VMware Server

Overview:

VMware Server provides a superior introductory experience to virtualization with a stable, easy-touse hosted virtualization platform that supports a broad range of operating systems and hardware. This next-generation version introduces a new intuitive Web-based management interface to provide a consistent management experience for Windows® and Linux users. VMware Server allows quick provisioning of virtual machines by supporting over 30 flavors of guest operating systems, including Windows Server® 2008, Windows Vista and various Linux distributions. Using proven and stable technology, VMware Server leverages the built-in virtualization capabilities in the latest generation server hardware to deliver higher performance.

Benefits

• Provision additional servers in minutes without investing in new hardware.
• Run Windows, Linux, Solaris® and Netware® operating systems and applications on the same physical server.
• Increase the CPU utilization of a physical server.
• Move virtual machines from one physical server to another without re-configuration.
• Capture the entire state of a virtual machine and roll back to that configuration with the click of a button.
• Choose to access enterprise-class product support.
• Easily move virtual machines to VMware vSphere™ 4.

Start Achieving the Benefits of Virtualization

The free VMware Server is based upon VMware’s proven virtualization technology. With this robust yet easy to use software you can:

• Accelerate server provisioning by building a virtual machine once and deploying it multiple times
• Easily evaluate software in ready-to-run virtual machines without installation and configuration
• Simplify IT testing of patches, new applications and operating systems by allowing systems administrators to test in a secure virtual machine environment and be able to roll back to a clean state by using the snapshot feature
• Re-host legacy operating systems such as Windows 2000, Windows NT Server 4.0 and Windows 2003 in a virtual machine running on new hardware and operating system
• Leverage pre-built, ready-to-run virtual appliances that include virtual hardware, operating system and application environments from the Virtual Appliance Marketplace

How Does VMware Server Work?

Install and run VMware Server as an application on top of a host Windows or Linux operating system. A thin virtualization layer partitions the physical server so you can run multiple virtual machines simultaneously on a single server.  Computing resources of the physical server are treated as a uniform pool of resources that can be allocated to virtual machines in a controlled manner. 

VMware Server isolates each virtual machine from its host and other virtual machines, leaving it unaffected if another virtual machine crashes. Your data does not leak across virtual machines and your applications can only communicate over configured network connections. VMware Server encapsulates a virtual machine environment as a set of files, which are easy to back-up, move and copy.

Try VMware Server as the First Step to VMware vSphere

Start with VMware Server now, knowing that your virtual machines can easily be migrated to VMware vSphere later. VMware vSphere is the industry’s first cloud operating system, transforming IT infrastructures into a private cloud—a collection of internal clouds federated on-demand to external clouds—delivering IT infrastructure as an easily accessible service. Enable the next generation of flexible, reliable IT services with the efficiency and low cost of cloud computing—featuring uncompromising control over service levels.

Using VMware Server:

A virtual machine is a tightly isolated software container that can run its own operating systems and applications as if it were a physical computer. A virtual machine behaves exactly like a physical computer and contains its own virtual (i.e., softwarebased) CPU, RAM hard disk and network interface card (NIC).

How Can I Use VMware Server?

With VMware Server you can:

• Accelerate server provisioning by building a virtual machine once and deploying it multiple times.
• Easily evaluate software in ready-to-run virtual machines, without installation and configuration.
• Simplify IT testing of patches, new applications and operating systems by allowing systems administrators to test in a secure virtual machine environment and be able to roll back to a clean state by using the snapshot feature.
• Re-host legacy operating systems such as Windows NT Server 4.0 and Windows 2000 Server in a virtual machine running on new hardware and operating system.
• Leverage pre-built, ready-to-run virtual appliances that include virtual hardware, operating system and application environments from the Virtual Appliance Marketplace.

How Does VMware Server Work?

VMware Server installs and runs as an application on top of a host Windows or Linux operating system. A thin virtualization layer partitions the physical server so that multiple virtual machines can be run simultaneously on a single server. Computing resources of the physical server are treated as a uniform pool of resources that can be allocated to virtual machines in a controlled manner. VMware Server isolates each virtual machine from its host and other virtual machines, leaving it unaffected if another virtual machine crashes. Data does not leak across virtual machines and applications can only communicate over configured network connections. VMware Server encapsulates a virtual machine environment as a set of files, which are easy to back-up, move and copy.

Features:

Get ready for a superior introductory experience to virtualization with this stable, easy-to-use hosted virtualization platform that supports a broad range of operating systems and hardware.

Key Features

• Installs like an application, with simple, wizard-driven installation and virtual machine creation process
• Includes a web based management interface with a simple, flexible, secure, intuitive and productive management experience
• Runs on any standard x86 hardware, including Intel and AMD hardware virtualization assisted systems
• Runs on a wider variety of Linux and Windows host and guest operating systems than any server virtualization product on the market
• Supports two-processor Virtual SMP, enabling a single virtual machine to span multiple physical processors
• Captures entire state of a virtual machine and rolls back at any time with the click of a single button
• Protects investment with an easy virtual machine migration path to VMware Infrastructure

New Features in VMware Server 2

• New operating system support: The broadest operating system support of any host-based virtualization platform currently available, including support for Windows Server 2008, Windows Vista Business Edition and Ultimate Edition (guest only), Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5 and Ubuntu 8.04.
• 64-bit operating system support: Use 64-bit guest operating systems on 64-bit hardware to enable more scalable and higher performing computing solutions.  In addition, Server 2 will run natively on 64-bit Linux host operating systems. 
• VMware Infrastructure (VI) Web Access management interface: VI Web Access management interface provides a simple, flexible, secure, intuitive and productive management experience.  Plus, access thousands of pre-built, pre-configured, ready-to-run enterprise applications packaged with an operating system inside a virtual machine at the Virtual Appliance Marketplace.
• Independent virtual machine console: With the new VMware Remote Console, you can access your virtual machine consoles independent of the VI Web Access management interface.
• More scalable virtual machines: Support for up to 8 GB of RAM and up to10 virtual network interface cards per virtual machine, transfer data at faster data rates from USB 2.0 devices plus add new SCSI hard disks and controllers to a running virtual machine.
• Volume Shadow Copy Service (VSS):  Properly backup the state of the Windows virtual machines when using the snapshot feature to maintain data integrity of the applications running inside the virtual machine.
• Support for Virtual Machine Interface (VMI): This feature enables transparent paravirtualization, in which a single binary version of the operating system can run either on native hardware or in paravirtualized mode to improve performance in specific Linux environments.
• Virtual Machine Communication Interface (VMCI): Support for fast and efficient communication between a virtual machine and the host operating system and between two or more virtual machines on the same host.
• Support for VIX API 1.6: This feature provides a programming interface for automating virtual machine and guest operations.

VMware Server FAQs:

What are the top three use cases for VMware Server?

VMware Server is typically used in the following scenarios:

• Assessing virtualization for the 1st time
• Evaluating software using virtual machines
• Test and development of software and IT environment

How does VMware Server differ from VMware’s other free virtualization solution, VMware ESXi?

The table below highlights key differences between VMware Server and VMware ESXi.

What is new in VMware Server 2?

New enhancements and functionality are listed below:

• New expanded operating system support
• 64-bit operating system support
• VMware Infrastructure (VI) Web Access management interface
• Independent virtual machine console
• More scalable virtual machines
• Volume Shadow Copy Service (VSS)
• Support for Virtual Machine Interface (VMI)
• Virtual Machine Communication Interface (VMCI)
• Support for VIX API 1.6

What is VMware Remote Console?

The VMware Remote Console allows access to the virtual machine consoles independent of the VI Web Access management interface.  A separate window is opened for every virtual machine console that is initiated and the window can be resized as required by the user.  Finally, VMware Remote Console can be accessed directly from a desktop shortcut providing independent and instantaneous access to the virtual machine console.

Can I import virtual appliances into VMware Server 2 hosts?

Yes, this is supported.  In addition, VMware Server 2 provides a direct link to the Virtual Appliance Marketplace to easily access thousands of available virtual machines.

Can I install VMware Server 2 on a Core installation of Windows Server 2008 host operating system?

No, VMware Server 2 can only be installed on a Full installation of Windows Server 2008 host operating system.  However, both Core and Full installations of Windows Server 2008 are supported as guest operating systems.

What does 64-bit operating system support mean?

It means that 64-bit guest operating systems will run on supported 64-bit hardware independent of the type of host operating system.

Refer to the following table for supported combinations.

(VMware Server 2 will also run natively on 64-bit Linux host operating systems.) 

What browsers are supported for the VI Web Access management interface?

On both Windows and Linux, Mozilla Firefox 2 and 3 are supported.  Additionally on Windows, Microsoft Internet Explorer 6 and 7 are also supported, but Internet Explorer 7 is recommended.

I am familiar with managing VMware Server using the VMware Server Console. Will I be able to manage VMware Server 2 with the same VMware Server 1.0.x Server Console?

The VI Web Access management interface in VMware Server 2 replaces the VMware Server Console in Server 1.0.x.  The VI Web Access management interface provides a simple, flexible, intuitive and productive management experience for both local and remote management and monitoring.

Can I manage VMware Server 2 release using an existing or new version of VMware vCenter Server?

No, VMware Server 2 cannot be managed by VMware vCenter Server 2.5.  There are no centralized (multi-host) management options available for VMware Server 2.

Should I run VMware Server 2 for production workloads?

Yes, VMware Server 2 can be used for production workloads.  VMware also provides other virtualization solutions such as VMware ESXi and VMware Infrastructure that provider higher performance, better scalability and automation capabilities.

Can I upgrade to VMware Server 2 and reuse my existing serial numbers from VMware Server 1.0.x installation?

Yes, you will be able to upgrade to VMware Server 2 and reuse existing serial numbers from VMware Server 1.0.x installations.  This is true whether performing an upgrade on an existing VMware Server host or a new installation on a different host.

How do I ensure that new virtual machines created in Server 2 hosts can be successfully migrate to VMware ESX hosts?

When creating new virtual machine in VI Web Access, expand the Product Compatibility option and select the setting to allow VMware ESX host compatibility.  In addition, ensure that the virtual machine does not contain devices such as IDE hard disks and SCSI CD-ROM drive.

Is VMware Server 2 available to customers worldwide?

Yes.  However, the installer, VI Web Access management interface, and documentation for Server 2 are only available in English.

What are the support options for VMware Server?

VMware Server customers receive free access to product documentation, and online knowledgebase. Customers who require e-mail and phone support can purchase a Support and Subscription contract. Gold and Platinum Support and Subscription services for VMware Server are available now.  Along with access to the world’s largest virtualization support organization with the most experience supporting critical applications in a virtual infrastructure, both support offerings also include access to periodic fixes and enhancements to our products during the life of your support contract.   These programs are offered on an annual or multi-year subscription basis.   For details on VMware Server support options, refer to VMware Support Services.

Will patches and new releases for VMware Server be provided for free in the future?

VMware Server patches, minor and major releases, new hardware and software support, will be provided by VMware immediately when available to customers that have purchased a VMware Server Support and Subscription contract. VMware will also periodically update the freely downloadable product with the functionality improvements contained in these patches, minor and major releases.

VMware Server Screens:

 

	Support for New Operating Systems (Windows)
	Support for New Operating Systems (Linux)
	Run Linux and Windows Side by Side
	Access the Virtual Machine Consoles Independent of VI Web Access

Documentation:

VMware Server Data Sheet (.PDF)

VMware Server FAQ Data Sheet (.PDF)