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Microsoft Starts Beta of Virtual Machine Manager

Microsoft has begun beta testing its upcoming Systems Center Virtual Machine Manager on schedule, the company disclosed this week.

Word came out on the blog of a Microsoft technical writing lead in the Enterprise Management Division. However, the blog cautions that the beta code is only suitable to be run in "test/lab environments." A Windows Live ID or Microsoft Passport account is needed to access the downloads page.

The company announced in last May at its annual Windows Hardware Engineering Conference that it would begin shipping Beta 1 within 90 days.

Starting the beta on time may be an indicator that Virtual Machine Manager -- which is designed to provide centralized management of virtual machine infrastructure and rapid provisioning of new virtual machines -- is still on track to be released to manufacturing by the end of 2006.

Registered beta testers can download the beta here.

About the Author

Stuart J. Johnston has covered technology, especially Microsoft, since February 1988 for InfoWorld, Computerworld, Information Week, and PC World, as well as for Enterprise Developer, XML & Web Services, and .NET magazines.

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