Today, Advanced Micro has announced a new virtualization solution designed to take advantage of technologies from both AMD and Microsoft. The new solution combines AMD's Opteron processors with the company's virtualization (AMD-V) technology, together with Microsoft's Windows Server 2008 Hyper-V, in order to improve server efficiency designed for large and small enterprises. Furthermore, it comes to help mid-market companies achieve a faster implementation of virtualization.

 

“AMD has taken a leading role in driving virtualization innovation into the x86 processor, helping to meet a compelling need in the commercial market for cost reduction, increased performance and energy efficiency,” said Kevin Knox, vice president of Worldwide Commercial Business, AMD. “Now, through our continued partnership with Microsoft, AMD is expanding virtualization’s reach and the benefits of resource consolidation to companies that might not have taken advantage of virtualization in the past.” Mr. Knox added.

 

The newly announced solution will enable OEMs, VARs and Solution Providers to offer virtualization-enabled server systems that can improve a company's energy consumption level, utilization and manageability. As required by such server systems, the AMD-V technology and Microsoft Windows Server 2008 Hyper-V will also enable businesses to scale according to their demands and needs.

 

“AMD and Microsoft have a history of working closely together to design industry-leading solutions that allow customers to maximize their investments and stay ahead of the changing business landscape,” said Bob Kelly, corporate vice president of Microsoft Infrastructure Server Marketing. “Virtualization is here to stay, and Microsoft’s portfolio of virtualization software combined with technology like AMD-V will help a business of any size realize its potential.”

 

Some of the benefits of AMD's Opteron processors and virtualization technology include improved efficiency that can allow systems to host more virtual machines, transactions and users per server. In addition, AMD's Opteron processors also feature Extended Migration, Rapid Virtualization Indexing technology, and Tagged Translation Look-aside Buffer for fast switching times.