Hi Everybody,

Just from searching the previous posts I think I know the answer but I figured I would ask anyways and make sure. We are trying to install the HMC 3.5 structure on one server to see if it is something that is going to be reasonable for us to sink capital into. It appears from my experience and what others are saying that you can't install the MPS on the same server that is acting as the domain controller; thus making what I am trying to do futile. Can somebody confirm please? Thanks!

Technically it's possible. You could use virtualization. I've installed and expanded upon the consolidated solution using a single Dell PowerEdge 6850.

I'm not sure that's the answer you're really looking for, though. ;)

Hi,

Thanks for the answer. Virtualization as in vmware or something similar?

Yes. Both Microsoft and VMware have made their software-based solutions free (as in beer), though I didn't get very good results running more than about 4 VMs on a server at once with either of them. Using ESX I get radically better performance and consolidation. Since the consolidated solution only requires 4 servers, though, you could potentially build the whole thing inside VMware Server / Microsoft Virtual Server R2.

As an added bonus, you can burn everything to DVD and make your lab completely portable, for presentation or testing.