According to Microsoft’s website, their very latest release of Virtual Server 2005 R2 is now available as a FREE download. There are already several blogs springing up like mushrooms around the place claiming that this virtual server is capable of supporting Linux Operating System. Well, this is nonetheless very true. Moreover, Microsoft has announced that it will provide technical product support model for those running Linux guest OS on Virtual Server 2005 R2.

“With Windows Server 2003 R2 Enterprise Edition, customers can run up to four virtual operating systems on one physical server at no additional cost. Today’s announcement enables customers to easily and cost-effectively run Windows Server 2003 R2 Enterprise Edition with Virtual Server 2005 R2 for server consolidation, application re-hosting, disaster recovery, and software test and development.” claimed by the Microsoft site.

Customers and users can Download or Order the Virtual Server 2005 R2 Enterprise Edition for Free.

System Requirements:
For x86 systems:
Support OS:

• Windows Server 2003
• Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 1
• Windows XP Professional Edition
• Windows XP Service Pack 2

System Requirements:

• - Computer with a 550 MHz or faster processor; 1.0 GHz or faster recommended
• - Requires an Intel Celeron, Pentium III, Pentium 4, or Xeon processor; or AMD Opteron, Athlon, Athlon 64, Athlon X2, Sempron, or Duron processor
• - All physical processors supported by the host operating system
• - Windows Server 2003 Standard Edition, Enterprise Edition, or Datacenter Edition or later
• - Windows Small Business Server 2003 Standard Edition or Premium Edition
• - Windows XP Professional (for non-production use only)
• - 256 MB of RAM minimum (additional memory needed for each guest operating system)
• - 2 GB of available hard-disk space (additional disk space needed for each guest operating system)
• - Super VGA (800 × 600) or higher-resolution monitor recommended

For 64-bit systems:
Support OS:

• Windows Server 2003, Datacenter x64 Edition
• Windows Server 2003, Enterprise x64 Edition
• Windows Server 2003, Standard x64 Edition
• Windows XP 64-Bit

System Requirements:

• - Computer with a 550 MHz or faster processor; 1.0 GHz or faster recommended
• - Requires an Intel Celeron, Pentium III, Pentium 4, Xeon; or AMD Opteron, Athlon, Athlon 64, Athlon X2, Sempron or Duron processor
• - All physical processors supported by the host operating system
• - Windows Server 2003 Standard x64 Edition, Enterprise x64 Edition, or Datacenter x64 Edition; or later
• - Windows XP Professional x64 Edition (for non-production use only)
• - 256 MB of RAM minimum (additional memory needed for each guest operating system)
• - 2 GB of available hard-disk space (additional disk space needed for each guest operating system)
• - Super VGA (800 × 600) or higher-resolution monitor recommended

Note that this is not a beta software, and it is provided by Microsoft as a free download.

This entry was posted on Monday, April 3rd, 2006 at 5:47 pm and is filed under Business Software, Development Software, Linux, Site News, Windows . You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.