Microsoft and Novell Introduce First Joint Virtualization Solution...

Microsoft and Novell have announced the availability of a joint virtualization solution optimized for customers running mixed-source environments. The offering provides customers with fully supported and optimized virtualization solution to span Windows and Linux environments.

The joint offering includes SUSE Linux Enterprise Server from Novell configured and tested as an optimized guest operating system running on Windows Server 2008 Hyper-V. Additionally, it’s fully supported by both companies’ channel partners, including Dell.

Dell is expected to test and validate this offering at the Microsoft and Novell joint Interoperability Lab in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The company will also provide updates on its Web site that reference the validation conducted on Dell PowerEdge server blades and rack-mounted systems.

“By supporting this new solution from Microsoft and Novell, we can provide our customers running mixed Linux and Windows environments with an optimized solution that is quick and simple to deploy,” said Rick Becker, vice president of software and solutions at Dell Product Group.

In 2006, Microsoft-Novell had announced a collaboration agreement and a joint business model. The virtualization solution is the first to include technology developed by both companies at the Interoperability Lab, including virtual machine adapters built to optimize SUSE Linux Enterprise Server.

The new offering delivers seamless integration of SUSE Linux Enterprise and Microsoft Windows. According to the companies, this provides a bridge between proprietary software and open source software.

“The collaboration between Microsoft and Novell has been built by our desire to meet our customers' and partners' IT needs, and to deliver solutions that support customers' mixed-source environments,” saidBob Kelly, corporate vice president of infrastructure server marketing within the Server and Tools Business at Microsoft.

He also said that for customers standardizing on Microsoft’s hypervisor who also have a mixed-source IT environment, this virtualization solution gives that choice.

“For channel partners who need a cross-platform hypervisor offering, our work with Novell gives them an easy starting point,” added Kelly.

Roger Levy, general manager and senior vice president of open platform solutions at Novell, said that his company has worked closely with Microsoft on virtualization solutions, and was a charter member of its Server Virtualization Validation Program, with SUSE Linux Enterprise Server a fully supported and validated operating system on Windows Server 2008 Hyper-V.

“Together, we offer our customers dramatic cost savings and greatly enhance overall business agility, allowing them to leverage SUSE Linux Enterprise Server as the best virtualized guest for those who are using Hyper-V,” stated Levy.

The joint solution is supported by Microsoft, Novell and participating channel partners, such as Computer Integrated Services Company of New York (CIS),Continental Resources, Dell, Insight, Total Tec Systems, and 21Vianet.