Breaking news: VMware to give virtualization server for free
Friday, February 03, 2006
| 10 Comments
|
An email circulating in these hours reports GSX Server is going to change name in VMware Server, distributed for free from 6th February.
The new product should appear on this page (now forbidden) for description and on this page (now redirected to VMware home page) for download.
CNET News seems to confirm this news:
VMware, an EMC subsidiary whose software lets multiple operating systems run on the same computer, is expected to announce next week that it will begin giving away one of its key products for free. ... The company sells three core products, VMware Workstation, GSX Server and ESX Server, but competition is on the horizon in a market VMware once had to itself. On Monday, however, the company is expected to announce it will give away GSX for free, sources familiar with the plan said.Read the whole article at source. The Register is reporting a slightly different version of the story:
... The free product will be called VMware Server and will join the Workstation, GSX Server and ESX Server products. VMware Server relates most closely to the midrange GSX Server product often used by VMware customers to test and and develop software packages. The high-end ESX Server is used for production applications and actually slots in below operating systems such as Windows and Linux, whereas GSX Server and the upcoming VMware Server run on top of the OS. When plugging VMware Server, which arrives in beta only for the moment, company representatives insisted that we think of the free option as a way to promote virtualization technology. ... The VMware Server, for example, has a feature not even present in GSX Server. It supports Intel's VT technology for improving virtualization performance. In addition, it supports 64-bit guest operating systems - including Solaris x86 - and has support for virtual SMPs. So, it's not just some crippled, low-end product. ... Next week, a beta version of VMware Server will be available here. The product is expected to be fully baked in the first half of this year, and VMware expects to sell plenty of support contracts behind it. Over time, it will effectively replace GSX Server...Read the whole article at source. If this is true, and I'm pretty confident it is, VMware will give a huge hit to Microsoft Virtual Server 2005 R2, now sold at $99, to Xen and to the upcoming Windows Hypervisor. Thanks to vmdude for pointing me out the CNET News article.
10 Comments
gstickwood
Friday, February 03, 2006 4:03:00 AM
If this is true it will put a huge dent in Workstation sales.
What the impact on Xen? GSX is free, Xen is free but which is more mature? And has more mgmt and support?
alessandro
Friday, February 03, 2006 5:05:00 AM
Hi there and thank you for commenting!
Actually we have too few informations to have a final opinion.
Anyway GSX Server is probably more mature than Xen, has more management tools, and supports Windows guestOS. Xen is surely more performant.
So we'll see...
Actually we have too few informations to have a final opinion.
Anyway GSX Server is probably more mature than Xen, has more management tools, and supports Windows guestOS. Xen is surely more performant.
So we'll see...
According to our sale rep GSX server will be free within a special support contract (which won't be free).
alessandro
Friday, February 03, 2006 11:02:00 AM
I think the support will be a paid option as usual in these cases.
I suggest to wait for Monday.
I suggest to wait for Monday.
Rodney Buike
Friday, February 03, 2006 2:34:00 PM
Having used VMware WS, GSX and to some extent ESX, along with Virtual Server R2, and Xen I think this is great. Competition is always a good thing! In my opinion, ESX takes the cake if you can afford it, but for those with limited budgets, the choices are very interesting now.
I use Virtual Server R2, mostly because I was a beta tester and got a free copy, but also for the web-based management and VMRC. I can see this making a small dent in Virtual Server R2 sales as some people will just use GSX because it is free and very comparable.
I use Virtual Server R2, mostly because I was a beta tester and got a free copy, but also for the web-based management and VMRC. I can see this making a small dent in Virtual Server R2 sales as some people will just use GSX because it is free and very comparable.
Our sales rep also implied confirmation of the release. I asked her how this would impact our use of Virtual Center using GSX VIN and how our support contract for our existing GSX servers would work. She stated that she couldn't say anything about it until the official announcement next week. I think it's a great thing. VMWare's trying to make themselves the standard, sort of like Adobe did by releasing some of their tools for free.
To the comment on "...it will put a huge dent in Workstation sales" - First, NONE of the other products have the capability to do multiple snapshots, so the VM Workstation is still prime product here. All the other products are single snapshots. Secondly, GSX/Server becoming free will definitely be the winner (already is but solidifies) - performance wise, it is better than VS R2. Now I can go to all my clients for additional services and fre product - excellent.
This post has been removed by a blog administrator.
http://www.vmware.com/news/releases/server_beta.html
Add New Comment
© 2003-2008 virtualization.info
Sitemap
Sitemap