With the upcoming Exchange 2010 release, I needed to test my applications to make sure that they were compatible. I've spent lots of time converting the E2007 version to Exchange Web Services, but didn't expect them to work with E2010 without at least a few modifications. The trouble is, I didn't have enough 64-bit hardware to install a new Window 2008 Server; and my stupid Dell Optiplex 745 doesn't have the option to enable VT in the BIOS, so I can't install a virtual machine for it, even though the CPU and chipset are capable of using VT.
Anyway, I remembered that my missus has an Intel MacBook, and more out of desperation, I Googled to see if anyone was running 64-bit machines on that platform. Imagine my delight to discover that is is possible!
Basically, it can be done like this:
- Make sure your MacBook has an Intel CPU (check the About This Mac option under the Apple logo on the menu bar).
- Install a copy of the amazing VMWare Fusion (I don't know if there's anything else out there that can run a 64-bit guest - please let me know if there is).
- Use the new VM wizard to install the 64-bit edition of Windows 2008 Server (hopefully you have R2, which will save a lot of time with the pre-requisites).
- Tell VMWare to use the NIC in Bridge mode, otherwise the VM won't be able to connect to anything.
- Install Exchange Server 2010.
- Create a new Send Connector if you want it be able to send anything (like E2007, it doesn't add one by default)
That's it! I have to say that I'm very impressed by the way that the Mac has got me out of this particular hole.
In case you were wondering what it looks like, here's a screen dump of the Mac.
