Hyper-V released!!!

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Windows Server 2008 logo h

I would normally put up a great post with examples, pictures, personal stories, wit, and humor... but I am in class today and they are making us shut our laptops.  Darn.  In any case, AWESOME NEWS!!!  The Virtualization team just released a version of Windows Server 2008 WITH the beta bits of Hyper-V (formerly Windows Server Virtualization).  I will DEFINITELY be loading it up tomorrow!  Get it here:

https://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2008/virtualization/default.mspx

For now, I'll copy from that page.  :)

Hyper-V, the next-generation hypervisor-based server virtualization technology in Windows Server 2008, helps address many virtualization business challenges. You can now create virtual machines that can leverage available hardware, run multiple operating systems, and manage both virtual and physical resources using the same industry-standard tools.

Key Hyper-V features include:

  • New and improved architecture: New 64-bit micro-kernelized hypervisor architecture enables Hyper-V to provide a broad array of device support and improved performance and security.
  • Broad OS support: Broad support for simultaneously running different types of operating systems, including 32-bit and 64-bit systems across different server platforms, such as Windows and Linux.
  • SMP support: Ability to support up to 4 multiple processors (SMP) in a virtual machine environment to enable you to take full advantage of multi-threaded applications in a virtual machine.
  • Memory support: Support for large memory allocation per virtual machine enables you to now virtualize most workloads, making Hyper-V an ideal platform for both enterprises and small to medium businesses alike.
  • Improved storage access: With pass-through disk access and broad support for SAN and internal disk access, Hyper-V provides greater flexibility in configuring and utilizing storage environments optimally.
  • Network load balancing: With the new virtual service provider/virtual service client (VSP/VSC) architecture, Hyper-V provides improved performance and utilization of core resources such as disk, networking, video, etc.
  • New hardware sharing architecture: With the new virtual service provider/virtual service client (VSP/VSC) architecture, Hyper-V provides improved access and utilization of core resources such as disk, networking, video, etc.
  • Quick migration: Hyper-V enables you to rapidly migrate a running virtual machine from one physical host system to another with minimal downtime, leveraging familiar high-availability capabilities of Windows Server and System Center management tools.
  • Linux integration components: Beta Linux integration components are now available for SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 10 SP1 x86 and x64 Editions. These integration components enable Xen-enabled Linux to take advantage of the VSP/VSC architecture and provide improved performance. Beta Linux Integration components are available for immediate download through connect.microsoft.com.
  • Virtual machine snapshot: Hyper-V provides the ability to take snapshots of a running virtual machine so you can easily revert to a previous state and improve the overall backup and recoverability solution.
  • Scalability: With support for multiple processors and cores at the host level and improved memory access within virtual machines, you can now vertically scale your virtualization environment to support a large number of virtual machines within a given host and continue to leverage quick migration for scalability across multiple hosts.
  • Extensible: Standards-based Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) interfaces and APIs in Hyper-V enable independent software vendors and developers to quickly build custom tools, utilities, and enhancements for the virtualization platform.