Microsoft blesses VM technology
Tim Landgrave
Published: 11 Mar 2003 09:25 GMT
In late February, Microsoft acquired technology that could significantly change the way companies acquire server hardware and deploy Windows-based operating systems on the client and the server. For Microsoft, the acquisition of Connectix' virtual machine (VM) technology signals a major change in its attitude toward the virtualisation of its operating systems. For the major vendor of the technology, VMware, it may mean that its ability to survive will depend on the alliances that it can forge over the next six to nine months. If you're using either Microsoft or VMware technology, it's worth your time to explore the impact of the Connectix acquisition.
The Microsoft love/hate VM relationship
Before the acquisition, Microsoft employees would either tell you that VM technology was fantastic or a waste of time -- depending on the group to which you posed the question. To some, it was a great way to use the extra cycles and machine resources sitting idle in the data center and to consume them with Microsoft processes. To others, it was yet another way for companies to "steal" Microsoft software. Many companies don't realise that Microsoft requires a license for every copy of Windows running, whether on a physical or virtual machine. Some groups have embraced VMware technology, even sending out advance demonstrations to the Microsoft field using the technology. Others have refused to use any virtual machine technology because they didn't want to add the platform to their testing scenarios, regardless of the customer value driven by the technology.
The VM value proposition
For the past few years, two major vendors have been providing VM technology for microprocessors: VMware and Connectix. VMware has built its business by providing VM technology that works cross-platform between Windows and Linux operating systems. It has workstation products for both Windows and Linux that allow one to run versions of the other within one or more virtual machines. It also has server platforms available for both Linux (ESX) and Windows 2000 Server (GSX).
Connectix originally developed its technology to allow Macintosh users to run a complete Windows VM and all of the applications developed for it. It moved its technology to Windows and was in the midst of releasing a version designed for Windows Servers when Microsoft announced the purchase. Connectix also contracted with Microsoft to produce the Windows CE 4.1 hardware emulators that run on Windows desktops, giving it an "inside look" at the engineering necessary to perform hardware emulation on a Windows platform.
Uses for VM technology
The acquisition of Connectix and its integration into the core Microsoft OS platform will give corporations many more options for configuring and managing hardware and applications. Some of these include:
Development platform
Using the client or server capability, companies can configure their development environments to allow software engineers to develop and test multitier applications and security scenarios on a single box. For example, one of my former companies used a virtual machine environment to provide the beta two version of the Microsoft .Net Development environment to over 500 developers nationwide by hosting the development environment on shared virtual machines in a data center. I've worked with other companies that put their standard desktop on developer desks and then had them run all of their development platforms on virtual machines that could easily be backed up, rebuilt, copied, or moved to faster machines if needed.
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