Microsoft Virtual Server

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Microsoft Virtual Server

Virtual Server 2005 running on Windows XP.
Developer:	Microsoft
Latest release:	Virtual Server 2005 R2 / January 2006
OS:	Microsoft Windows
Use:	virtual machine
License:	proprietary
Website:	Microsoft Virtual Server 2005 R2

Microsoft Virtual Server is a virtualization solution that facilitates the creation of virtual machines on the Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 operating systems. Originally developed by Connectix, it was acquired by Microsoft prior to release.

Virtual Machines are created and managed through a web-based interface.

The current version is Microsoft Virtual Server 2005 R2. New features in R2 includes Linux guest operating system support, Virtual Disk Recompactor, SMP support, x64-bit Host OS support (but not Guest OS support), and additional operating systems.

[edit] Current limitations

The maximum number of supported simultaneous Guest OS's is 64.

Although the software runs in x64 mode on hosts with x64 processors on Virtual Server 2005 R2, it cannot virtualize an x64 processor in a Guest.

It also makes use of SMP, but does not virtualize it.

It does not currently allow guest servers to use more than 1 cpu.

[edit] Version history

The next version of Microsoft Virtual Server will support both Intel VT and AMD Pacifica.

On April 3, 2006, Microsoft made Virtual Server Enterprise Edition a free download[1], in order to better compete with the free virtualization offerings from VMware and Xen.

At the moment, Microsoft is working on Service Pack 1 for Microsoft Virtual Server 2005 R2; Beta 2 is currently available for download.