Updated: July 9, 2020 (September 4, 2006)

Virtualization Overview

As managing vice president, Rob Helm covers Microsoft collaboration and content management. His 25-plus years of experience analyzing Microsoft’s technology... more

A Virtual Server R2 update in 2005 supports the AMD-developed x64 64-bit architecture, among other features. A 2006 service pack is planned to support Intel VT and AMD Pacifica virtualization hardware as well as ensure technical compatibility with Windows Longhorn Server. Windows Server will eventually incorporate hypervisor technology to enable computers to boot directly to virtual machines, rather than first load a host OS and start a virtualization layer like Virtual Server. The capability is currently planned for a feature pack six months after the release of Longhorn Server. Microsoft intends to provide a migration path from Virtual Server to the Windows hypervisor virtualization technology.

A Virtual Machine Manager product, currently in beta testing, will enable administrators to create virtual machines (VMs) from physical server configurations and will support centrally managing and moving VMs. It is currently in beta and planned for release in conjunction with the Windows hypervisor, but might support earlier versions of Microsoft’s hardware virtualization products.

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