The virtualization market just got more competition. SEATTLE, Feb 27 (Reuters) - Microsoft Corp
released the latest version of its Windows operating system for
powerful servers on Wednesday, thrusting itself into the
red-hot market for virtualization technology that allows one
computer to act like many machines.
Windows Server 2008 marks Microsoft's first major challenge
against VMware Inc, the leader in virtualization, by
building the technology into its core operating system.
For the time being, Microsoft will ship Windows Server 2008
with a test version of its "Hyper-V" technology, which adds an
extra layer of software that sits between the operating system
and hardware, but it expects to add the full feature to the
software within six months.
Windows accounts for about two-thirds of shipments of
computer-server operating systems, but Microsoft is considered
a laggard in virtualization to allow servers to run Linux or
Unix operating systems alongside its own software.
Virtualization is one of the fastest-growing segments of
the software industry because it disrupts the traditional
business model that marries one machine to one piece of
software like an operating system.
Before the Windows Server launch, VMware announced on
Tuesday an agreement to integrate its virtualization software
into computer servers from Dell Inc, Hewlett-Packard
Co and International Business Machines Corp.
Along with Windows Server 2008, Microsoft will also take
the wraps off the upgrade to its SQL Server database software,
due out in the third quarter, after delays pushed back its
launch. The company will also highlight the latest version of
its developer software, Visual Studio 2008.
The upgrades are part of a new product cycle at Microsoft's
server and tools division, which is the company's third-largest
business, behind its mainstay Windows and Office units. The
division accounted for more than 20 percent of overall profit
and revenue.
Windows Server 2008, the successor to Windows Server 2003,
will also lead a broad shift to a more advanced 64-bit computer
architecture. Microsoft will offer the new operating system in
both 32-bit and 64-bit versions.
A 64-bit operating system improves the performance of
certain applications because it can address significantly more
memory than a 32-bit version.
(Reporting by Daisuke Wakabayashi; Editing by Lisa Von Ahn)
© Reuters 2008 All rights reserved
(Sponsor)
(Sponsor)
(Sponsor)
