Virtual Server 2005 R2 SP1 and Windows Server Virtualization (WSV) will be delayed

The Windows Server Division WebLog reported that the public beta of Windows Server Virtualization (a.k.a. “Viridian”) will be available only in the second half of 2007, not in the first half, as previously planned. I have expected Virtual Server 2005 R2 SP1 to be released these days, but it will probably be shipped in Q2 only. I think that both virtualization products are very interesting, so I am a little disappointed to have to wait a little longer to get my hands on them.

Virtual Server 2005 R2 SP1, mostly because of its VSS support, and Windows Server Virtualization certainly will change the virtualization landscape drastically. You probably know that WSV will become highly integrated with Windows Server Longhorn. I’ve been reading quite a few articles about it, but since I wasn’t able to test it myself it is hard to say what it will mean for Windows administrators. One thing is for sure, though, it will change a lot. Check out page 9 in this PowerPoint presentation if you want to get an idea how important virtualization will be in Longhorn Server.

By the way, it seems that the release date of Longhorn is approaching rapidly now. I’ve been asked to take part in a Microsoft workshop for journalists about Longhorn in Rome at the beginning of May. If Microsoft starts promoting a product this way, it usually means that the ship date is not too far away. It is probably only a matter of days until the Beta 3 will become available. So, I think, it’s time to get occupied with the next era in Windows administration.