Intel unleashes virtualisation support for desktops
Intel unleashes virtualisation support for desktops
Nov 16, 2005: Virtualisation used to be something that applied only to high end servers. In a bid to win back some of its lost market share, Intel has announced hardware virtualisation support for desktop PCs.
Virtualisation allows a system to run multiple operating systems or applications independently. With virtualisation support, businesses can maintain full control of a portion of a PC to run security or management services without interrupting staff or allowing them to easily tamper with critical applications.
As more powerful chips enable more advanced virtualisation Technology (VT), the technology itself is gaining momentum.
"Analysts believe virtualisation is one of the most disruptive technologies to the PC in a decade" says Robert B.Crooke, vice president and general manager of Intel's Business Client Group. "Our technology combined with our industry enabling efforts are going to help bring this into the mainstream."
Intel's move has been welcomed by the industry with virtualisation solution providers such as VMware, Microsoft and the open source Xen project have joined Intel in support of its Virtualisation Technology.
Currently Intel Pentium 4 processor based desktop PCs are being offered by Acer, Founder, Lenovo and TongFang. Broad support for desktop PCs is expected in the first quarter of 2006. Virtualisation capabilities will also be extended to notebook PCs, with the support first appearing in Intel Centrino Mobile Technology based platforms in 2006.
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