsoft System Center Virtual Machine Manager
• Microsoft Systems Management Server (SMS)
• Microsoft Visual Studio Team System
• Microsoft Windows HPC Server 2008
• Windows Server 2003 Web Edition
• Microsoft Windows Server Update Services (WSUS)
• Windows Web Server 2008

Licensing changes: