Microsoft Announces General Availability of Virtual Server 2005
Virtual Machine Solution provides Canadian partners with new tool to reduce IT complexity and supports the Dynamic Systems Initiative
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MISSISSAUGA,ON. - Sept. 13, 2004 - Microsoft Corp. today announced the general availability and pricing of Microsoft® Virtual Server 2005. Available in both Standard and Enterprise editions, Virtual Server 2005 helps customers reduce hardware costs and increase operational efficiency in three key scenarios: automation of software test and development environments; rehosting of legacy applications; and consolidation of production server workloads such as networking, directory infrastructure or departmental applications. As a key deliverable of the Dynamic Systems Initiative, Microsoft's vision for simplifying and automating the way customers design, deploy and operate distributed systems, Virtual Server 2005 provides customers with more flexibility and control in the provisioning of data centre resources.
As part of Windows Server System (TM), Microsoft's comprehensive family of server software, Virtual Server 2005 helps customers increase operational efficiencies associated with testing and deploying their solutions built on Windows Server 2003. With Virtual Server 2005, early adopter customers have been able to decrease their server provisioning time by 50 percent to 95 percent, while reducing physical server counts by 50 percent to 80 percent through consolidation.
“Organizations of every size are continually looking for ways to improve efficiencies by migrating legacy environments to new platforms,” said Stephen Pollack, CEO, PlateSpin a Microsoft ISV. “Virtual Server 2005 not only meets this need, it provides cost-effective solutions for disaster recovery and server consolidation - ultimately reducing the complexity of IT infrastructure and making better use of existing hardware environments. We look forward to helping our customers throughout the world realize the full benefits that virtual infrastructure can provide.
“Virtual Server 2005 is ideal for setting up test and development environments and disaster recovery deployment scenarios. From a disaster recovery perspective you can use it and MOM 2005’s comprehensive administration capabilities to create a proper system without incurring significant hardware costs,” said Eli Robillard, Senior Consultant CDI Education, a Microsoft Gold Partner for Learning Solutions. “We are looking forward to leveraging Virtual Server 2005 in the classroom environment to show IT professionals how they can increase operational efficiency and reduce server proliferation.”
"Our customers are looking for ways to cut infrastructure costs and make better use of their IT and development teams. They want to streamline application testing and development, consolidate to fewer servers and move legacy applications to new hardware running on the Windows Server (TM) 2003 platform," said Kevin Hunter, senior product manager, Microsoft Canada. "Virtual Server 2005 meets these needs and provides easy, automated deployment and configuration. This improved efficiency and simplicity represents progress toward our Dynamic Systems Initiative vision of reducing IT complexity."
Microsoft Virtual Server 2005 includes simple installation and convenient Web-based management of virtual machines, as well as robust storage and networking features. In addition, physical server management tools from Microsoft and third-party management vendors have been updated to provide administrators with a seamless one-to-many management experience across a combination of physical and virtual servers. For example, a Virtual Server 2005 Management Pack for Microsoft Operations Manager 2005 will enable centralized monitoring and performance management of multiple virtual and physical servers.
Hardware vendors such AMD, Dell, HP, and Unisys, system integrators such as NexInnovations, Compugen, LegendCorp and CMS Consulting are offering customers a broad choice of tools, solutions and guidance to help businesses more easily deploy and manage Virtual Server 2005 on Windows Server 2003.
"Gartner predicts that enterprises that don't leverage virtualization technologies will spend as much as 25 percent more for their x86 servers," said Tom Bittman, research vice president at Gartner Inc. "Server virtualization software can help enterprises reduce the time, effort and costs associated with the consolidation of servers and applications."
Virtual Server 2005 Pricing and Availability
Virtual Server 2005 Standard Edition supports up to four processors, with an estimated retail price of $499 (U.S.) or $700 (CDN). Virtual Server 2005 Enterprise Edition supports up to 32 processors, with an estimated retail price of $999 (U.S.) or $1350 (CDN). Both versions will be available within 30 days through retail and volume licensing and will be licensed on a per-physical server basis.
More information on Microsoft Virtual Server 2005 can be found at http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserversystem/virtualserver/evaluation/vsoverview.mspx
About Windows Server System
Microsoft Windows Server System is an integrated and interoperable server infrastructure that reduces IT complexity to enable IT professionals to deliver innovative solutions that meet the changing needs of business. With Windows Server 2003 at the foundation, Windows Server System is engineered from the ground up for XML Web services based on Microsoft .NET technologies to connect information, people, systems and devices. Based on a common software architecture that spans all facets of IT from design, development and deployment through ongoing management and usage, Windows Server System provides comprehensive IT infrastructure for operations (security, systems management, networked storage), applications (data management and analysis, e-business) and information work (messaging, communications and collaboration). More information on Microsoft Windows Server System can be found at http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserversystem/
About Microsoft Canada
Established in 1985, Microsoft Canada Co. is the Canadian subsidiary of Microsoft Corporation (Nasdaq "MSFT") the worldwide leader in software, services and Internet technologies for personal and business computing. Microsoft Canada provides nationwide sales, marketing, consulting and local support services in both French and English. Microsoft Canada is headquartered in Mississauga, Ontario with MSN.CA offices located in Toronto and eight regional offices across the country dedicated to empowering people through great software - any time, any place and on any device. Visit Microsoft Canada's web site at www.microsoft.ca
©2004 Microsoft Corporation. Microsoft, Windows Server and Windows Server System are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries.
The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.
