Opening Up to Interoperability
When Microsoft purchased Connectix, the technology behind Virtual Server, Microsoft
stopped supporting Connectix's ability to host Linux implementations. However,
Microsoft has reversed that decision and now addresses the needs of the 20 percent
of our survey's respondents who use VMs to run multiple platforms on one server.
In fact, Microsoft is now eagerly touting its friendliness towards interoperability.
Jim said, "With R2, virtual machines on Virtual Server can now be Linux. We've
improved the user experience, so mouse and keyboard integration is improved,
and we have professional customer support for Linux users. If someone is running
a Linux workload on Virtual Server on R2 EE and asks Microsoft for help, we
take that call and diagnose to the extent that we can. Then we'll hand off to
a third party, Wipro, which is a worldwide support organization that helps us
with their Linux expertise. So we have 24 X 7 Linux support."
Rik noted, "If you look at our overall strategy, whether at the platform layer
or moving on to the management layer with System Center Operations Manager [formerly
Microsoft Operations Manager] and System Center Configuration Manager [SCCM—formerly
Systems Management Server], those support managing Linux workloads. Operations
Manager's plug-in architecture lets third parties build management packs to
support Linux. SCCM, leveraging its relationship with Quest Software's Vintella,
can patch Linux. So Virtual Server is not just Windows, but looks at the x86
and x64 infrastructures holistically."
In addition to these System Center products, Microsoft has announced System Center Virtual Machine Manager (SCVMM), a centralized enterprise-management solution for the virtualized data center. Microsoft anticipates SCVMM's release to manufacturing in the second half of 2007.
Many IT organizations are using VMs for coexistence of legacy platforms and applications. Rik said, "A guy who has an application that an ISV is no longer supporting on some NT box and doesn't want to support it on an old 386 anymore is going to move that image to a VM and run it on a better box with more headroom. He can upgrade his systems."
Microsoft's recent acquisition of Softricity's application virtualization solution underscores the importance of virtualization for coexistence. For example, as IT begins to migrate users to Vista and Office 2007, Microsoft says application virtualization could ease the transition.
Virtual Server and Licensing
If, like 44 percent of readers, you don't yet use Virtual Server, you'll want
to understand how licensing works before you proceed. Unlike with other Windows
2003 R2 SKUs, Virtual Server is free with R2 EE and you'll need an OS license
only for every four virtual instances per physical machine you want to run.
Rik explained, "A virtual instance is an execution of the OS in a virtual scenario.
When you buy an R2 EE license, it gives you use rights to run four virtual instances
per physical installation. You're not getting four Virtual Server licenses for
one R2 EE license. You're getting one R2 EE license that says: 'On this OS license,
on this box, you can run four virtual instances of the OS.' An R2 EE license
is assigned to a box."
Jim elaborated, "In the past, we never had any allocation for virtual instances. Previously, I bought one box with one OS license. If I then virtualized and put instances on top of this license, I had to buy more OS licenses. Today, I buy one OS license, which gives me use rights to run four instances and I don't have to buy more licenses. However, if I want up to eight instances, I need to buy another R2 EE license, which gives me four more use rights. The OS license lives and dies with the hardware, but we're allowing you to use virtual instances on the same hardware."
At what point does a virtual instance count against your limit of four? Rik replied, "In the previous model, when you installed the virtual instance, the license counted. Now, the license doesn't count till that instance is up and running. So, for example, you could have a SAN on your network with 1000 VHDs on it. In the past, you would have needed 1000 licenses for them sitting dormant. Now it's only when you bring them up and running that you have to license them."
Jim added, "If you pull four up, you're covered with your one R2 EE license.
Pull five up, and you need another license."
End of Article
