Company offers customers support options for Microsoft applications such as Microsoft Exchange Server, SQL Server, SharePoint Server and others across virtualized environments.

VMware, a provider of virtualization solutions for desktops and  datacenters, today announced it has qualified its VMware ESX hypervisor under the Microsoft Server Virtualization Validation Program (SVVP). The company says that VMware ESX 3.5 update 2 (ESX 3.5u2) is the first hypervisor to be listed under the program, providing its customers who run Windows Server and Microsoft applications with access to cooperative support from Microsoft and VMware.

It explains that this program enables itself and other software providers to test and validate their virtualization software to run Windows Server 2008 and previous versions of Windows Server. Under this program, Microsoft offers  technical support to customers running Windows Server on validated, non-Microsoft server virtualization software, such as VMware ESX 3.5 update 2. Customers with support policies in place, and running Windows Server-based applications on VMware ESX 3.5u2, can receive technical support from Microsoft. Further, it also offers a layer of protection for customers, outside of Microsoft's Server Virtualization Validation Program, who work directly with it for support. The additional protection is a part of the VMware Premier Support contract with Microsoft that enables it to escalate application issues rapidly and work directly with Microsoft engineers to expedite resolution, claims the company.

''Virtualization is now well within the IT mainstream and our relationship with Microsoft underscores how far virtualization has come by providing VMware ESX users with access to valuable support for their virtualized Microsoft applications," said Bogomil Balkansky, senior director of product marketing, VMware. "VMware and Microsoft are working cooperatively to help ensure that our joint customers can employ the benefits of virtualization along with the peace of mind that professional product support can provide."

"As virtualization emerges as a mainstream technology for customers of all sizes, it's important that they can depend on these technologies to work smoothly with the rest of their infrastructure," said Zane Adam, senior director of integrated virtualization at Microsoft Corp. "Microsoft established the Server Virtual Validation Program to help ensure customers have a consistent and productive support experience when using validated non-Microsoft virtualization software, regardless of the vendor. We are pleased that VMware has joined the Server Virtual Validation Program and along with the other participants can bring the benefits of interoperability to our customers."