Microsoft Business Virtualization Tool Now In Beta

As part of its campaign to get business to migrate to Windows 7, Microsoft on Wednesday took the wraps off a public beta for its Microsoft Enterprise Desktop Virtualization (MED-V) product.

MED-V is essentially the business version of Windows XP mode, serving the all-important function of allowing companies to keep running their legacy apps in a virtual XP environment from inside Windows 7. By maintaining a bridge to older line of business apps, MED-V removes what has been a major barrier to companies on the road to Windows 7.

"MED-V is a bridge to help you create a longer term plan for your more complex applications that may not be compatible with Windows 7 and are too costly to migrate at this exact moment," said Karri Alexion-Tiernan, director of product management for Microsoft Desktop Virtualization, in a blog post earlier this week.

The MED-V beta includes several usability improvements: Users no longer have to enter their password each time they sign in, and they can use System Center Configuration Manager as a delivery mechanism for MED-V workspaces, Alexion-Tiernan said.

MED-V also works in conjunction with App-V, Microsoft's application virtualization tool, allowing virtual application to be deployed and managed within MED-V 2.0 Beta workspaces, she added.

Next: What This Means For Businesses

"New applications deployed to MED-V workspaces, including App-V virtual applications, are available to the Windows 7 host automatically," said Dave Trupkin, senior product manager for MED-V and App-V, in a Monday blog post.

App-V 4.5 and Med-V are part of Microsoft's Desktop Optimization Pack (MDOP), a bundle of tools that are only available as part of a Software Assurance subscription, and also include virtualization, inventory services, System Center desktop error monitoring and group policy management technologies.