Virtualization software maker VMware is set to introduce a new version of its VMware Converter migration tool software, which facilitates setting up server virtualization on a computer system.VMware Converter 3 automates the physical-to-virtual (P2V) and virtual-to-virtual (V2V) conversion process for creating virtual machines from physical machines or from other virtual machines. It also works with virtual machines managed by other virtualization hypervisors.Although virtualization is quickly being embraced by data center managers to make more efficient use of servers, reduce costs and streamline operations, management of a virtual system can still be a challenge to some, said Ben Matheson, director of product management at VMware, a subsidiary of storage vendor EMC.“They need a tool for more easily migrating from the physical to the virtual world,” Matheson said. VMware Converter 3 comes in two versions. VMware Converter Starter edition is free, but it turns physical servers into virtual servers one at a time; Converter Enterprise edition turns multiple physical servers into virtual servers simultaneously, but is free only to customers who already run VMware’s flagship ESX product for large enterprises.The Starter version is designed to entice smaller businesses that are undertaking their first virtualization project, said Charles King, president of Pund-IT, a technology research firm. The Enterprise version is for larger businesses, which likely have their own IT staff familiar with virtualization. But either type of customer can benefit from simplified management. “They’ve taken some solid steps to remove some of the headaches of going to virtualization,” said King.One of the new features is what VMware calls “hot cloning,” which allows a data center manager to convert a physical server into multiple virtual servers and start running without having to reboot the server, said Matheson. A reboot could mean end users would have trouble accessing a program, which is a problem even if it’s temporary.VMware dominates the x86 server virtualization market, but others are introducing competition, said King. XenSource and Virtual Iron offer virtualization hypervisors that are based on open-source software, while software giant Microsoft is expected to introduce a new version of Microsoft Virtual Server later this year.-Robert Mullins, IDG News Service (San Francisco Bureau)Check out our CIO News Alerts and Tech Informer pages for more updated news coverage. Related content brandpost Sponsored by Palo Alto Networks x Accenture Making sense of zero trust - why a managed SASE solution is the ideal option for enterprises Security leaders are turning to SASE as their preferred network security solution amid a new era of cloud-powered businesses working from anywhere. By CIO Contributor Nov 28, 2023 4 mins Network Security feature 8 tips for unleashing the power of unstructured data For most organizations, data in the form of text, video, audio, and other formats is plentiful but remains untapped. Here’s how to unlock business value from this overlooked data trove. By Bob Violino Nov 28, 2023 10 mins Data Mining Data Science Data Management opinion What you don’t know about data management could kill your business Organizations without a solid data management strategy are on a collision course with catastrophe. Unfortunately, that’s most businesses, judging by the fundamental disconnect on the importance of strong data foundations. By Thornton May Nov 28, 2023 6 mins Data Architecture Data Governance Master Data Management brandpost Sponsored by Dell Technologies and Intel® Gen AI without the risks Demystifying generative AI: Practical tips for cost-effective deployment in your organization. By Andy Morris, Enterprise AI Strategy Lead at Intel Nov 27, 2023 6 mins Artificial Intelligence Podcasts Videos Resources Events SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER From our editors straight to your inbox Get started by entering your email address below. Please enter a valid email address Subscribe