Microsoft has launched its virtualisation software - Virtual Server 2005 - which lets you run different versions of an operating system on one processor within a server.

This should allow better use of server resources and subsequent savings. The software is used to automate software testing and developing, hosting legacy applications and consolidating server functions. Virtual Server runs on Windows Server 2003.

Bob Muglia, senior vice president of the Windows Server Division at MS, said customers are "looking for ways to cut infrastructure costs and make better use of their IT and development teams. They want to streamline application testing and development, consolidate to fewer servers and move legacy applications to new hardware running on the Windows Server(TM) 2003 platform."

US prices for the Standard edition, supporting up to four processors, start at $499. The Enterprise edition, which supports up to 32 processors, starts at $999.

But Microsoft is up against VMWare which has shipped similar software since 2001.

More information on Microsoft's site and Computerworld spoke to some early adopters, and non-adopters. ®

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