Virtual machine technology implemented by Virtual Server enables enterprises to run multiple operating systems simultaneously on a single physical server (see illustration below).

There are three primary deployment scenarios for Virtual Server:

• Software development and test automation. The quick creation of new configurations for testing, training, and demonstrations improves developer productivity and test coverage.
  
  
• Application migration. Migrating applications running on obsolete hardware and operating systems onto virtual machines running Windows Server 2003 operating systems on more resilient hardware enables improved application compatibility, manageability, and resource utilization.
  
  
• Departmental and branch office server consolidation. Consolidating servers running line-of-business applications increases application compatibility and manageability, and it also increases resource utilization. Virtual Server allows applications to coexist on the same hardware, thus increasing hardware utilization and manageability while reducing capital costs.

For the complete article, click here. To get in contact with a technical consultant to learn about how to deploy this in your company environement, please contact crisales@4cri.com or call 866-358-4274.

CRi would like to address the multiple inquiries received regarding the recent release of Windows Server 2008 and the appropriate time to adopt this new technology.

As with all new/major releases, CRi does not recommend usage until they have been proven.

• CRi recommends waiting until the first service pack has been released.
  
  
• In the case of Windows Server 2008, it is already shipping with SP1. CRi does not consider this as meeting the SP requirement (the SP must be released after the product has been released); once an SP has been released and after Windows Server 2008 has been out for a while, then CRi would consider recommending it.

For additional information on this product or for an assessment of you network, please contact crisales@4cri.com.