Parallels Server for Mac

Infobox_Software
name = Parallels Server for Mac



caption = Parallels Server for Mac running Mac OS X Leopard Server in a VM on top of Mac OS X Leopard Server
developer = Parallels, Inc.
latest_release_version = Build 2150
latest release date = 2008-06-17
operating_system = Mac OS X Server
platform = Apple-Intel architecture
language = Multi-lingual
genre = Virtual machine
license = Proprietary
website = [http://www.parallels.com/products/server/mac/ Parallels Server for Mac]

Parallels Server for Mac is a server virtualization product built for the Mac OS X Server platform and is developed by Parallels, Inc., a developer of desktop and server virtualization software. This software allows users to run multiple distributions of Linux, Windows and FreeBSD server applications alongside Mac OS X Server on Intel-based Apple hardware.

Parallels Server for Mac was in development for more over a year [ [http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9024859 Parallels demos Mac server virtualization ] ] before its alpha stage was demoed at MacWorld 2008 [ [http://www.macworld.com/article/58425/2007/06/parallelsserver.html Macworld | Parallels Server for Mac demoed at WWDC ] ] and the product was officially released in June, 17, 2008 [http://www.macobserver.com/article/2008/06/17.9.shtml Parallels Server for Mac Announced || The Mac Observer ] ] . While in beta, Parallels Server for Mac did not allow running Mac OS X Server in a virtual machine; however, Apple eased up on its licensing restrictions before Parallels Server for Mac’s GA release to allow running Mac OS X Leopard Server in a virtual machine as long as that virtual machine is running on Apple hardware [ [http://weblog.infoworld.com/virtualization/archives/2008/06/parallels_annou_6.html Virtualization Report | David Marshall | InfoWorld | Parallels announces the first Mac server virtualization platform | June 18, 2008 08:14 AM | David Marshall ] ] . Parallels Server for Mac is the first and currently only server virtualization product for the Apple Xserve.

Overview

Similar to Parallels Desktop for Mac, Parallels Server for Mac is a hypervisor-based server virtualization software that allows users to run multiple guest operating systems, each in a virtual machine, alongside a primary or "host" operating system. The product's hypervisor allows each virtual machine to function as a standalone server with its own virtualized hardware, memory and processor. However, unlike the desktop software, Parallels Server for Mac is an hardware-optimized enterprise product designed to handle server workloads such as databases and enterprise email and is aimed at the professional market rather than the consumer market [ [http://www.tuaw.com/2008/06/18/parallels-server-for-mac-available-now/ Parallels Server for Mac available now - The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) ] ] . Parallels Server for Mac allows users to run Intel-powered Apple hardware in a business environment without isolating the Mac servers from the organization’s Windows and Linux systems [ [http://www.cbronline.com/article_news.asp?guid=82587A64-8179-4FC1-A68D-36C711A5E684 Parallels gives Apple a virtual makeover - Computer Business Review ] ] .

ystem Requirements

* Intel-powered Mac server or desktop computer running Mac OS X Server Leopard
* Minimum 2 GB RAM
* 40.5 MB hard disk space for Parallels Server for Mac
* Minimum 15 GB for VM files and virtual hard disks
* Optical drive
* Ethernet or FireWire network adapter

Key Features

Users can run 32- and 64-bit guest operating systems such as Mac OS X Server, Windows, Linux, and FreeBSD in virtual machines on Apple Xserves and Mac Pros. Parallels Server for Mac comes with Parallels Tools, Parallels Transporter for P2V and V2V migration and Parallels Disk Image tool for modifying the size of virtual disks. Also included are the Parallels Management Console, which allows server administrators to manage the virtual machines both locally and remotely and Parallels Explorer, which allows access to virtual machines without launching the guest operating system.

Additional features include:
* 32- and 64-bit guest OS support
* Virtual support for 4-way Symmetric Multi-processing (4-way SMP)
* Up to 32 GB of physical RAM
* 64 MB memory support with up to 8 GB guest memory
* Supports virtual guest disk sizes up to 2 TB
* Supports Intel Virtualization Technology (Intel VT-x)) hardware acceleration
* Advanced Configuration and Power Interface (ACPI) support in VMs
* Open API
* SDK that enables third-party vendors to incorporate support for Parallels Server for Mac into their own products
* SNMP, Command line interface (CLI)
* VM Assistant to create new virtual machines

Limitations

Parallels Server for Mac can run only on Intel-based Apple hardware which must be running Mac OS X Leopard Server, not Mac OS X Tiger Server or on PC hardware. Also, at this time, users cannot run Mac OS X Tiger in a virtual environment due to Apple licensing restrictions.

See also

* Apple Xserve
* Hypervisor
* Server virtualization
* Virtualization
* Virtual machine
* x86 virtualization

References

External links

* [http://www.parallels.com/en/products/server/mac/ Official website]