We are expecting the final release of Microsoft Virtual Machine Manager 2008 “any day now.” While supporting Hyper-V (obviously), VMM 2008 also integrates with VMware VirtualCenter, so you’ll be able to use VMM 2008 to manage VMware VM’s as well as Hyper-V VM’s. Microsoft’s Virtual Server architecture is also supported. Clearly, Microsoft is shooting for a one-stop-shop for VM management and administration.
VMM 2008 also purports to allow PowerShell scripting for all three supported environments. PRO (Performance and Resource Optimization) works together with System Center Operations Manager to monitor VM failures or performance problems and take corrective action based on rules created by administrators – again, in all three supported environments.
The other big news is improved awareness of Hyper-V and ESX clusters. When virtual hosts are added or removed to or from a cluster, VMM automatically detects the change. There are a number of other improvements, including formal support of Server 2008 and Vista as guest OS’s, and conversion of VMware VMDK’s to Microsoft VHD’s. You’ll need an x64 server, .NET Framework, SQL Server, and IIS 7.
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