Microsoft runs with (virtualized) IT
Over at VMworld, where I would have loved to be right now, Microsoft has announced the VHD Download Center and the accompanying "Run IT on a Virtual Hard Disk" Technet site. As of this moment, Microsoft is offering Windows Server 2003 R2, Exchange Server 2007, SQL Server 2005 and ISA Server 2006 as downloadable, preconfigured VHD's for evaluation purposes. You no longer need to download and install the base Windows OS, and then install trial versions of the offered applications. What you get when downloading is a pre-configured environment that lets evaluate the products for a 30-day time period, unless you are a MSDN and/or TechNet subscriber. MSDN/TechNet subscribers gets up to 365 day evaluation periods, when using their existing subscribers license keys. Microsoft also expects that over 20 partners will be distributing their software through the VHD Test Drive Program including Altiris, BEA Systems, Check Point, Citrix, CommVault, Dell, FullArmor, HP, Network Appliance, Platespin, Portlock, Quest Software, SourceCode Technology Holdings, Symantec and UGS. In fact, Citrix is already offering a developer edition of Presentation Server 4.0 on the mycitrix site. The developer edition is a fully featured version of presentation server, that includes two free licenses. I'm sure a pre-configured virtual machine will be available real soon. Of course the VHD downloads require Microsoft Virtual Server 2005 R2, but I expect VMware Converter to be able to convert the VHD's to VMware images. I haven't looked at the VHD EULA, so I have no idea if Microsoft has put any limitations on the usage/conversion of the VHDs. I doubt it though, as Microsoft has opened up the VHD standard on their own, and offer that as the cure-all format for all virtualization needs. This is also the format that the planned hypervisor on Windows Longhorn will support natively. The VHD standard is a direct competitor to VMWare's VMDK format. All in all, great move by Microsoft which can only be seen as a reponse to the VMware Virtual Appliances directory, which has a big, and still growing, set of Virtual Appliances ready for download. The world of IT and IT management is getting better and easier on a daily basis now!Post metadata
Published November 8, 2006 22:49
5 comments
Tagged with microsoft, vhd, virtual appliance, virtual infrastructure, virtual machines, virtualization, VMWare and vmworld
5 Responses to Microsoft runs with (virtualized) IT:
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January 1, 1970 1:00ampurchases. The server I bought in June is up and alive and ready… VMworld 7 novembre 2006 My boss never ceases to surprise me. At the last minute Jayson suggested someone be allowed to goto VMworld, since the number of servers we operate… Microsoft runs with (virtualized) IT 7 novembre 2006 Over at VMworld, where I would have loved to be right now, Microsoft has announced the VHD Download Center and the accompanying “Run IT on a Virtual… Virtual Appliances in Africa
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August 2, 2007 2:46pmpurchases. The server I bought in June is up and alive and ready… VMworld 7 novembre 2006 My boss never ceases to surprise me. At the last minute Jayson suggested someone be allowed to goto VMworld, since the number of servers we operate…Microsoft runs with (virtualized) IT7 novembre 2006 Over at VMworld, where I would have loved to be right now, Microsoft has announced the VHD Download Center and the accompanying “Run IT on a Virtual… Virtual Appliances in Africa
January 1, 1970 1:00am
purchases. The server I bought in June is up and alive and ready… VMworld 7 novembre 2006 My boss never ceases to surprise me. At the last minute Jayson suggested someone be allowed to goto VMworld, since the number of servers we operate… Microsoft runs with (virtualized) IT 7 novembre 2006 Over at VMworld, where I would have loved to be right now, Microsoft has announced the VHD Download Center and the accompanying “Run IT on a Virtual… Virtual Appliances in Africa
November 8, 2006 7:38am
Nice to read about this, although i’ve not used VMWare or VHD ;)
February 16, 2007 1:53am
BTW, the EULA does prohibit conversion to another format. You can still use VMware Workstation or other products, because they can use the VHD without explicitly converting it to a VMDK.
February 16, 2007 9:25am
Thats right, but you cannot convert the image because that changes the virtualized hardware and it would trigger the Windows activation components and basically render the VM useless.
Not directly related to the EULA, but Microsoft does limit what you can do with the VHD, even if it is unintentional.
August 2, 2007 2:46pm
purchases. The server I bought in June is up and alive and ready… VMworld 7 novembre 2006 My boss never ceases to surprise me. At the last minute Jayson suggested someone be allowed to goto VMworld, since the number of servers we operate…Microsoft runs with (virtualized) IT7 novembre 2006 Over at VMworld, where I would have loved to be right now, Microsoft has announced the VHD Download Center and the accompanying “Run IT on a Virtual… Virtual Appliances in Africa