Archive notice: This article was originally published on June 18, 2008. Links and embedded videos are preserved as part of the historical record.
U.S. software company Parallels http://www.parallels.com released the final version of “Parallels Server for Mac” yesterday, Tuesday. This makes commercial virtualization software for Mac OS X available for the first time. The software runs on Intel Macs and makes it possible to run Apple’s operating system in a virtual machine. Development of the program took more than a year in total, with the first beta version released last January.
According to the manufacturer, the new Parallels software uses hypervisor technology. It provides virtual machines with up to four processors and up to eight gigabytes of memory. According to the developer, the server runs 50 different x86-based operating systems. These include 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Windows Server, several Linux distributions, and OS X Leopard Server. The stated price is $999 and includes support for an unlimited number of CPU cores.
The software includes several tools, including physical-to-virtual and virtual-to-virtual converters. The image tool can be used to change virtual hard drive settings. Physical and virtual servers are managed through the management console. The interface is accessed using Python scripts. Parallels also enables software developers to support the application in their own programs and provides a software development kit for this purpose.
Parallels Server offers a wide range of possible uses on a Mac computer. For example, an Exchange server can run in a virtual environment on an Xserve alongside the Apple operating system’s services. Virtualizing Mac OS X Server also enables IT managers to test new configurations extensively without putting ongoing operations at risk. Parallels intends to launch Linux and Windows versions of the software in around six weeks. However, these applications will not be able to run OS X Server because Apple prohibits running the Mac system on non-Mac hardware.
