Microsoft goes virtual with Hyper-V

2 July 2008

Microsoft has released Windows Server 2008 Hyper-V. The hypervisor-based virtualisation technology will be incorporated into select versions of Windows Server 2008. Nearly 1.5 million copies of the Hyper-V beta version have been distributed so far.

Hyper-V is designed as a reliable, scalable and high-performance virtualisation platform that plugs into customers’ existing IT infrastructures and enables them to consolidate some of the more demanding workloads.

It’s not just about cutting costs, but about looking where our money is being spent and finding ways to leverage our investments across the company

Tony Taylor, Director of IT services, Land O’Lakes  “Customers who buy Windows Server 2008 are not only getting the scalability benefits, the high performance and reliability, and all the great things that Windows Server is known for; as of now they can benefit from integrated virtualisation with Hyper-V,” said Bill Hilf, general manager of Windows Server Marketing and Platform Strategy at Microsoft.

Minnesota-based food producer, Land O’Lakes, participated in the early adopter programme for Hyper-V and were successful in converting their existing legacy server system. “Our Microsoft virtualisation solution is a key part of a business strategy we have at Land O’Lakes called Best Cost Initiative,” said Tony Taylor, the company’s director of IT services. “It’s not just about cutting costs, but about looking where our money is being spent and finding ways to leverage our investments across the company. Virtualisation holds a lot of promise in helping us maximise the value of our IT investments.”

New customers and partners can download Hyper-V at the dedicated site.