VMware announced it has qualified its VMware ESX hypervisor under the Microsoft Server Virtualization Validation Program (SVVP). VMware ESX 3.5 update 2 (ESX 3.5u2) is a hypervisor to be listed under the program, providing VMware customers who run Windows Server and Microsoft applications with access to cooperative support from Microsoft and VMware.

“Virtualization is now well within the IT mainstream and our relationship with Microsoft underscores how far virtualization has come by providing VMware ESX users with access to valuable support for their virtualized Microsoft applications,” said Bogomil Balkansky, senior director of product marketing, VMware. “VMware and Microsoft are working cooperatively to help ensure that our joint customers can employ the benefits of virtualization along with the peace of mind that professional product support can provide.”

Microsoft’s Server Virtualization Validation Program enables VMware and other software providers to test and validate their virtualization software to run Windows Server 2008 and previous versions of Windows Server. Under this program, Microsoft offers cooperative technical support to customers running Windows Server on validated, non-Microsoft server virtualization software, such as VMware ESX 3.5 update 2. Customers with support policies in place, and running Windows Server-based applications on VMware ESX 3.5u2, can receive cooperative technical support from Microsoft. VMware also offers an extra layer of protection for customers, outside of Microsoft’s Server Virtualization Validation Program, who work directly with VMware for support. The additional protection is a part of the VMware Premier Support contract with Microsoft that enables VMware to escalate application issues rapidly and work directly with Microsoft engineers to expedite resolution.

“As virtualization emerges as a mainstream technology for customers of all sizes, it’s important that they can depend on these technologies to work smoothly with the rest of their infrastructure,” said Zane Adam, senior director of integrated virtualization at Microsoft Corp. “Microsoft established the Server Virtual Validation Program to help ensure customers have a consistent and productive support experience when using validated non-Microsoft virtualization software, regardless of the vendor. We are pleased that VMware has joined the Server Virtual Validation Program and along with the other participants can bring the benefits of interoperability to our customers.”

“Microsoft Exchange is an essential application for us; we have over 50,000 Exchange 2007 mailboxes running on VMware ESX,” said Adrian Jane, infrastructure and operations manager, University of Plymouth in England. “Application performance and availability have been outstanding, but the lack of formalized application support was a concern. With ESX now SVVP-validated, we can reap all the benefits of virtualization without having to make any tradeoffs in application support. It’s perfect for us. And from a broader perspective, SVVP support will make it much easier for us to move ahead with our virtualization-first policy on future application deployments.”

Today’s move is expected to be particularly compelling for VMware’s tens of thousands of small and medium-size business (SMB) customers. Many of these customers turned to virtualization for the dramatic cost savings that virtualization can provide by reducing hardware requirements and power consumption.

For more information on VMware contact Renee Spooner, rspooner@vmware.com at VMware.