Microsoft begins trials of Hyper-V

 

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By Stuart Turton

Posted on 14 Dec 2007 at 10:59

Microsoft has made the beta version of its Hyper-V virtualisation software available for download with Windows Server 2008 RC1 Enterprise.

The beta release runs on the x64 version of Windows Server 2008 Enterprise Edition and is based on hypervisor technology, which sits on the server hardware and lets it run multiple operating systems within their own virtual machines.

Hyper-V will feature in three of the eight announced editions of Windows Server 2008 - Standard, Enterprise, and Datacenter - which are due to be released at the end of February.

Virtualisation has increasingly risen to prominence among businesses, as it allows them to scale back the servers they use, reducing power consumption, carbon emissions and running costs.

The announcement follows hot on the heels of Oracle's own virtualisation software, which it claims is three times more efficient than rival offerings.

Market leader VMware has already hit back, arguing that none of its competitors can provide the stability or advanced management functions its product does.