How many people here use server virtualization where they work? I have thought about it in the past, but couldn't think of how it would really be useful. But since VMware released VMware Server for free a few days ago, I have been playing with server virtualization some more, and I'm starting to see how I could benefit from it.

For some of my older servers, rather than try to transfer all of the programs and data to a different server, I could just gather an image and toss it on a virtual machine (some of those programs are a real pain in the ass to move). I just go through a Windows repair before I boot it on the virtual machine the first time, and it runs great.

I still don't have a clear idea of how well this will perform though. Right now I'm testing both VMware Server and Microsoft Virtual Server to see which one will work better. In all the years that I have used virtualization for workstations, I have preferred VMware. But with server virtualization, I'm almost leaning towards the Microsoft one. I'm not quite sure why. The interface for VMware Server is MUCH better, but for performance it almost seems like the Microsoft one is better.

I still need to do some more testing on them though. Has anyone here compared them both?

At the level you're working with, it's dead even. I use the MS product, simply because I perfer the way it makes use of images - I use VS to set up development boxes, and I can do so much more quickly with the MS product than the VMware one. There also seems to be a small speed advantage on MS' side, but it's negligible in actual use. Honestly, I don't know that I'd feel all that comfortable using either one in a production environment, but they do a nice job when you need to test a new product and don't have the hardware to do so.

VMWare ESX server, however - wow. It's a true wonder to behold once you get it and all its parts and pieces working. Coupled with a SAN and a pair or more of dual 2xcore servers, and you have a completely redundant server infratructure - something not possible in any other way. It's expensive as hell, but it's unique so they can charge what they want for it,I guess.