Things to know about the new Virtual Server

You should be concerned about the following four points: hardware support, snapshots, settings and prices.

Virtualization technology is becoming increasingly popular. According to IDC's research, the fees collected from virtual services can reach $ 15 billion in 2009. Business customers bring research into virtual technologies from labs that are widely deployed. a lot of. Microsoft quickly recognized this trend and researched and released a trial version of a virtual service product called Virtual Server 2005 R2. This first virtual server is bundled with R2, currently only in beta 2. It is expected that the official version will be available in early 2007.

What should we consider in Virtual Server? The following four areas are used to evaluate Microsoft's virtual service solution for your network infrastructure.

Hardware support

Beta 2 of Service Pack 1 has new support for virtual technology embedded in service-oriented microprocessors today. Intel Virtualization Technology is the chip base structure, supporting software on the host system to run multiple operating systems and applications in independent partitions. Effectively across an entire or multi-processor system and divide them between all virtual machines on the host. Using technology to support natural hardware in virtual services is significantly better than pure simulation or virtual machines for software only. (Completely similar to the previous Virtual 8086 model concept, in which you can parallel create DOS-based virtual machines).

AMD has a similar set of structures with its newer processors. Code-named Pacifica technology is also complete with the same results. Virtual Server has been improved from these technologies. It uses new structure collections to improve performance, reliability, and use of large source nuMBers of virtual machines running in parallel mode on each host. You can leave it open with the support of this structure and turn off the basic per-VM section using the administration interface.

Volume Shadow Services

Perhaps the most useful new component in Service Pack 1 is the support for Volume Shadow Services (VSS). VSS was introduced in the original Windows Server 2003, allowing the operating system to have 'snap shot' folders, files and disks, another form of backup. But with snapshots you don't need to turn off the service, run and backup the entire time as well as the dedicated processor.

While other server applications began removing VSS headers to provide separate backup capabilities, Virtual Server has not yet had this support. VSS in Virtual Server will allow all host virtual machines to be backed up simultaneously, recover after failing with a simple selection similar to a snapshot, restore and complete process.

Improve management ability and usability

Virtual Server in Service Pack 1 beta 2 is a little easier for users and administrators. The new Active Directory integration component allows Virtual Server to provide binding information in AD as a service connection point (SCP). This makes it easy to review Virtual Server services within a network.

Additionally, file base disks of virtual machines, known as virtual hard drives (or VHDs), can now be installed outside of the Virutal Server environment as regular disks. It allows files and folders to be copied back and forth between virtual disks. Therefore, deploying scripts, running malware scans and storing files on virtual machines is easier than previous versions.

Copyright price

For the purpose of competition, Microsoft recently lowered all versions of Virtual Server. In December 2005, the company reduced its $ 800 Enterprise price, from $ 999 to $ 199; Standard version from $ 499 to extremely comfortable price of $ 99.

Microsoft recently announced that virtual client software, Virtual PC will also be available for free on the company's website. This program is in response to VMware's free Workstation product. VMware also offers a basic Server product, although its main ESX Server component is a paid product. The bottom line is that virtual network services for Microsoft businesses have greatly reduced prices in the past 9 months.

Summary The first Service Pack of Virtual Server 2005 R2 has many new features with a hardware support component; really improved when integrated Active Directory department; more manageable with VMs and associated virtual drives. In general, improve the value of the product. This is a worthwhile service pack. There are things you should start testing now to see if the current Virtual Server is within your radar range. Or you just enjoy what virtual services can do for you.

T.Thu