Microsoft has shown its virtualisation rivals the V sign, with the firm’s announcement today that the standalone version of Hyper-V Server 2008 will be available as a free download.

Previously, Redmond’s hypervisor came with a price tag of $28 per seat but, following on from VMware’s tactical play in July to offer its bare-bones ESXi hypervisor for free, it’s hardly surprising to see Microsoft make a similar move now.

Microsoft’s hypervisor-based server virtualisation product, Hyper-V Server 2008, will be available within 30 days as a free internet download.

The company will also hustle its System Center Virtual Machine Manager 2008 product that allows customers to centrally manage all their VM goodies from one location, out the door within the same timeframe. It will also be available at “no cost”.

Last week Microsoft released Application Virtualisation 4.5, which streams an app from server to PC to help prevent software conflicts on the bloated Vista desktop.

MS preferred to describe the latest version of App-V as being able to “fully harness the power of Windows Vista” by caching a virtual app and running it in a sandboxed setting. The firm will bundle the tech with Microsoft Desktop Optimisation Pack 2008 R2, which is expected to land in the coming weeks.

Microsoft’s Hyper-V was finally released to manufacturing in June, months behind the February debut of Windows Server 2008, even though its hypervisor forms a key component of the company’s latest server product. ®

Related stories

• Microsoft and Citrix mix 'n' match fake desktops (13 July 2009)
• Red Hat and Microsoft ink virt interoperability deal (16 February 2009)
• Microsoft and HP gun for Hyper-Victory with SMEs (17 November 2008)
• IBM blades and racks get all-you-can-eat VMs (1 October 2008)
• VMware renders multitasking OSes redundant (25 September 2008)
• VMware for data centres (8 September 2008)
• Citrix tries to woo crowds with XenApp 5 (26 August 2008)
• Microsoft slackens VM licensing rules (19 August 2008)
• Analysis Dollar surge helps software vendors soak customers (18 August 2008)
• VMware slashes ESXi price to zero (28 July 2008)
• VMware's fiscal roller coaster tumbles through Q2 (23 July 2008)
• Citrix's 'Kensho' tools shed earthly hypervisor restraints (15 July 2008)
• Ballmer hails services death and glory for partners (10 July 2008)
• Hyper-V climbs into Windows (26 June 2008)
• Summit Red Hat meanders into hypervisor market (18 June 2008)