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Novell, Microsoft Partner on Server Virtualization, Server 2008 on SuSE

• By Chris Riedel
• June 16, 2008

Novell's participation will allow customers to run Windows Server 2008 as a virtualized guest on top of Xen hypervisor in SuSE Linux Enterprise 10, with the ability to receive cooperative support from either company.

The Microsoft program, formally announced June 11, requires third-party virtualization solutions to pass a series of predefined technical tests before being validated by the company. Novell said it expects to complete the requirements by August 2008.

"We continue to hear from customers that they want to run Windows Server 2008 as a virtualized guest on top of SuSE Linux Enterprise," said Carlos Montero-Luque, vice president of product management for Linux and Open Platform Solutions at Novell, in a prepared statement. "Novell is excited to extend the ongoing technical collaboration efforts between Novell and Microsoft to the Server Virtualization Validation Program, which will give customers the performance, security and reliability that comes with running Windows Server 2008 as a virtual guest on SuSE Linux Enterprise."

As an early participant in the program, Novell helped Microsoft fine-tune many of the parameters of the Server Virtualization Validation Program, including helping the company define the required technical tests for participation.

Currently, SuSE Linux Enterprise is the only Xen hypervisor on which Microsoft will provide full support for Windows Server 2008 and Windows Server 2003 running as a virtual guest.