Long ago, before the era of hardware slices and server farms, virtualization was a desktop thing. From SoftPC to Windows on Windows, desktop virtualization was primarily a tool for developers and support personnel ... people who had a compelling reason to run more than one environment concurrently on their PCs or Macs. Then along came VMware and the VDI (Virtual Desktop Initiative). Suddenly, virtualizing the desktop became the Next Big Thing in TCO reduction, and the big boys and their big plans stole much of the attention away from the traditional desktop virtualization model.
[ VMwareWorkstation 6.0 was selected for an InfoWorld Technology of the Year award. See the slideshow of all the winners in the platforms category. ]
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In this roundup I take a look at four of the leading desktop virtualization packages, including VMware Workstation 6.0 Beta 3, a feature-laden developer workbench; two legacy compatibility solutions, Parallels Workstation for Windows 2.2 and Microsoft Virtual PC 2007; and an open source option you may have never heard of (but likely will in the near future), InnoTek VirtualBox 1.3.
Along the way I’ll explore how well these solutions scale and determine where they fit into the overall desktop virtualization landscape. Hint: Microsoft has conceded the market, while Parallels and InnoTek are still searching for an identity. This leaves VMware as the only company that understands this niche, and even then there are signs of delusions of grandeur (VDI).
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| Test Center Scorecard | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |  |  |  |  |  | |
| 25% | 25% | 20% | 20% | 10% | ||
| InnoTek VirtualBox 1.3 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 8 |
6.9
Fair
|
| 25% | 25% | 20% | 20% | 10% | ||
| Microsoft Virtual PC 2007 | 7 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 9 |
7.4
Good
|
| 25% | 25% | 20% | 20% | 10% | ||
| Parallels Workstation for Windows 2.2 | 7 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 8 |
7.8
Good
|
| 25% | 25% | 20% | 20% | 10% | ||
| VMware Workstation 6.0 Beta 3 | 9 | 9 | 7 | 8 | 8 |
8.3
Very Good
|
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Server virtualization is a popular option for dealing with mounting datacenter costs. Another equally promising approach is the use of an Application Delivery Controller. Citrix NetScaler provides a low-cost way for organizations to reduce their server count and accrue cost savings from a reduction in space, cooling, power and personnel.
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