Zimbra

ScottChapman · #1 (**permalink**) 03-15-2009, 06:10 PM

I have a question about platforms for the open source version of Zimbra.

I see that there are several open source versions of linux listed, but it seems like only older versions are listed.

I am looking to run Zimbra on a pretty modern version of linux because I am running my server on VMWare ESXi and would like to leverage paravirtualization. Ubuntu 8.04 (for example) has real problems in this area and has for some time. But I would expect Ubuntu 10.x to be OK.

Any thoughts?

uxbod · #2 (**permalink**) 03-16-2009, 12:38 AM

All the supported platforms are located here :- Open Source Edition Downloads: Enterprise Messaging and Collaboration Software by Zimbra

8.04 is the latest version of Ubuntu that is a supported configuration due to it being LTS (Long Term Support).

You could also run CentOS which is pretty much 100% binary compatible with upstream, though not officially supported by Zimbra, and works very well indeed. The latest version 5.3 is in QA testing at the moment and should hopefully be realised very soon.

If you choose this route then it would be great if you voted for Bug 23487 – Official Support for ZCS Network Edition on CentOS aswell

phoenix · #3 (**permalink**) 03-16-2009, 12:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ScottChapman

I am looking to run Zimbra on a pretty modern version of linux because I am running my server on VMWare ESXi and would like to leverage paravirtualization. Ubuntu 8.04 (for example) has real problems in this area and has for some time. But I would expect Ubuntu 10.x to be OK.

As Uxbod has mentioned, CentOS is a binary compatible rebuild of RHEL and works fine on ESXi. I currently have my own Zimbra server installed on ESXi and it works without problems.

ScottChapman · #4 (**permalink**) 03-16-2009, 05:18 AM

Can CentOS act as a paravirtualized guest OK?

uxbod · #5 (**permalink**) 03-16-2009, 05:24 AM

Looks like it can't :- Guest Operating Systems and VMware Virtualization Technology - VMware

raj · #6 (**permalink**) 03-16-2009, 06:06 AM

We are running few CentOS 5 VM's on Vmware ESXi with zimbra on them..works flawlessly, better than xen (not to start the flame..but its tue

)

Raj

webman · #7 (**permalink**) 03-16-2009, 06:08 AM

@raj: What parts of ESXi make it better than Xen from your point of view? (I'm not arguing one against another; I'm just interested to hear your views as we could be heading down the virtualisation route soon.)

raj · #8 (**permalink**) 03-16-2009, 06:41 AM

Well I don’t have any quantitative matrix made for xen vs esxi
but from our xen vs vmware installs. We have seen vmware customers happier with the performance than xen.
I am no fan of proprietary code but it’s more of a business decision with and exit strategy.

Business decision: Today VMware code/tools are more mature code base than Xen and for us VMware is performing better on our Dell Hardware (no VT's and Dual cores..we have Dual Xeon's 3.xx and above)
Using tools like Vmware Convertor..We were able to move Linux and windows physical servers to VMware VM’s without a hitch.
VMware tools are good and proven to do all this for 100's of servers for us in matter of days or less.

Exit strategy: Given the fact we locking ourselves to VMware’s proprietary (free) code/apps..but as of today its supported and its free..
2 years from now it may not be the case, But we are banking on the fact that lot more virtualization players are going to come and the will give migration/conversion path from VMware.
Because VMware is/will be the largest deployed player and to capture faster market share..they "have to” give VMware Migration Path. till then Xen will be more mature and improved.

Above is our decision and strategy and this may and may not work for everyone.

By the way..Zimrba works really good on either physical or vm’s given good resouces

Raj