Parallels releases virtualisation software for Apple's Mac Mini server

VIRTUALISATION OUTFIT Parallels has released a version of its Parallels Server virtualisation software specifically designed for Mac Mini servers.

Ever since Apple made the laughable decision to ditch the Xserve and replace it with the Mac Mini, it's been expected that software firms would try to cash in on Apple's move by tweaking their software to support the cut down server. While Apple's marketing team might be able to engineer advertising spreads to attract punters, ultimately software talks, and now Parallels has released a version of its Parallels virtualisation server that is optimised for Apple's pint-sized server.

Like all virtualisation servers, Parallels' innovatively titled Server for Mac 4.0 Mac Mini Edition allows users to run multiple operating systems on a single machine. The firm touts virtual machine support for the Mac OS X, Microsoft Windows and Linux operating systems.

Kim Johnston, VP of marketing at Parallels said, "Businesses can reduce their need for different hardware platforms, saving space, power and administration time, while easily adding new services without the need to increase the budget for additional hardware purchases."

Johnston's words are absolutely correct when it comes to highlighting the advantages of virtualisation, however it is questionable whether the limit of just two virtual machines that Parallels has placed on its software is even reachable. After all, the underlying hardware in a Mac Mini server is a single dual core processor with a RAM limit of just 4GB, coupled with laptop hard drives. Factor in the resources eaten up by the host operating system and things might start to get hairy.

Nevertheless, Parallels certainly tries its best to pack enough features into the Mac Mini edition of its Parallels virtual machine software. The latest version includes support for 32-bit and 64-bit operating systems, sharing of folders among virtual machines, snapshots and backups of virtual machines and USB sharing capabilities.

Parallels has priced the Parallels Server for Mac 4.0 Mac Mini Edition at £250. µ