VMware Server to become a *free* product - ISerializable - Roy Osherove's Blog

VMware Server to become a *free* product

"Anyhow, here's the deal: as of Monday, VMware is releasing the beta version of a new product, VMware Server, which is the successor to their existing VMware GSX Server product. VMware Server will be a free product for server virtualization. This is, frankly, a market-changing move, and one that I expect a lot of people will take advantage of..."
 
"...VMware Server offers quite a nice list of features, including support for 64-bit operating systems in both host and guest, virtual SMP, and a remote management console. It will be available for download from http://www.vmware.com/download/VMwareServer (though that URL may not be active until Monday). With this coming out for free, I can't see why anyone would bother buying Microsoft Virtual Server - or run servers on bare metal"
[via Larkware]
 
The server in question is their GSX product, not the ESX one, but that's still huge. Read the CNet news on this here.
Mike is right. This is huge news. I used to use VMware before MS came out with Virtual PC. I switched mainly because of the fact that VPC came in with my MSDN Subscription. But VMware was my favorite. I'd be testing this thing out come Monday (that link is dead for now), and I really hope their workstation product will be free as well, though who knows.
 
It's also good news for VPC users, since the competition just grew up a notch, and MS is sure to try and beat out VMware for features/scalability etc.. It's going to be an interesting future!
Published Saturday, February 04, 2006 2:16 AM by RoyOsherove
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Comments

Monday, February 06, 2006 4:37 AM by Wim Hollebrandse

# re: VMware Server to become a *free* product

Anyone have any luck registering on the VMWare site?

Keep throwing an error upon submitting the registration form.
Monday, February 06, 2006 4:44 AM by Bob

# re: VMware Server to become a *free* product

I have the same problem, tried the site in both IE and firefox but looks like an internal error.

Oh well I suppose I should have known that a 'free' product would have been too much to ask for.
Monday, February 06, 2006 4:44 AM by Bob

# re: VMware Server to become a *free* product

'too much to ask for', opps I meant 'too good to be true'
Monday, February 06, 2006 4:48 AM by Roy Osherove

# re: VMware Server to become a *free* product

Yeah, same problem here. My guess is their servers were overflooded with registration requests :)
Monday, February 06, 2006 9:36 AM by Aaron

# re: VMware Server to become a *free* product

Managed to register after several tries, and was rewarded with a Download page--which lead to DNS lookup errors. Persistance paid off, though, until I read the license agreement, which contains the following:

TERM AND TERMINATION.

Licensee's rights with respect to the Beta Software will terminate upon the earlier of (a) the initial commercial release by VMware of a generally available version of the Beta Software or (b) automatic expiration of the Beta Software based on the system date....

I guess what they are offering for "free" is the opportunity to participate in a time-limited beta-test of the product that will succeed GSX server. I am not sure that I regard that is either "free" or even anything out of the ordinary--they have always had a program allowing people to test beta versions of the software without charge to the tester. Alas, I guess this is just marketing hype.... We shall see.
Monday, February 06, 2006 9:45 AM by Aaron

# re: VMware Server to become a *free* product

Just got the server download. Don't know if it is any good. They key seems to be to keep on trying--their servers are undoubtedly overloaded, so persistance may pay off.

By the way, it's early Monday Morning as I write this (in Boston, MA).
Monday, February 06, 2006 12:41 PM by Shawn B.

# re: VMware Server to become a *free* product

This is good news indeed. I've been wanting to use VMWare products for a while now. However, keep in mind, it will not be totally free... as per the fact, only support contract subscribers will receive updates to the product, for the most part. Otherwise, this is great news.

Q: Will patches and new releases for VMware Server be provided for free in the future?
A: Generally available VMware Server patches, minor and major releases will be provided by VMware on a regular basis only to customers that have purchased a VMware Server Support and Subscription contract. At a later time, VMware may, at its discretion, include the functionality improvements contained in these patches, minor and major releases in the freely downloadable product.


Thanks,
Shawn
Monday, February 06, 2006 6:30 PM by mat

# re: VMware Server to become a *free* product

Just downloaded it and it installed flawlessly on my gentoo box netbooted from an ATAoE SAN using kernel 2.6.15.2. Congrats to VMware for making this happen, could be a very good business strategy if people flock to VMware products and support contracts.
Thursday, February 09, 2006 4:16 AM by Bob

# re: VMware Server to become a *free* product

Does anybody know if VMware produces proper patches for its current line up. E.g. GSX server, workstations etc?

Every time I want to update one of these products I have to delete my current installation and then install the new version. As you can imagine this is not exactly ideal.

Or do you need some sort of expensive support contract to get access to the patches like what is indicated for VMware Server Beta above?