VMware, a leading provider of software for virtualised
desktops and servers, has launched a product that will enable
Intel-based Macs to run x86 operating systems, such as Windows,
Linux, NetWare and Solaris, in virtual machines at the same time as
Mac OS X.
Announced during the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference 2006
in San Francisco in August, the development marks the Mac’s return
to high-end enterprise wide computing.
“We are excited to bring our desktop platform product to Apple
Macs. The demand for this has been unbelievable and it is clearly
front and centre for Mac users,” enthuses Diane Greene, president
of VMware. “VMware is in the business of providing… virtualisation
platforms as well as… add-on functionality that leverages our
virtualisation platform.
“This announcement brings our desktop platform and add-on
capabilities to Mac users and it will allow them to run a wide
variety of operating systems without rebooting. Mac users who also
use the PC will be able to use this product to consolidate onto the
Mac.”
The Mac product is based on the same VMware virtualisation
technology that has been shipping for more than seven years and
that the company believes is being used by more than four million
people. Moving forward, virtual machines created with any of
VMware’s products will run on Intel-based Macs and, similarly,
non-Mac OS X virtual machines created with the new product will run
on the latest versions of other VMware platform products.
VMware boasts that Mac users will be able to leverage more than
250 virtual appliances for solutions such as security, load
balancing, collaboration, databases, development, communications
and business applications that are available for download from
VMware Technology Network (VMTN) at
www.vmtn.net.