XenSource -- which Citrix Systems is in the process of acquiring -- today announced a version of its open source Xen virtualization hypervisor that original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) can embed in their servers and other devices.

In what may be the first implementation of an embedded virtualization hypervisor, XenExpress OEM Edition lets server manufacturers include a full virtualization platform as an integrated component of every server. The OEM Edition is pre-installed in system flash or on the server’s hard disk and enables it to boot from multiple BIOS partitions at system power on, thus making it ready for the installation of multiple virtual machines.

XenExpress OEM Edition is compatible with Microsoft and VMware virtual machine formats, as well as with Microsoft Windows Server 2008. It also supports Intel’s Virtualization Technology (VT) and AMD’s Virtualization (AMD-V).

Further, XenExpress OEM Edition is compatible with the newly introduced XenEnterprise v4 and its XenMotion migration, XenCenter management and the company’s XenAPI. It also is expected to be compatible with XenEnterprise’s high-availability software and the integrated XenSource/Symantec storage management and backup packages.

While it is not known which server OEMs will embed XenExpress into their servers, a statement from Dell in the press release intimates that Dell may be the first to do so. XenSource also has agreements with Stratus and Marathon Technologies to integrate virtualization with their high-availability products.

XenExpress OEM Edition is available now.