MORE INFORMATION
What is VERITAS Storage Foundation?
The dynamic disk management drivers included with Windows are
based on technology licensed from VERITAS Software Corporation. VERITAS Storage
Foundation provides extended versions of those drivers and provides additional
disk management features, including:
- Support for dynamic disks with Windows clustering. (Native
Windows drivers support only basic disks in clusters.)
- Snapshot backup of disks.
- Transferring disk ownership between systems.
- Dynamic reconfiguration of online storage.
- Replication of disks between servers.
Does Exchange work with VERITAS Storage Foundation?
Exchange databases can be stored on disks managed by VERITAS
Storage Foundation, and VERITAS states that Exchange databases will function
normally in both clustered and non-clustered environments.
There are
many Exchange servers running today on platforms that use VERITAS Storage
Foundation. However, Microsoft has not performed in-depth testing of Exchange
on disks managed by VERITAS Storage Foundation. Therefore, VERITAS Storage
Foundation is not supported by Microsoft, but is supported by VERITAS with
Exchange.
If VERITAS Storage Foundation works with Exchange, then why isn't it supported?
It is supported--but by VERITAS, rather than by Microsoft.
VERITAS Storage Foundation replaces core Windows disk management
services with a proprietary VERITAS solution. The result is a solution that is
in part supported by Microsoft and in part supported by VERITAS.
To be
very clear: Microsoft will provide support for Exchange issues if you run
Exchange on a Veritas Storage Foundation platform. However, Microsoft will only
troubleshoot and attempt to resolve Exchange-specific issues up to the point
that the source of the problem can be reasonably attributed to an issue or
incompatibility with VERITAS software. This same principle also applies to
other third party products.
Doesn't the term "unsupported" imply "not recommended"?
Many Exchange customers are made uneasy by the word "unsupported"
for a very good reason: they have been refused support by a vendor simply
because of the presence of an unsupported component, and this in advance of any
determination that the unsupported component has anything to do with the
problem.
Microsoft will not require you to remove VERITAS or other
third party products as a precondition of providing support, unless there is a
reasonable basis for doing so and less disruptive troubleshooting efforts have
not been effective. If neither Microsoft nor VERITAS are able to resolve a
particular storage-related problem, it may be necessary to remove VERITAS
components from the system and revert to a fully Microsoft-supported platform.
This follows the usual troubleshooting procedures of "last resort."
What do you mean by a "fully Microsoft-supported platform"?
A fully Microsoft-supported Windows installation is one that uses
only Microsoft-provided software drivers and services. In addition, for
Exchange, a fully Microsoft-supported platform uses only native Exchange
services and components.
When running Exchange in a fully
Microsoft-supported configuration, Microsoft has the ability to fully debug and
isolate problems. But if third party components are involved, Microsoft may not
be able to fully troubleshoot or resolve an issue.
Microsoft does not
typically have access to source code or other proprietary information that may
be necessary to resolve some issues with a third party component. Resolution of
some issues may require a change to the design or code of a third party
product, or require that customers reconfigure the product. Customers must rely
on the vendor rather than on Microsoft for support and resolution of such
issues.
So how do I determine whether a problem is the responsibility of a third party vendor or of Microsoft?
In some cases, it will be obvious that a problem is the
responsibility of one vendor or the other. In other cases, it will not be so
clear.
When there is difficulty establishing the root cause of the
problem, a very effective strategy is to involve troubleshooting teams from all
parties involved.
Can Microsoft Product Support Services (PSS) directly involve VERITAS or other third party vendors in the troubleshooting process?
The customer, not PSS, is primarily responsible for involving a
third party vendor's support organization. PSS is happy to work with other
support organizations in resolving customer issues, but should not be
considered the primary liaison between customers and third party
vendors.
Every Exchange solution will, necessarily, be a multi-vendor
solution. Microsoft strongly recommends that customers develop support
relationships with each vendor involved in the end-to-end solution.
Is there a certification program for third party products with Exchange?
At this time, there is not.
The feasibility of an
Exchange certification program similar to the Windows programs has been
considered. Microsoft has no current plans for such a program. Microsoft
provides extensive guidance and tools for designing Exchange systems and
testing their capabilities. For more information, please visit the Exchange web
site at:
Microsoft does recommend that you run Exchange on hardware
platforms that have passed Windows Hardware Quality Labs (WHQL) qualification
tests and with software that has passed Certified for Windows testing. Passing
these tests indicates that the platform meets a baseline definition of features
and quality goals for compatibility with Windows.
You can learn more
about WHQL testing and the Windows Logo program at:
VERITAS Storage Foundation for Windows and Volume Manager have
both passed Certified for Windows testing by VeriTest. VeriTest is an
independent testing company that tests third party products for Microsoft's
Certified for Windows program.
The Certified for Windows logo attests
that a product meets certain published criteria and has passed rigorous tests
for availability, reliability, security and supportability in a Windows server
environment. The Certified for Windows program does not certify products for a
specific use or application (such as Exchange).
Obtaining Microsoft
certification for a hardware or software product does not imply that support of
that product thereby becomes the obligation of Microsoft. Certification and
support are separate issues that are often confused.
Microsoft
publishes detailed certification specifications and requirements. Certification
attests that a product has in fact met those specifications and requirements.
Support for certified products remains the responsibility of each vendor,
regardless of certification status.
The Certified for Windows program
also defines a Supported for Windows classification. To be on the Supported for
Windows list, a vendor does not have to submit products for testing, but
instead promises to provide technical support for the product.
You
can learn more about the Certified for Windows program here:
Detailed reports on the exact testing done with each Veritas
product on each edition of Windows are available at the VeriTest web site:
For information about how to contact VERITAS Software, check the
VERITAS Software product support site:
Microsoft
provides third-party contact information to help you find technical support.
This contact information may change without notice. Microsoft does not
guarantee the accuracy of this third-party contact information.
The third-party products that this article discusses are
manufactured by companies that are independent of Microsoft. Microsoft makes no
warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding the performance or reliability of
these products.
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represents the current view of Microsoft Corporation on the issues discussed as
of the date of publication. Because Microsoft must respond to changing market
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