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VMware Releases Free Server Software

By Nate Mook, BetaNews

July 12, 2006, 3:31 PM

VMware on Wednesday released the final version of its VMware Server virtualization product, the successor to GSX Server. Just like the beta release that debuted in February, VMware is making the software available free of charge, much like Microsoft has done with Virtual Server 2005 R2.

The company hopes that by giving away its entry-level product, it will drive users to upgrade to its for-pay ESX Server, as well as position the company as the leader in virtualization technology. While VMware Server will require a "host" operating system in order to use its features, ESX requires no host.

VMware Server enables customers to provision a single physical server into multiple virtual machines. With computing power continuing to far surpass operating system requirements, virtualization is becoming a key way for businesses to get more bang for the buck.

"VMware Server offers unparalleled operating system support, ease of use, manageability with VMware VirtualCenter and support from the industry's most experienced support organization for virtualization," said Brian Byun, vice president of products and alliances at VMware.

VMware Server runs on any x86 based computer, and supports 64-bit guest operating systems including Linux, Windows, NetWare and Solaris. 2-way SMP is supported experimentally, enabling a virtual machine to utilize two physical CPUs.

Other features include capturing the state of a virtual machine and instantly rolling it back, along with support for Microsoft's virtual machine format and Symantec LiveState Recovery images.

The new software can be downloaded from VMware's Web site at no cost. Support for VMware server runs $350 USD for a one-year subscription per two processors for Gold level, and $450 USD for Platinum level. Businesses can also purchase VMware VirtualCenter for $600 USD per two processors.

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By Osm3um

edited Jul 14, 2006 - 3:04 AM

Having used GSX and Virtual server I can say 100% that the VMware product is significantly better...can not compare the two in my opinion.

Not to mention ESX, which I have not used in production.

I would suggest, however, it is one more example of Microsoft using their power to try to destroy smaller companies by "product dumping" which, from what I understand is illegal. Note that I make a living working in IT so for me to complain about MS.....
Bob

Score: 0

By The-One

edited Jul 12, 2006 - 11:07 PM

Oh, how nice it is to see a good fight..

However, just like Word Perfect, Novell, and Netscape, this fight is already lost. VMWare will stay on because of Linux support, but it will be a niche player in 2 years tops.

MS could add free licensing for VMs using windows in windows (i.e. since I own a copy of windows, they culd use that license for the virtual copy), that would utterly kill vmware, since they couldn't do that (without some huge costs), how nice it is to be a monopoly :).

Sorry, but this has been played before.

Score: 0

By PC_Tool

posted Jul 13, 2006 - 12:27 PM

Perhaps for home use I would agree with you.

But in the enterprise market, MS Server is still a joke compared to VMWare's ESX Server.

Using that for a month and then going to MS Virtual Server would be painful to say the least. Administration, features, you name it, VMware does it better.

Score: 0

By The-One

edited Jul 13, 2006 - 10:04 PM

Your probably correct, but its corporate America and MS marketing dollars that drives sucky products to the market.

Ever heard of MS Exchange? How the heck that got popular is beyond me, what a hunk of junk, even today.

SQL Server? MS Server? MS Office? I could go on and on, but you get the unfortunate point :(

Score: 0

By fewt

posted Jul 12, 2006 - 6:06 PM

Today *IS* a good day to virtualize.

heh

Score: 0

By inthewayboy

posted Jul 12, 2006 - 5:46 PM

Have any of you doomsayers actually used VPC? It's utter crap compared to any version that VMWare puts out. The interface is horrible, the features are small, and the performance is bad...don't forget, you have to run IIS to use it properly, so now you also have more load and more security to worry about. And given they don't have linux support as a host os VMWare will never go away, even if M$ manages to pull ahead in overall market share. The company that is behind VMWare is no small fries either...EMC. They own all kinds of other companies that offer high-end solutions.

Score: 0

By TomasF

posted Jul 12, 2006 - 5:32 PM

While the timing of the change in licensing from VMWare might be triggered by the pricing changes by MS, the reason they're doing it at all is quite simple: Server Virtualization on top of a heavy OS like Windows is an uninteresting niche.

The real gem in VMWares server virtualization strategy is ESX, now part of VMWare Infrastructure. lately GSX has been little more than an entry point for companies interesting in exploring an unfamiliar concept.

There's really no comparing MS Virtual Server to ESX, in performance, features or flexibility. This is reflected in that if anything, the cost of ESX has gone slightly up with the last release. And the target market wil gladly pay the cost.

We used to be an all Windows site. Now we're an all Windows site - inside ESX.

As for Workstation, however insignificant it may be to the VMWare bottomline, anyone who has tried both it and VPC and bothered to try the cloning, teaming and most of all snapshot tools, will tell you there's really no competition. Yeah, with the Vista installer a native SVGA mode would be nice, but that's just a minor issue (And probably a tradeoff thanks to the incredibly useful unified VM format that allows you to move a VM between Workstation, Server, and ESX boxes seamlessly.

Score: 0

By atab0y

posted Jul 14, 2006 - 2:34 AM

been running both for many years. each has benefits the other doesn't. vpc started with apple\macs from a company called connectix out of san mateo then ported over to pc. the beauty of "esx server" is that it loads into a hypervisor not a full operating system. the hypervisor is a small linux kernal, so it is an os. microsoft's virtual server runs in windows server os with iis as someone else mentioned. running esx on a s.a.n. is best. you guys should check out "parallels workstation" at http://www.parallels.com/en/products/workstation/. it also has a lightweight hypervisor but for laptop\desktop use not server as the host.

Score: 0

By fewt

posted Jul 12, 2006 - 6:08 PM

VMWare server on Linux kicks a**. I could post a how-to to have a server running Linux / VMWare (up and available in about an hour) all running inside a ~32MB footprint (before you add guests).

It's pretty easy.

Score: 0

By inthewayboy

posted Jul 13, 2006 - 1:01 PM

Please do, I have been wanting to do that forever...I know that's what ESX is, but I can't help but try to do it for free with a linux distro and the free server. Only problem is I don't know linux enough to know what I can leave off or what VMWare needs. Let me know if you can...please!!!

Score: 0

By fewt

posted Jul 13, 2006 - 6:11 PM

How should I get it to you?

Score: 0

By quux

edited Jul 13, 2006 - 8:38 PM

Please do post this; it's desperately needed in the whole VMware community.

Right here would do fine. Or send me a quick HOWTO-ish guide (bryan@adminfoo.net) and I'll put it up on http://adminfoo.net

Score: 0

By inthewayboy

posted Jul 13, 2006 - 9:18 PM

Yeah, I can recieve it at my email, and can host it as well if need be. Could even host any files needed with it depending on bandwidth. Or you can get me at clark.kent.is.real@gmail.com. Just made that real quick, can't risk the spam ;)

And quux, adminfoo.net is very nice! Content is king!

Score: 0

By fewt

posted Jul 14, 2006 - 5:23 AM

Y'all should have it. I wrote this about 6 weeks ago, so it should still be valid.

Score: 0

By roelof.osinga

posted Jul 15, 2006 - 3:00 PM

Especially if that HOWTO could be applied to a FreeBSD box, or, preferably, an OpenBSD one, I too wouldn't mind receiving a copy in roelof.osinga@gmail.com.

TIA,

Roelof

Score: 0

By smarterthanyou

posted Jul 13, 2006 - 2:09 AM

VMWare would be even better under Linux if it fully supported Microsoft's DirectX 9. The main reason I'm not running Linux besides lack of hardware support is because I have a lot of games that require Windows.

Score: 0

By fewt

posted Jul 13, 2006 - 5:21 AM

I'm strictly talking VMWare server here.

Score: 0

By Spyderloco

posted Jul 12, 2006 - 4:48 PM

Unless they release VMWare workstation for free they are screwed.

Score: 0

By fewt

posted Jul 12, 2006 - 6:09 PM

VMWare workstation is worth it's weight in GOLD, I'd gladly pay for a copy *just like I always have*.

Score: 0

By Don Juan

edited Jul 13, 2006 - 4:15 PM

I had a trial VMware workstation serial that was only supposed to be good for a month. Well I launched it up today, and now it says my license is good forever. So I dunno what exactly the deal is.

Edit: Never mind. Tried to launch up a vm and it says my license has expired. Very disappointing that VMware workstation isn't free also.

Edit again: VMware server has an almost identical interface compared to VMware workstation, just with tons more capabilities. So I'm happy I guess.

Score: 0

By fewt

edited Jul 13, 2006 - 7:10 PM

VMWare server has many of the features, however it doesn't support multiple snapshots, cloning, and a few other things that I find very handy. If you don't need those sorts of features then VMWare server is fine.

Server is GREAT for 2 2 cpu "server" box that can run a bunch of low CPU server images.

Score: 0

By Don Juan

edited Jul 12, 2006 - 4:34 PM

This is nice to see considering VMware has far better support for other operating systems than VPC. Virtual PC only really works well with windows ever since M$ bought it.

Score: 0

By mjm01010101

edited Jul 12, 2006 - 4:18 PM

Poor vmware. Reminds me of netscape when MS set their sight on a market.

Score: 0

By jshurst

posted Jul 12, 2006 - 4:42 PM

You're right, VMWare is doomed.

Unless the EU helps them out ;-)

Score: 0

By elopez17

posted Jul 12, 2006 - 4:09 PM

To late Windows VPC is now free

Score: 0

By fewt

posted Jul 12, 2006 - 6:11 PM

Unless VPC has had major architecture changes allowing it to use physical disks, support cloaning, and other must have features like supporting Linux I'll pass.

(I never installed my more recent MSDN VPC, so they could have some of these features by now)

Score: 0

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