macosxrumors.com Leopard to include VMWare-like virtualisation software?

frenchmacfrenchmac
Posted:
in macOS edited January 2014
Quote:

Article on macosxrumors.com



Reliable sources informed MacosXrumors that Apple is developing a server virtualisation software that could be added to Apple?s next major release of Mac OS X, Leopard. The technology will allow users to create and run virtual machines with Mac OS X, Linux or Windows on any Intel-based Mac.



The software, which is said to be code-named ?Chameleon?, will be made available in ?Client? and ?Server? versions. The Client version will have similar features to Virtual PC and will be included with Leopard Client while the Server version will act as a virtualisation server and will come with Leopard Server. Apple may also sell the solution separately just as it currently sells Apple Remote Desktop.



Sources also claim that Apple is developing the technology hand in hand with partners such as Intel and Microsoft. We don?t know if Apple?s software will be compatible with Intel?s virtualisation technology announced last year but the possibility that Apple?s software becomes inter-operable with Virtual PC and VMWare has been mentioned. We also don?t know if Apple will use Rosetta technology so as to make the creation of PowerPC based virtual machines possible[...]



It could be huge for the Mac platform and could open it to a lot more switchers and so increase market share!

Comments

  • Reply 1 of 5
    hmurchisonhmurchison Posts: 12,425member
    Quote:

    Originally posted by FrenchMac

    It could be huge for the Mac platform and could open it to a lot more switchers and so increase market share!



    Yes Bill Gates is going to love that huge increase of new Windows users
  • Reply 2 of 5
    deadinplasticdeadinplastic Posts: 11member
    well this would be more useful than running just windows, running multiple copies of mac os x server, *bsd, linux would be a better solution because on some servers cpus just sit idle while they can be cranking out cycles on other apps. Throw intel virtualization tech on multiple core cpus, make cpus 4 core and 8 core then you got a powerful combination.
  • Reply 3 of 5
    rokrok Posts: 3,519member
    when microsoft bought out connectix (remember them? they're the ones who made virtual pc before), they were REALLY buying the virtual environment technology. this was especially appealing for IT professionals wanting to upgrade, but needed some sort of test bed prior to full rollout, saved sessions, multiple os's, virtual networking between virtual machine, the whole nine yards. and they've been selling a WINDOWS INTEL-COMPATIBLE version for a long time now. hell, i'm surprised they haven't just made it PART of windows, as part of a security initiative (get a virus? roll back to yesterday before you stupidly opened that screensaver from someone you've never heard of.")



    so it would only make sense that, once apple made a switch to a processor that wouldn't require different hardware calls to be translated just to start up and run the environment, virtualization would be just round the corner. sure, you can hack it like narf did, or you can buy the solution from microsoft, with a ready-to-go-windows install that can share files back and forth. apple wins because, while you can run windows, you won't BOOT from it, so it'll always be a sidekick, while still giving them plenty of flexibility in the marketplace to run windows apps and share files back and forth transparently. microsoft wins because, hey, more windows users = more money.



    but that means you'll STILL have to buy a personal copy of windows, which means the macBU will be viable for a while. i mean, people were saying "why would microsoft keep making office if you could run windows on a mac?" answer: because they know that no one's going to buy a full copy of windows AND a full copy of office when they could just buy a full copy of office for mac. the "bring your own windows" will be reserved for users who have SEVERAL important apps to run under windows. not JUST office.



    would be nice if it could use the graphics card at full speed, though, because then the games would hit the ground running (though it would put out of business current porting companies like westlake interactive/aspyr).
  • Reply 4 of 5
    frenchmacfrenchmac Posts: 89member
    Yes and if Apple works with Microsoft on this issue, chances are that they took into account virtualization of the graphic card.



    Next version of the Intel chipset could also help because it will allow not just virtualization of the processor but the whole hardware access.



    But if Apple works on this, it will undoubtly have a "cool effect" attached to it (like fast user switching, Dashboard, Exposé and FrontRow).
  • Reply 5 of 5
    ipeonipeon Posts: 1,122member
    Quote:

    Originally posted by hmurchison

    Yes Bill Gates is going to love that huge increase of new Windows users



    For a while up until users start fading away from Windows and favoring the Mac OS.



    As market share increases for the Mac because current PC users will then be able to use Windows apps inside the Mac, the more people using and interested in having Mac specific Apps. This then creates a market for developers to come into whereas there is virtually none at the moment. Yes, 95% vs 5% is virtually none. Simple.



    So when is Apple going to start the ad campaign already?
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