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Microsoft's Big Virtual Shindig

Is this is a coincidence? Next week is VMworld, VMware's annual trade show hosting over 10,000 customers, press and partners. This week, Microsoft has a massive virtualization launch event focusing on old products, current products and products yet to come.

The biggest news, in my view, is the release of a standalone version of Hyper-V. Until now (actually, it doesn't ship for another month) you had to buy Windows Server 2008 to get it.

Microsoft is also getting serious about management, promising to ship System Center Virtual Manager 2008 in the next 30 days. The company is also expected to make noise about Live Migration, a feature it needs to truly compete with VMware on the high end.

So, is this timing with VMworld a coincidence? Given that the big products Microsoft is talking about won't be out for a month, I'd say yes.

Is Hyper-V a true competitor to VMware? Yes and no answers welcome at [email protected].

Posted by Doug Barney on September 08, 2008


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