Novell and Intel to Provide Devices for Unmodified, Virtual Windows to Run on Linux

Virtual Windows to Run Unmodified on Linux 

 

Device drivers from Novell and Intel allow unmodified Windows Server
2000/2003/XP to run in Xen virtual environments on SUSE Linux Enterprise
Server 10 and Intel(r) Virtualization Technology 

 

SAN FRANCISCO (InfoWorld Virtualization Executive Forum) -- Feb. 12,
2007 -- Novell and Intel Corporation today announced the availability of
paravirtualized network and block device drivers that will allow
Microsoft* Windows* Server 2000/2003/XP to run unmodified in Xen*
virtual environments on SUSE(R) Linux Enterprise Server 10 from
Novell(R), operating on Intel-based server platforms featuring Intel(R)
Virtualization Technology. Combined with the existing ability to host
unmodified Linux* on SUSE Linux Enterprise Server, these new drivers
will let customers confidently migrate to newer and fewer
energy-efficient servers, consolidating legacy Windows or Linux
solutions onto virtual servers. 

 

"With our SUSE Linux Enterprise 10 platform launch in July 2006, Novell
became the first major Linux distributor to integrate Xen virtualization
into a Linux distribution," said Jeff Jaffe, Novell executive vice
president and chief technology officer. "In September, we became the
first distribution to support virtualized Linux workloads on Xen, and
today we are the first distributor to support virtualized Windows
workloads on Linux. Our commitment to innovation to solve customer
problems has never been greater." 

 

"Intel has been working with the open source community to enable Linux
virtualization solutions to take advantage of Intel Virtualization
Technology, so that guest OS and applications can run unmodified," said
Doug Fisher, Intel vice president of Software and Solutions Group. "In
addition, our Quad-Core Intel Xeon Processor-based platform with its
outstanding performance, energy efficiency and reliability provides
unparalleled headroom for multiple Virtual Machines running varied data
center workloads. 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 standardization and refresh." 

 

In addition to providing cost savings when virtualizing Windows on SUSE
Linux Enterprise Server, these drivers can improve the availability of
Windows- and Linux-based workloads via clustered virtual systems and
help IT staff respond faster to business needs by easily creating and
provisioning services on virtual systems. 

 

Novell is sponsoring a virtualization pilot program for customers,
providing enterprise-level support for running fully virtualized Windows
2000/2003/XP workloads on SUSE Linux Enterprise Server. The
paravirtualized device drivers are now available to members of the pilot
program. General availability is scheduled for later this year. For more
information on the pilot program and Novell virtualization solutions,
visit www.novell.com/virtualization.
http://www.novell.com/virtualization;  For more about SUSE Linux
Enterprise offerings from Novell, visit www.novell.com/linux.
http://www.novell.com/linux;  For more information about Intel
Virtualization Technology, visit
www.intel.com/business/technologies/virtualization.htm.
http://www.intel.com/business/technologies/virtualization...;

 

About Intel 

Intel, the world leader in silicon innovation, develops technologies,
products and initiatives to continually advance how people work and
live. Additional information about Intel is available at
www.intel.com/pressroom. http://www.intel.com/pressroom;  

 

About Novell 

Novell, Inc. (Nasdaq: NOVL) delivers infrastructure software for the
Open Enterprise. We are a leader in enterprise-wide operating systems
based on Linux and open source and the security and systems management
services required to operate mixed IT environments. We help our
customers minimize cost, complexity and risk, allowing them to focus on
innovation and growth. For more information, visit
http://www.novell.com.