Virtualization Track at Cloud Expo

Microsoft released Windows MultiPoint Server 2010 Wednesday.

It's a new operating system - for classrooms, labs and libraries to start - that lets multiple users share a host computer using their own monitors, keyboards and mice via USB or a video card.

It's interpreted as Microsoft blessing VDI for everyman - the thin edge of the wedge that pries open the mass market - since small commercial installations can reportedly also use the thing.

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It's supposed to be easier to use than conventional Windows Servers and lower cost.

Microsoft says each person controls his or her own station and gets an independent Windows computing experience. Its web site says up to 10 simultaneous users can access one MultiPoint Server license in a commercial environment as long as every accessing device or user (including the host computer if used as a station) has a MultiPoint Server CAL. Apparently there's no limit in a school at least with an academic license.

Designed for non-technical professionals to set up and manage, it's available now globally through OEMs and will roll out to Microsoft academic volume licensing customers on March 1. It's not available otherwise and actual pricing is opaque.

In response HP is rolling out an HP MultiSeat shared resource computing solution and Microsoft has got DisplayLink, NComputing, ThinGlobal, Tritton Technologies and Wyse providing MultiPoint Server hardware options.

NComputing, which has been doing this sort of thing on its own and claims 15 million virtual desktops, said its vSpace virtualization software-based product line will support the new MultiPoint OS. It claims Microsoft is validating its approach.

And in response Wyse introduced E01 Zero Client, a new $99 shared Windows 7-capable thin client for the education market.

Meanwhile, Canada's Userful Corporation, the Linux opposition that's been seven years at installing its multi-seat solution, claims 30,000 schools worldwide are using its virtual desktops on 750,000 seats.

Like Microsoft, it lets 10 users share a PC and claims to support many of the same USB multi-seat devices as MultiPoint but unlike Microsoft requires no Windows Server license or separate CALs. Userful's solution uses free Linux on the server and charges $69 a seat. Of course, it can't provide access to the Windows applications most people want.

Last week Userful released Multiplier 3.7 which improved its multilingual support. It supports over 10 Linux distributions including Ubuntu 9.10, SLED 11, and Fedora 11 and is available in 64-bit and 32-bit packages in both RPM and DEB formats, making it compatible with most open source software.

A free two-user version of Multiplier software for personal or trial use is available at http://userful.com/products/downloads/free-2-user.