Microsoft has not been aggressive in promoting virtualization of PCs. This perspective changed in the last year. Along with changes such as better licensing models for virtual Vista machines, the Redmond, Washington company recently acquired two companies: Calista and Kidaro. These acquisitions will improve Microsoft’s virtual desktop offerings.
Microsoft Changes its Tune
Microsoft has typically positioned virtualization in the server realm and, even then, with servers used more for development environments. Recently, however, Microsoft has refocused its virtualization strategy, embracing utility infrastructure and talking about virtualization from desktop to data center.
Attaching its operating system to individual machines has been Microsoft’s bread and butter. By inserting a layer of abstraction, virtualization separates operating systems from underlying hardware. However, Microsoft cannot ignore virtualization trends which have benefited companies such as VMware.
This resistance has lightened somewhat, if only to assert control over how Windows is virtualized going forward. Recent moves include changing its licensing requirements for virtual machines. Previously, clients could only virtualize Vista Business edition and could only create one virtual instance. Creating any more virtual instances or virtualizing any other version of Vista was technically illegal. Microsoft’s recently announced more flexible virtualization allowances and lowered virtual license pricing represent a significant change of course.
