Novell validates Windows Server 2008 on its virtual server platform

Novell has joined Microsoft's new Server Virtualisation Validation Programme to support Windows Server 2008.

As a result, users will be able to run Windows Server 2008 as a virtualised guest on top of the Xen hypervisor in SUSE Linux Enterprise 10, and receive co-operative support from either company.

Novell is currently running the tests required by the validation process in the Server Virtualisation Validation Programme.

The Microsoft programme enables suppliers to validate the combination of Windows Server 2008 as a virtual machine guest running on third-party server virtualisation systems.

Under the programme, suppliers will self-test and validate certain technical requirements of their server virtualisation software running Windows Server 2008 as a guest operating system.

Novell's SUSE Linux Enterprise platform is currently the only Xen hypervisor on which Microsoft will provide full support today for Windows Server 2008 and Windows Server 2003 running as a virtual guest.

"We continue to hear from customers that they want to run Windows Server 2008 as a virtualised guest on top of SUSE Linux Enterprise," said Carlos Montero-Luque, vice president of product management for Linux and Open Platform Solutions at Novell.

"Novell is excited to extend the on-going technical collaboration efforts between Novell and Microsoft to the Server Virtualisation Validation Programme, which will give customers the performance, security and reliability that comes with running Windows Server 2008 as a virtual guest on SUSE Linux Enterprise," he said.