Channel Insider content and product recommendations are editorially independent. We may make money when you click on links to our partners. View our editorial policy here.

With the release to manufacturing of Hyper-V, Microsoft is hoping that Windows Server 2008 users will see the product as the de facto virtualization product for the enterprise. What’s more, Microsoft is looking to use Hyper-V as a catalyst for the expanded adoption of Windows Server 2008. While those accomplishments may be lofty goals, one thing is certain: Microsoft does have the wherewithal to make it happen.

Hyper-V is a late arrival to the party and is taking a different approach to garner recognition. First off, Hyper-V, for all intents and purposes, is a free virtualization solution; it is included with several editions of Windows Server 2008 and is deployed using WS08’s roles wizard. That bundling, ease of installation and initial “no cost” ideology will make Hyper-V a hard technology to ignore. What’s more, those looking to bring virtualization into their enterprises will be forced to take a long hard look at an upgrade path that includes Windows Server 2008.

That creates an interesting question. Was Hyper-V created to enhance Microsoft’s marketing abilities or to bring advanced technology to the enterprise? Either way, adopters will have to make significant investments in hardware and software to bring Hyper-V’s capabilities to fruition.

Subscribe for updates!

You must input a valid work email address.
You must agree to our terms.