Virtual Server 2005 R2 Enterprise Edition goes Free

re: Virtual Server 2005 R2 Enterprise Edition goes Free

Josh Christian — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 15:48:00 GMT

John,

I am in complete agreement with LLee. PlateSpin and LeoStream have tools, but they are at a cost. VMWare's P2V is a free download (http://downloads.vmware.com/d/info/datacenter_downloads/vmware_vcenter_converter_standalone/4_0) as is Citrix Xen.

Why would anyone pay extra to a thrid party to switch to a virutal platform to leverage the ability to convert to a .vhd? That would require managing an additional vendor, complicating the support structure. I can install ESXi server or Xen Server, get convert for FREE, and have the same support staff help me troubleshoot issues all covered in one license. That means a lot when dealing with budget approvals, a busy IT staff, and considering the 12 other vendors we have to deal with on a daily basis.

Hyper-V has some beinifits from what I see, like the ability to leverage the windows platform for Driver compatability issues that cause a lot of issues today in Xen and ESXi. But to get companies to see a quick ROI, they need an ability to test new software (VHD program (done: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/bb738372.aspx), and a quick way to convert current mission critical machines to the platform. I don't think Platespin or LeoStream is a worthy comparison of products, nor do I see the business value of using, and paying for a thrid party license to migrate servers to a consolidated Microsoft Plaftorm.

Think of the business Value, how do you get a company to consolidate servers on the worlds most successful Server platform?

1) you provide a competitive virtualization platform for consolidaion , Hyper-V

2) you provide tools from the same provider to quickly convert current infasturcutre for quick ROI.

3) you provide tools to speed deployment of new Microsoft OS deployment and licnesing, generating further Revenue for Micorsoft, and increased ROI via server consolidation to customers.

That doesn't even hit on cometitive tools for Virtual Lab enviornments, desktops etc.

~Josh

virtual server 2005 editions

virtual server 2005 editions — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 09:06:26 GMT

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re: Virtual Server 2005 R2 Enterprise Edition goes Free

John Howard -MSFT — Wed, 05 Apr 2006 20:01:13 GMT

Thanks - I'm very glad to take on board any comments people provide - customer feedback and comments is the best way to make sure we're heading in the right direction. I'll make sure these comments get to the right people in the group, but FWIW, most of these are known about loud and clear (VMRC was a new one to me). There are several MSFT partners who have management tools for P2V (and V2P) such as PlateSpin and LeoStream if you weren't aware. We have a team dedicated to working on increased management capability and more info will be released publicly soon, I hope.
Cheers,
John.

re: Virtual Server 2005 R2 Enterprise Edition goes Free

LLee — Wed, 05 Apr 2006 19:34:29 GMT

John, the products I am comparing are VMWare GSX Server 2.1 and MS VS 2005 R2 (GSX latest non free version I am using which recently gone free/beta). This product is equivalent to MS VS 2005, in that the Host OS available is Windows 2003. I am not speaking of VMWare ESX, which can not be compared with any Virtualization product currently of MS.

As far as VMRC, quite a few people (even Fortune 500 companies in Houston) do not know of this and only rely on the web front end, and they complain (I personally like this). I have to show them VMRC and an unsupported client by one of the MVP which is richer in the interface - attempting to resemble VMWare UI.

For VS 2005 and beyond, performance is the KEY item for me and the clients I work for.

Secondly, having multiple snapshots will be a factor. VMWare Server will have this eventually - just like the VMWare Workstation. If you have not tried the multiple snapshot feature, you are missing ALOT. I am not talking about the complexity of child disk or differncing disk - much easier and elegant. As MS says, simplicity.

Lastly, we need tools around Virtual tools from MS. For example, you guys provide the Virtual Migration tool, and other loosely based tools around VS - that will not cut it. People even prefer to buy 3rd party rather than use something free from MS due to its complexity and loose couplings. Release some free tools around management and migration (P2V - even V2P) and I assure you that more people will switch over eventually.

Sorry for the long post, but now at least I know someone listens. I have been a user of virtual technology since VMWare 1.x, thus I know the goods / frustrations among the products.

re: Virtual Server 2005 R2 Enterprise Edition goes Free

John Howard -MSFT — Wed, 05 Apr 2006 18:58:55 GMT

LLee - thanks for the feedback. Will pass it on. I wasn't aware that some people weren't aware of the VMRC program for remote control... I see another blog entry coming on :) Quick question about the performance to complete the feedback though - do you mind me asking which version of VMWare? Server (architecturally similar to Virtual Server) or ESX (architecturally "more similar" (quotes deliberate) to Windows Virtualization in the future)?
Thanks,
John.

re: Virtual Server 2005 R2 Enterprise Edition goes Free

LLee — Wed, 05 Apr 2006 18:54:18 GMT

After VMWare went free on their VMWare Server, it was already known that it was just a matter of time until MS did the smart thing also. As a feedback to the VM/VS team, please improve the performance. Although the performance has improved in VS, it is nowhere near the performance of VMWare. On the other hand, the web based feature of VS beats the Windows form only base of VMware.

To the people who do not like VS web front end, there is the client in your prgrams directory for remote control (alot of people who complain do not know this).

Netweb » Blog Archive » Technet bloggers love Virtual Server 2005 R2

Netweb » Blog Archive » Technet bloggers love Virtual Server 2005 R2 — Tue, 04 Apr 2006 20:15:16 GMT

PingBack from https://netweb.wordpress.com/2006/04/05/technet-bloggers-love-virtual-server-2005-r2/

re: Virtual Server 2005 R2 Enterprise Edition goes Free

Philipp Kohn — Tue, 04 Apr 2006 09:23:11 GMT

Hi John,

yes this helps... I had the suspicion that MSFT would going to slowly take the product out of the market => let it slowly die...

So when the only change is that it´s free.. then I will use this product without concern ... => very cool

This brings virtualization more and more up even for smaller businesses..

BTW: Today (Tuesday, April 4, 2006, at 12:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time). is a very interesting webcast about W2k3 R2 and VS'05 R2 by WindowsITPro, I watch it for sure:

http://www.windowsitpro.com/go/seminars/microsoft/virtualization

Regards Philipp Kohn
Germany

It's official: Virtual Server 2005 R2 is now completely free -- and with Linux support.

Dugie's Pensieve — Tue, 04 Apr 2006 00:10:52 GMT

Yup that's right free for ever, and never expires.&nbsp; And it fully supported in production environments,...

Microsoft Virtual Server 2003 R2 Enterprise Edition - Free

Aaron Tiensivu's Blog — Mon, 03 Apr 2006 23:17:54 GMT

I still like VMWare better than Microsoft Virtual Server, mostly because I'm more familiar with VMWare, but it is nice to know that free enterprise (pun intended) still works in the US.

It is even better news for Windows 2003 R2 since you can run 4