VMware's Virtual Machines To Support 64-bit

VMware on Monday announced it will support 64-bit x86 platforms, including Advanced Micro Devices' and Intel's 64-bit chips, in upcoming virtual machine software. VMware, a part of storage software giant EMC since January, said it would support concurrent 32- and 64-bit operating systems in updates to its virtualization software over the next 18 months. The first support with be included in the Palo Alto, Calif.-based company's Workstation 4.5, which will include experimental support for 64-bit host operating systems in a update scheduled for this quarter.

Support for AMD64 and Intel's Extended Memory 64 Technology (Intel EM64T) technology will allow customers to mix 32-bit and 64-bit OSes within the same physical server, allowing applications that don't benefit from 64-bit extensions to be moved intact to 32/64-bit platforms, and help companies make a gradual migration from 32- to 64-bit.

"By bringing virtualization to 64-bit extended platforms, VMware protects investments in operating system and applications software, as customers start to deploy next-generation server and desktop technologies," said Ed Bugnion, chief architect for VMware, in a statement. "These new VMware features will facilitate software migration to 64-bit platforms," he added.