Kicking off a global series of “Get Virtual Now” events that will reach more than 250,000 customers and partners, Microsoft Corp. today announced strong customer and partner adoption of Microsoft virtualization software, new tools and programs to drive partner success.

Microsoft executives will further outline virtualization solutions for customers and also demonstrate the live migration capabilities of the upcoming release of Windows Server 2008 R2.

Microsoft Customers “Get Virtual Now”
Web-based human resource, payroll and employment verification services provider TALX is now in the process of developing a new, advanced datacenter to service its 9,000 clients. By using Windows Server 2008 Hyper-V to enhance virtualization performance and host more virtual machines per physical server, TALX will be able to further consolidate its server environment, reduce hardware costs, save on power and cooling costs, and conserve datacenter space. TALX expects to save another $1,000 in software licensing costs per each physical server it can replace with a virtual machine. The company also expects to save approximately 50 percent in annual power and cooling costs by consolidating its server environment with Windows Server 2008 Hyper-V.

Another business that is already reaping the rewards of Microsoft’s virtualization solutions is WorleyParsons Ltd. With 31,000 employees working in 34 countries, WorleyParsons is the leading provider of professional services to the energy, resource and complex process industries. As a result, the company relies on an agile and flexible IT infrastructure to deliver the expanding business applications required for sustaining growth. WorleyParsons is deploying Windows Server 2008 Hyper-V to help reduce the growing costs associated with rapid global expansion. Microsoft System Center Virtual Machine Manager 2008 will help WorleyParsons simplify server management and the physical-to-virtual server conversion as the company converts 50 percent of its physical servers to virtual servers. This conversion is expected to reduce hardware costs and space requirements, improve server management, and facilitate faster deployment of applications.

Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG was looking to reduce the cost of desktop application management. Heidelberg turned to the application virtualization capabilities that are part of Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack for Software Assurance to create application packages, which would reduce the cost and complexity of the complete life cycle of application package management.

Shalini Ale/ITvoir Network