Microsoft plans to announce next week that it is ready to ship Virtual Server, a product that allows a server to run multiple operating systems, or multiple copies of the same OS at a single time.
Microsoft ready to ship Virtual Server
About The Author
Eugenia Loli
Ex-programmer, ex-editor in chief at OSNews.com, now a visual artist/filmmaker.
Follow me on Twitter @EugeniaLoli
What always troubles me about emulation/virtualization on windows is this:
If you install, say, win2k on a server, vpc and the same w2k on the same server, *how many* licenses you have to pay???
Another thing is: an installed but powered down server count as an active server, what about a disk image ready to be put on a virtual machine???
I think you two above should read the article and understand what virtual server is before making comments about it. Oh and Arakon, your extended use of the dollar sign to replace an S really signifies your indepth knowledge on the subject.
“Another thing is: an installed but powered down server count as an active server, what about a disk image ready to be put on a virtual machine???”
MS allows for powered down/backup servers to be part of the same license as an running server.
My understanding of it follows this pattern:
9 Servers
6 Running
3 Powered Down
1 Virtual
————–
7 Licenses
If anyone from MS is reading this and I have it wrong; Correct me please.
Wow, you are $mart!
anon,
you are correct.
ms allows clients that have volume licensing to have backup servers setup on separate hardware without buying a license.
they are not for testing use. they are not for any use other than to replace an operational server with valid license that goes down.
must be a member of volume licensing with software assurance:
http://www.microsoft.com/licensing/resources/volbrief.mspx
“”Cold” Server Backup for Disaster Recovery—a Microsoft Software Assurance Benefit
Effective June 1, 2004, customers with Software Assurance for Microsoft server software, as well as related Client Access Licenses (CALs), will be eligible for complimentary “cold backup” server licenses for the purpose of disaster recovery.”
ms provides trials for nearly all of their software either free via download or free with a small shipping charge for a cd. Shipping charges are not designed to be profitable for MS, they cover costs of shipping only and normally are as low as $3, $5, or $7.
http://www.microsoft.com/products/info/render.aspx?view=22&type=std…
http://www.microsoft.com/products/info/render.aspx?view=22&type=std…
http://www.microsoft.com/products/info/render.aspx?view=22&type=std…
most applications have 30 and 60 day runs, oses and such tend to have 120 and 180 day trial periods.
a great way to test etc without paying for new oses and with virtual server you can also then avoid buying test hardware.
As a long time VMware user, I have always found the licensing niceties of virtual machines to be iffy (when I care). I do hope that MS clarifies their licensing in these situations as a result of this acquisition.
Oh, and Arakon…
This product has only recently been purchased by MS. Most of its development was done by Connectix, and they did good work for years. Even if you assume that MS will have a negative influence, they have not yet had enough time for that influence to be too serious.
And yes, I often run the same OS in host and VM. This is useful for virtual test machines and incompatible office and development packages. No virtual servers yet though.
Any chance this is based on Xen?
I doubt it as Xen requires modified guest OS’es (and currently a linux-based management console) whereas MS Virtual Server AFAIK runs unmodified OS’es.
You can find details about client OS licensing in:
http://download.microsoft.com/download/2/f/f/2ff38f3e-033d-47e6-948…
If you are an MSDN subscriber, you can use as many copies of the OS for development and testing as you need. This applys to MS’s VM products as well as vmware.
It is interesting to note that Virtual Server cost only $499 for up to 4 processors, compared to GSX at $3025 for 2 processors and
$6050 for 4 processors. Maybe the $ is in the wrong company’s name.
The Virtual Server API is also very extensive:
http://msdn.microsoft.com/msdnmag/issues/04/08/VirtualServer2005/de…
http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/library/en-us/ms…