Get Microsoft Hyper-V server for $28
While we were sound asleep this morning, the Europeans were announcing some important details about the Windows Server 2008 family of products. One of the most interesting announcements wasn't the new name for Windows Server virtualization (WSv) now called Hyper-V. No, instead the most fascinating detail is the price. $28 US. WOW! I thought it was a typo the first time I saw it.
Here are the details from the press release:
Microsoft Hyper-V Server
Microsoft Hyper-V Server, a hypervisor-based server virtualisation product, complements the Hyper-V technology within Windows Server 2008, allowing customers to consolidate workloads onto a single physical server. In addition, Microsoft Hyper-V Server will increase original equipment manufacturer (OEM) partners’ ability to offer customers simplified, reliable and cost-effective virtualisation solutions that can easily plug in to their existing infrastructure. Partners including Dell Inc, Fujitsu Siemens Computers, Fujitsu Ltd, Hitachi Ltd, HP, IBM Corp, Lenovo, NEC Corp and Unisys are already committed to working with Microsoft to offer solutions based on Microsoft Hyper-V Server once it is available. The estimated manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) for Microsoft Hyper-V Server is $28 (US).
“Microsoft and Dell are continuing to work together to provide virtualisation solutions and by offering Microsoft Hyper-V Server across a wide variety of Dell servers,” said Rick Becker, vice president of Software and Solutions at Dell. “Our joint customers can continue to leverage their expertise with Microsoft technologies to rapidly provision new services and better manage and simplify their IT environment.”
“The combination of Microsoft Hyper-V Server, industry-leading HP ProLiant and BladeSystem servers, and our comprehensive services portfolio provides customers with an adaptive infrastructure that is simple to operate, reliable and cost-effective,” said Scott Farrand, vice president of Industry Standard Server Software at HP. “HP plans to support customers in the adoption of Microsoft Hyper-V Server by delivering solutions that help them realise the benefits of a virtualised environment.”
Server Virtualisation Validation Program
In response to industry and customer demands for more comprehensive technical support of virtual machines, Kelly also announced the Server Virtualisation Validation Program. Beginning in June 2008, vendors will be able to self-test and validate certain technical requirements of their server virtualisation software running Windows Server 2008 and prior versions. The programme will enable Microsoft to offer cooperative technical support to customers running Windows Server on validated, non-Windows server virtualisation software.
“Microsoft has worked with industry partners to create a technical support model that will meet customers’ growing demands,” Kelly said. “As more customers deploy and virtualise Windows-based applications on Windows Server 2008 or other server virtualisation software, this programme will help ensure that customers receive a joint support experience for their physical and virtual infrastructure deployments.”
“Technical support of virtualised images is an industrywide challenge,” said Roger Levy, senior vice president and general manager of Open Platform Solutions for Novell. “Our relationship with Microsoft provides us with a jointly supported solution today. Novell and Microsoft continue to collaborate to optimise bidirectional virtualisation between Windows and SUSE Linux Enterprise with Xen. Microsoft’s server virtualisation validation programme provides customers with additional peace of mind when they run Windows as a guest in a validated environment such as SUSE Linux Enterprise.”
See the remaining details @ https://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2008/virtualization/default.mspx and https://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2008/editions/overview.mspx.