Announced at MMS 2007 and planned for upcoming WinHEC 2007, Microsoft released earlier than expected System Center Virtual Machine Manager (SCVMM) 2007 beta 2.
Some of promised features are finally available:
- PowerShell integration
- P2V migration capabilities (Windows Server 2000 and 2003 only)
- V2V capabilities (import of VMware virtual machines)
Some others features depending on Windows Server Virtualization (codename Viridian), like Live Migration (VMware VMotion-like capability), are missing because of hypervisor delay. But Virtual Machine Manager beta 2 already supports new Virtual Server 2005 R2 Service Pack 1 release candidate.
According to this release Microsoft published original Bob Muglia’s keynote at MMS 2007 introducing new features, and an introductory paper describing product’s architecture.
Microsoft also disclosed some informations about one possible licensing scheme for SCVMM:
Another alternative for acquiring the Standard OML through Volume Licensing programs are the Microsoft System Center Server Management License (“SML”) suites.
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The Enterprise SML will be available in Q4 CY2007 and will include the Enterprise versions of the OML and Data Protection Manager Management License, as well as the System Center Configuration Manager 2007 Server Management License, and System Center Virtual Machine Manager 2007.
Last but not least Microsoft unveiled this version of SCVMM will not support Windows Server Virtualization (codename Viridian) beta at public launch. To see such integration we’ll have to wait for SCVMM 2007 R2 public beta, planned for Q1 2008.
Enroll for the beta here.