Hyper-V review: good stuff even without great management

InfoWorld today published a product test of Hyper-V Release Candidate 1 and declared it fit for use. Unfortunately, the

reviewer also found that it was lacking in management features when compared to the likes VMware's VMotion, which allows virtual machines to be moved without taking them down. (Microsoft is working on a VMotion feature, but had to scrap it in order to ship Hyper-V within the promised time frame of six-months after Windows Server 2008 shipped.) Another downside is that Hyper-V is sadly lacking much support for Linux, with the exception of super special partner Novell's Suse Linux Enterprise Server 10.

But there was good news in the review too, such as applause for improvements to the management interface, Microsoft System Center Virtual Machine Manager 2008. The reviewer liked its improved library for storing images, for instance. Overall, the reviewer thought the product was now good enough for most uses and a viable challenger to VMware. The story says:

Rounding out the strategy is Microsoft's decision to allow mixed Hyper-V/VMware shops to manage VI3 assets directly from within the MSCVMM management environment. Through integration with VirtualCenter, MSCVMM administrators can manage VMware VMs using native, VirtualCenter services, including VMotion. Microsoft has a track record of successfully integrating competing technologies (and tricking their competitors into integrating Microsoft's) in order to co-opt and, ultimately, replace them.

Also see: Clear Choice Test: Windows Server 2008: Faster, more manageable and secure, but still missing the virtual link

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