Wanna get your hands on Windows Server Virtualization (Viridian)?

If you are any bit of a virtualization nut like I am (ok - passionate, not NUT), you have probably heard about how our hypervisor implementation of virtualization is called Windows Server Virtualization (formerly known as Viridian - shot form known as WSV). You also know that we've been talking about it for a while - possibly showing it to you a couple of times here or there, but it's never been available to the public, unless you've been part of a TAP program.  We've stated that it will be available as a beta when Windows Server 2008 goes RTM and will be available as RTM WITHIN 180 days of RTM of Windows Server 2008.

But I have a scoop for you. You probably missed it - it hasn't been broadcast all over the blogsphere or news channels. I came across this tidbit as I was preparing to deliver a session to Canadian industry analysts yesterday when I was in Mississauga. Did you miss it?

VMWorld is/was happening this week.  A tonne of announcements around things like SystemCenter Virtual Machine Manager and it's RTM state, price points, packages, cool powers of interoperability and stated future direction for managing OTHER virtualization platforms as well.  THAT IS WAY COOL - but here's something that is even COOLER.

It's our intent to make a CTP (Community Technology Preview) available TO THE PUBLIC with the release of Windows Server 2008 RC0 in the not too distant future (before the end of September I believe). Where was this announced? Here on PressPass in an interview with Lary Orecklin, GM on System Center team.

I've been asked SO MANY TIMES for the bits of WSV whenever we show it in public or in a demo. Until now we've only been able to say - wait for it until RTM. 

YOU will be able to get a chance to try it out. Just make sure you have the necessary pre-requisites (which I will detail here on the blog in a future post when it's live).

How do you get hooked up with the RC0 of Windows Server 2008? That's easy - head over to BetaCentral and register to get all the resources for current Beta 3 and register to be notified of RC0's availability. Virtualization

NOTE: WSV is not in the current build of Beta3 - it will be in the next release called RC0. Stay tuned on the blog for more info on RC0 when it drops!