Windows Server to run unmodified on Linux

Novell and Intel have announced the availability of virtualised network and block device drivers that will allow Microsoft's Windows Server to run unmodified in Xen virtual environments on SuSE Linux Enterprise Server 10.

"Getting Windows to run with Linux unmodified, and vice versa, will bring an immense confidence boost to IT managers in making decisions on corporate platform standardisation and refresh," said Doug Fisher, vice president of Intel's Software and Solutions Group.

"Intel has been working with the open source community to enable Linux virtualisation solutions to take advantage of Intel virtualisation technology so that guest operating systems and applications can run unmodified."

Novell said that, in addition to providing cost savings when virtualising Windows on SuSE Linux Enterprise Server, these drivers can improve the availability of Windows-based and Linux-based workloads via clustered virtual systems.

Novell is sponsoring a virtualisation pilot programme for customers, providing enterprise-level support for running fully virtualised Windows 2000/2003/XP workloads on SuSE Linux Enterprise Server.

General availability of the virtualisation technology is scheduled for later this year.

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