A list of some virtualization software that is free to download and try.

Microsoft Virtual PC

Virtual PC lets you create separate virtual machines on your Windows desktop, each of which virtualizes the hardware of your computer. You can run multiple operating systems at once on a single physical computer and switch between them.

It runs on Windows Vista Business, Enterprise and Ultimate, Windows XP Professional, or Windows XP Tablet PC Edition and Windows XP SP3.Virtual PC can run most x86 operating systems, in a virtual machine environment including Windows 98, XP, Vista and Server 2008.

Useful for tech support, legacy application support, training, or just for consolidating physical computers. Free to download from Microsoft’s website.

Suns xVM VirtualBox

This is probably one of the most versatile tools available, it can run multiple operating systems concurrently on the same computer using a multitude of hosts including Windows, Solaris, Linux, Mac OS X.

It also allows access to your virtual machines from any location through an RDP Server.

One of its most attractive features however is the fact that it’s Open Source and free for personal use. Available through Sun’s Website.

Parallels Workstation

Parallels Workstation 2.2 is a fast, easy to use, cost effective desktop virtualization solution that empowers Windows or Linux PC users with the ability to simultaneously run multiple operating systems, including any version of Windows or Linux, FreeBSD, NetBSD, OpenBSD, Solaris, OS/2, eComStation or MS-DOS, in completely networked, entirely isolated virtual machines on a single physical machine.

Parallels Workstation is powered by a lightweight hypervisor, which is a thin layer of software that controls critical hardware resources and helps to drive superior speed, performance, stability and isolation.

The lightweight hypervisor also enables full, automatic support for Intel Virtualization Technology and AMD Secure Virtual Machine Technology.
Go to the Parallels Website

VMware Server

VMware Server 2.0 currently in Beta stage is free virtualization software for Windows and Linux servers. It incorporates a Web-based management interface unfortunately it’s rather slow and it would be best to wait and see if they iron out all the problems before recommending this program.

Free to download from the VMware website.

Conclusion

Virtualization software has long been recognized as a cost effective solution for companies to consolidate hardware and reduce spending on IT budgets and it has now become possible to achieve these benefits without paying extraordinary amounts on virtualization applications, with that in mind its important to make sure every business implements a strategy before jumping in at the deep end.

Thats why its important to enlist the help of some specialist solution providers. The flexibility and benefits that can be provided through proper IT consolidation can allow businesses to:

• Reduce IT Costs
• Speed Data Disaster Recovery times
• Streamline Applications and Databases
• Reduce Downtime and thus increase productivity
• Operate a more secure Environment
• Reduce Energy Costs - Lowering Carbon Footprint