A question that has come up many times over the last several years is that of support of Microsoft software when running in VMware virtual machines (VMs). This blog entry by Mark Bowler at Liquefying IT has some great stats that show a majority of people are running Microsoft in their VMs and that the support picture is fuzzy for some of them. If you have a Microsoft Premier Support agreement they will support you when running on VMware, but they do reserve the right to have you reproduce it on hardware. Mark then points out a new program from Microsoft to provide validation of virtualized environments that would then lead to the ability for customers to receive technical support.

The program is called the Windows Server Virtualization Validation Program (SVVP) and currently lists four other virtualization vendors: Citrix, Novell, Sun, and Virtual Iron. Notably absent from the list is VMware.

Dell provides support for Microsoft operating systems running in VMware VMs, which is detailed in this customer letter and on VMware's Web page on Support for Microsoft Software in VMware Virtual Machines:

"For customers who purchase OEM VMware products with Dell hardware and Dell Gold Enterprise Support or Dell ProSupport, the vendor provides end-to-end support—including the VMware software and certified Microsoft operating systems that are run within virtual machines."

Todd