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VMware Unveils Next Generation of Free VMware Server

VMware Unveils Next Generation of Free VMware Server

VMware Server 2 Provides Easy-to-Use Introduction to Virtualization

PALO ALTO, Calif., November 13, 2007– VMware, Inc., the virtualization software leader, today unveiled VMware Server 2, the next generation of the company’s easy-to-use, free-of-charge virtualization product. Based on VMware’s proven and reliable technology, VMware Server 2 enables organizations to quickly provision new server capacity by partitioning a physical server into multiple virtual machines, resulting in better utilization of IT assets and simplified IT management. VMware Server 2 is available as a public beta download at http://www.vmware.com/go/server2_beta.

VMware Server 2 provides customers with a simple yet powerful introductory experience to virtualization, introduces a new intuitive Web-based management interface to provide a consistent management experience for Linux and Windows users, and supports a broad range of hardware and more than 30 flavors of guest operating systems including various Linux distributions, Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2008 (beta) and Windows Vista.

"VMware Server is ideal for businesses interested in quickly and easily experiencing the benefits of virtualization," said Dan Chu, vice president of emerging products and markets at VMware. "More than 3 million copies of VMware Server have been downloaded to date, with approximately 70 percent of these downloads coming from companies typically categorized as small and medium businesses. VMware Server is a popular way for new customers to evaluate and begin using VMware software, and it allows them to easily transition to VMware's market-leading, enterprise-class virtualization platform, VMware Infrastructure. With the release of VMware Server 2, we look forward to introducing many more new customers to a better way to manage their IT resources."

“We've tried other solutions, but nothing matches the stability and ease of use we get with VMware Server,” said Justin Patten, technical analyst at api software, inc., a provider of labor resource management solutions for healthcare organizations. “The software has already provided tremendous value to our organization with minimal investment, and the new Web-based management interface and APIs in the new version will make it even easier for us to increase the overall efficiency of our IT operations.”

VMware Server 2 beta is feature-packed with the following new capabilities:

  • Intuitive web-based management interface: VMware Server 2 provides a simple, flexible, intuitive and productive management experience. Features include an embedded virtual machine console, full management functionality and the ability to create customized remote console URLs for virtual machine users.
  • Expanded operating system support: VMware Server 2 now supports more than 30 types of guest operating systems, including Windows Vista, Windows Server 2008 (beta), Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5 and Ubuntu 7.10.
  • Virtual Machine Interface (VMI) support: VMware Server 2 includes support for transparent paravirtualization through VMI, enabling enhanced communication between virtualized operating systems and the virtualization layer.
  • Support for high-speed USB 2.0 devices:  The USB 2.0 support provided by VMware Server 2 allows for increased flexibility for customers using peripheral devices in virtualized environments.
  • Enhanced memory and processor support: VMware Server 2 now supports up to 8 GB of RAM per virtual machine and up to 2 Virtual SMP processors. The product also features support for 64-bit guest operating systems on 64-bit compatible processors for improved performance and scalability.

“VMware Server is easy to use, very intuitive and great for testing new products we’d like to implement or for troubleshooting with the products we sell,” said Jaime Diaz, senior analyst at Novared Argentina S.A., a company that develops lnternet solutions for companies transitioning to a digital economy environment. “Of the other competing products we’ve tried, VMware Server comes out on top in terms of flexibility—especially when it comes to networking.”

Pricing and Availability

VMware Server 2 beta for Linux and Windows hosts is available for immediate download at http://www.vmware.com/go/server2_beta. VMware Server 2 is expected to be generally available next year. Enterprise-class support from VMware is expected to be available for VMware Server 2 at the time of general availability.

About VMware, Inc.

VMware (NYSE: VMW) is the global leader in virtual infrastructure software for industry-standard systems.  Organizations of all sizes use VMware solutions to simplify their IT, fully leverage their existing computing investments and respond faster to changing business demands. VMware is based in Palo Alto, California and majority-owned by EMC Corporation (NYSE: EMC).  For more information, visit http://www.vmware.com


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VMware and Virtual SMP are registered trademarks or trademarks of VMware, Inc. in the United States and/or other jurisdictions. All other marks and names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective companies.

This release contains “forward-looking statements” as defined under the Federal Securities Laws. Actual results could differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements as a result of certain risk factors, including but not limited to: (i) adverse changes in general economic or market conditions; (ii) delays or reductions in consumer or information technology spending; (iii) competitive factors, including but not limited to pricing pressures, industry consolidation, and new product introductions; (iv) the ability to develop, and to transition to, new products, the uncertainty of customer acceptance of emerging technology, and rapid technological and market change; (v) VMware’s relationship with EMC Corporation, and EMC’s ability to control matters requiring stockholder approval, including the election of VMware’s board members; (vi) the ability to protect our proprietary technology; (vii) earthquakes, war or acts of terrorism; (viii) the failure to attract and retain highly qualified employees; (ix) fluctuating currency exchange rates; and (x) other one-time events and other important factors disclosed previously and from time to time in VMware’s filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”).  VMware disclaims any obligation to update any such forward-looking statements after the date of this release.