While prepping for my VMware presentation for this evening I was surprised by the news on VMware's website that VMware Server is now officially out of beta ... and remains FREE
VMware Delivers Free VMware Server
Enterprise-Class Support and VMware VirtualCenter Management Now Available
PALO ALTO, Calif., July 12, 2006 - VMware, Inc., the global leader in virtual infrastructure software for industry-standard systems, today announced the general availability of VMware Server after a five month beta program with more than 700,000 downloads. Customers deploying the free hosted virtualization product for Linux and Windows servers can now purchase enterprise-class support from VMware. In addition, they can now use VMware VirtualCenter to centrally provision, monitor and manage VMware Server deployments.
Talk about perfect timing for my presentation :-)
Enterprise-class support list price is $350 for a one-year subscription per two processors for Gold level and $450 for Platinum level. VMware VirtualCenter for VMware Server list price is $600 per two processors. Not bad! I actually thought the cost would be higher. We continue to move more servers into our VMware Server virtual environment ... the goal is to have almost everything virtual running across our 3 beefy physical servers.
I'll post a couple slides from my presentation a little later. We didn't have a very large turnout (maybe 15) but it was nice that 3 of our volunteers showed up for the first time at MITPUG to show their support ... thanks Russell, Mark, and Brian!
Afterwards Dustin (uber volunteer) showed us around the datacenter at Crowe ... racks and racks and more racks of sweet mainly all Dell gear ... major drool factor.
I also got an email from a Senior Marketing Manager at VMware who's been reading my blog. She would like to have their PR team chat with me about a possible press reference and invited us to join their Core Customer Program. First I'm interviewed by Network World about our use of VMware Server, and now possibly some press releases direct from VMware ... wow, that's pretty crazy considering we're just a church out in Indiana. I don't know exactly what God is up to with all the exposure this blog is getting ... VMware, EqualLogic, Network World, etc ... but I'm enjoying the ride. Hmm, that should be an upcoming post.
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