Microsoft releases Hyper-V Hypervisor early

Microsoft Corp., the world's largest software maker, on Thursday released a beta version of new virtualization software called Hyper-V, apparently giving a holiday surprise to its users and partners by unveiling the highly-anticipated virtualization technology earlier than expected.

The Redmond, Washington-based software giant said that the hypervisor-based server virtualization technology is available as a public beta with Windows Server 2008 RC1 Enterprise edition.

This Hyper-V virtualization hypervisor, codenamed "Viridian", originally was scheduled to ship with the release to manufacturing (RTM) version of Windows 2008 in the first quarter of next year.

"Delivering the high-quality Hyper-V beta earlier than expected allows our customers and partners to begin evaluating this feature of Windows Server 2008 and provide us with valuable feedback as we march toward final release," said Bill Laing, General Manager of the Windows Server Division at Microsoft.

The company has included the beta version of virtualization software in Windows Server 2008, Release Candidate 1 Enterprise. Initially, the software is restricted to the 64-bit version of Windows 2008, and is currently available for download at www.microsoft.com/ws08eval in English-U.S only.

"Along with Hyper-V, Windows Server 2008 offers cost-effective and flexible licensing for virtualization so that customers and partners can extend the savings realized through server consolidation and deliver on the vision of Dynamic IT," said Laing.

Hyper-V, the next-generation hypervisor-based server virtualization technology in Windows Server 2008, enables a single computer function like multiple machines, allowing IT organizations to spend less on equipment and energy in its data centers. It also helps companies improve server utilization and create a more-dynamic IT infrastructure and improve server availability.

According to Microsoft press release, several new features and capabilities have been added to the Hyper-V beta since the last Community Technology Preview (CTP) of Hyper-V in September. These expanded features include Quick Migration, high availability, Server Core role and Server Manager integration.

The final version of Hyper-V is expected to release within six months of the RTM of Windows Server 2008.

Microsoft's virtualization software will compete mainly with programs from VMware Inc., the world's fourth-largest publicly traded software maker. According to Global Equities Research analyst Trip Chowdhry, Microsoft's engineers claim their Hyper-V is three times as efficient as the Palo Alto, California-based VMware's product.

Oracle, which unexpectedly entered into the market for virtualization software with Oracle VM last month, has made a similar claim.

Soon after the software company’s announcement, VMware shares fell $3.23 to $96.00 on the New York Stock Exchange, while the news gave Microsoft shares a 2.2%, or 76 cent, lift in late-afternoon trading on Thursday to $35.23.