The Running Domain Controllers in Virtual Server 2005 page begins with:
On servers running Windows Server 2003 and Virtual Server 2005, you can install multiple domain controllers in separate virtual machines. This platform is well suited for test environments. With strict adherence to requirements described in this paper, domain controller virtual machines can also be used in production.
Overview
Virtual Server is a Microsoft Windows®–based server application that is optimized to provide virtualization of Windows Server operating systems concurrently on a single physical server. In combination with the Windows Server 2003 operating system, Virtual Server provides a platform for implementing domain controllers in virtual machines. With this platform, you can install multiple Windows Server 2003 or Windows 2000 Server domain controllers in separate virtual machines on a single physical server. In this way, you can host multiple domains, multiple domain controllers for the same domain, or even multiple forests on one physical server that is running a single operating system.Running domain controllers in virtual machines is best suited for test and pre-production piloting environments. With strict adherence to the requirements described in this document, domain controllers running in virtual machines can also be used in a production environment.
This document is intended for IT administrators, engineers, and architects who are evaluating using Virtual Server to host domain controllers that are running Windows Server 2003 or Windows 2000 Server in virtual machines.
