Parallels Server for Mac is LIVE!

Just over a week after announcing the Parallels Sever for Mac Release Candidate, I’m happy to tell you that the world’s first virtualization solution for Mac has launched and is ready for sale!

So, besides being the first, what’s great about Parallels Server for Mac?  That’s easy. 

• It’s built on Parallels hypervisor technology, so you can run multiple versions of Windows and Linux servers on a Leopard Server desktop or Xserve.
• 32- and 64-bit guest operating system support gives you access to a wider range of today’s most-used server systems, including Windows Server 2003, and resident applications, including Microsoft SQL Server.
• Its integrated cross-platform management console enables remote management of multiple Windows servers, Linux servers and virtualized Mac Leopard Servers and VMs across the managed network.
• It makes IT administrators’ work lives easier by giving them effective provisioning and deployment tools such as templates and clones to quickly set up server VMs.
• Comes complete with your favorite Parallels Tools, including Parallels Transporter, Parallels Explorer and Parallels Image Tool for easier management of your cool new virtual machines.
• Parallels Server for Mac allows you to run the application as a service and automate administrative tasks with a CLI and scripting support.

Oh yeah, you can even run a virtualized Leopard Server environment on either a Leopard server or client!  How cool is that? It even won Best of Show at MacWorld 2008. You can find more info about Parallels Server for Mac on its product page and even check out its pretty slick demo.

Parallels Server for Mac $999, so it’s affordable for businesses of just about any size.  You can get it today from a Parallels Channel Partner, the Parallels Online Store or as always you can contact our Parallels Sales Team at +1 425 282 6400.  Of course, you can also take it for a spin and download the FREE trial.

Many thanks to all of the Parallels Beta Testers who helped us out with their invaluable feedback.  And thanks to everyone in the Mac community for your continued support!  I can’t wait to share with you all of the exciting new developments that are down the road.

In case you’re wondering, we’re still working on the other versions of Parallels Server, which will run in bare metal mode and on hosted platforms such as Windows and Linux. As always, we’re always happy to have more beta testers.  All you need to do is sign up!

Parallels Desktop Build 5608: More Enhancements

Parallels Desktop for Mac Build 5608 is now available for download.  This build adds support for guest Parallels Tools for Linux in the latest Linux distributions (including Ubuntu 8).  It also includes added support for running 3D graphics in your Windows VM on Mac OS X Leopard 10.5.3.

If you're already using Parallels Desktop 3.0 for Mac, this new build is free for you and you can download it via the Check for Updates option in the Parallels Desktop Help menu or just click here.  If you're new to Parallels, give a spin with the FREE, full-featured 15-day trial.

Parallels Server for Mac RC is Available

Just a heads up that Parallels Server for Mac Release Candidate is now available from the Parallels Server for Mac RC page, so feel free to download yourself a copy to play with.  We're pretty excited about this newest build since it includes faster performance and some extra goodies to play with like data compression and Common Address Redundancy Protocol.  Also, the restriction to virtualize OS X Server only on OS X Server has been lifted.  You can now virtualize Leopard Server on either Leopard Server or Leopard client!

Parallels Server for Mac is in RC, but  Parallels Server is still in beta, so you can still sign up to be a beta tester.

The Apple of Steve's Eye

Unbelievably, it seems it's already a year since Steve Jobs publicly confessed his love for us in his keynote for WWDC.  Here's what my blogging predecessor had to say on it.

Well a year HAS gone by, packed full of exciting developments from both Apple and Parallels (maybe you heard something about some of theirs?) and now we're building up to another WWDC and I'm wondering whether there's any chance we might get a shout out from Apple again.  Surely it's only a matter of time before we make it up onto that stage for the keynote, no?!

This time round, we hope to catch their eye with the new virtualization tool we've made especially for those of you using Mac server technology.  Yep, yet again we're ahead of the game, bringing you guys a ground-breaking solution the compatibility issue, as we did with our desktop product.

For anyone that's interested, we'll be running preview demos of Parallels Server for Mac all day Wednesday, and (as if you needed an added incentive to join us) we'll be giving away an Apple Time Capsule to one lucky visitor.

What?    Demos of brand new Parallels Server for Mac (not yet launched)

When?   Every hour on the hour from 10am - 6pm, Wednesday, 11th June

Where? "Great Room 1&2", W Hotel, 181 3rd Street, San Francisco, CA 94103

And since we're all excited about virtualizing Macs in the enterprise, we thought we'd also head along to MacCommunities' Happy Hour Sunday at the Thirsty Bear.  We look forward to supporting MacEnterprise.org there and hopefully seeing lots of familiar and friendly faces.

If you want to arrange to meet up with us at WWDC, click here.

For more information, contact me or my colleague Jen.