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Virtual Server Migration Toolkit on the Way

Microsoft will release a free toolkit later this week to help organizations migrate to Virtual Server 2005, the company announced Tuesday.

Virtual Server is Microsoft's virtual machine software for servers based on beta software the company acquired from Connectix Corp. early last year. Since making a 180-day evaluation edition version of Virtual Server available on Sept. 13, Microsoft says 45,000 copies have been downloaded.

The toolkit supports migration of Windows NT 4.0, Windows 2000 Server and Windows Server 2003 systems to virtual machines running on Virtual Server 2005. According to Microsoft, the toolkit will also support the movement of operating systems and applications running in other virtual machine environments to Virtual Server 2005.

Microsoft positions Virtual Server as a tool for operational efficiency in software testing and development, server consolidation scenarios and application re-hosting.

More information on the toolkit is available here.

About the Author

Scott Bekker is editor in chief of Redmond Channel Partner magazine.

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