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Windows Server 2008 R2

ChangeBASE Now Covers Microsoft Windows Desktop Virtualization Technologies

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ChangeBASE, which provides automated application compatibility testing and remediation solutions, has created a new application compatibility tool for companies considering moving to a session virtualization or virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) environment with Windows Server 2008 R2 Remote Desktop Services (RDS).

The AOK Tool helps to determine which applications will work optimally in a server-hosted desktop virtualization environment on Windows Server 2008 R2.

Using the AOK Tool together with the recently launched ChangeBASE reporting rules and plug-ins for RDS which have been developed together with Microsoft makes it easier to find out which applications will work out of the box and which ones may experience issues.

RDS is one of the core virtualisation technologies available in Windows Server 2008 R2.

In addition to the traditional session virtualisation scenario (formerly known as Terminal Services), RDS has expanded its role to provide an extensible platform for VDI.

RDS, which separates where the desktop or application is used from where it is run, accelerates desktop & application deployments and improves remote worker efficiency, while helping to keep critical intellectual property secure and to simplify regulatory compliance.

Windows Server 2008 R2 Coming Half July, Public Availability Of Hyper-V 2.0 Set For 22 October

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From Microsoft’s Windows Server Division Weblog:

“You may have seen some of the recent news articles that have started to roll out around the RTM and General availability dates of Windows 7.  As Windows Server 2008 R2 is a joint development effort with Windows 7 we are aligned with the same RTM and General Availability (GA) dates.

With that – Windows Server 2008 R2  RTM code is on track to be available to our partners sometime in the 2nd half of July. Windows Server 2008 R2 will also be broadly available about the same time as the Windows 7 GA date of Oct 22.

Download and start testing with the RC candidate at http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver“

Via Virtualization.info

Microsoft Hyper-V 2.0 To Support Live Migration

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According to Bink.nu, Windows Server 2008 R2 will include Hyper-V R2, aiming to deliver the final pieces for enterprise level OS virtualization (together with SCVMM2008) and to really compete with VMware at that level.

Stephen Bink writes:

“The most anticipated is of course Live Migration: moving running VM’s from one host to another without interruption of services running inside the VM’s

To accomplisch this technique a new shared filesytem is needed and so will also be introduced in Hyper-V 2.0: Clustered Shared Volumes.

The Live migration works best together with System Center Virtual Machine Manager 2008, it can provide additional Live Migration management and orchestration scenarios such as Live Migration via policy.”

Microsoft Announcements: Hyper-V Server To Compete With ESXi, Windows Server 2008 R2 Will Sport Live Migration Feature

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Microsoft is doing a big virtualization splash today with their much-hyped ‘Get Virtual Now’ event in Washington. The Hyper-V 1.0 hypervisor was officially released, but that wasn’t much of a surprise, unlike the launch of a new version (free of charge) dubbed Hyper-V Server 2008. It’s a standalone server virtualization tool that enables firms to consolidate Windows and Linux workloads onto a single physical server.

You guessed it: it’s direct competition to VMware ESXi, and it’s going to make waves. The new product will be supported by the upcoming System Center Virtual Machine Manager 2008, to be released within 30 days as well.

Another surprise: the next version of Hyper-V which will be included with Windows Server 2008 R2, will have a live migration feature, something Microsoft was often criticized for because it lacked it. According to Mary Jo Foley, the release is slated for 2010.

Microsoft