Yesterday, Advanced Micro Devices announced the final and official specifications of the "Pacifica" virtualization technology which allow a system to be divided in several virtual subsystems. In this way, a user can install several versions of operating systems on the same computer and run them simultaneously.

Marty Seyer, corporate vice president and general manager of the microprocessor segment, said the AMD64 solution offers the most flexible architecture from this domain, and the virtualization technology will enable AMD to be one step ahead of its competitors by ensuring a safer and cheaper platform.

The memory controller and processor will have new functions and features that will ensure complex virtualization processes for desktops and servers. Designed to extend the standard virtualization methods only on software components, the new functions will ensure a more stable virtualization environment, protecting in the same time IT investments through the compatibility with already existing software virtualization solutions.

Pacifica will be available for both desktop and server processors in the first half of 2006. More information on this solution can be found here http://www.amd.com/us-en/Processors.