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Contents 
Virtual servers
MS Virtual Server 2005
VMware GSX Server 3
Specifications
How we tested
Editor's choice
About RMIT |
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Editor's choice: VMware DSX Virtual Server 3We were worried about selecting an Editor's Choice for two reasons. The first is that Microsoft Virtual Server 2005 is only a Release Candidate, not the production version. The final version was due to be released in enough time for us to review it before our deadline, but the release date appears to have slipped slightly. However the code appeared very stable and it is doubtful any significant extra features will find their way into the product by the time the final verision is released. As a result, Microsoft also couldn't give us pricing information in time for the deadline, so unless we use a crystal ball there is no tying down an ROI score.
In summary, both are excellent products. VMware's product is quite idiot-proof with its various wizards while Microsoft's requires more effort during initial VM creation.
Both support a wide range of guest VMs, although Microsoft only provides technical support for Windows guest OSes, while VMware is far more liberal, covering Linux, Netware, and many others.
Microsoft Virtual Server can only exist on a Windows 2003 Server or XP Pro Host while GSX Server is far more cosmopolitan with host software for many flavours of Linux.
In general terms we found GSX Server VMs to have higher performance than Microsoft's Virtual Server VMs, but in some cases Virtual Server has better VM control such as CPU resource allocation; you have to step up to VMware's ESX Server to gain this functionality. But that itself is an important point; if you do require additional functionality above and beyond GSX server, it's available in ESX Server.
Unless Microsoft was literally (not virtually) giving away Virtual Server 2005, we wouldn't reassess our decision to give the Editor's Choice to VMware's GSX Server 3.
This article was first published in Technology & Business magazine.
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Your excellent web article refers to your test results which i can't find a link to anywhere in the article.
As the test results are referenced as being "on on page 86, I guess this is an oversight.
Could you provide the URL to the test results?
Many thanks,
Ravi cabral