Topic Last Modified: 2005-12-15

The Microsoft® Exchange Server Analyzer Tool queries the Win32_ComputerSystem Microsoft Windows® Management Instrumentation (WMI) class to determine whether the value for the Model key is set to "Virtual Machine".

The Exchange Server Analyzer also reads the following registry entry to determine whether virtual machine additions have been installed:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Virtual Machine\Guest\Parameters

The presence of this registry path indicates that virtual machine additions have been installed. If this registry path is not present it indicates that virtual machine additions have not been installed.

The Exchange Server Analyzer displays an error if the following conditions are true:

This error indicates that the Exchange server is a virtual machine but that the virtual machine additions are not installed. This configuration is not supported.

To install virtual machine additions
  1. Back up the Exchange Server that is running in the virtual environment.

  2. Install the Virtual Machine Additions using the Virtual Server 2005 administrative console or Web site.

For more information about how to run Exchange Server 2003 in a virtual environment, see Microsoft Knowledge Base article 320220, "Support policy for Exchange Server 2003 running on hardware virtualization software" (http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=3052&kbid=320220).