VMware vSphere 4.1 is Officially Released!

Its finally here, VMware vSphere 4.1, which includes VMware ESXi 4.1 Installable, VMware ESXi 4.1 Embedded, and VMware vCenter Server 4.1.

I intend to start testing this new release tomorrow am, I am usually a big fan of ESX4 Installable, but based on how things are going in VMware I will have to start migrating to vSphere ESXi 4.1. I included an insert from www.VMware.com to peek your interest.

VMware ESX. VMware vSphere 4.1 and its subsequent update and patch releases are the last releases to include both ESX and ESXi hypervisor architectures. Future major releases of VMware vSphere will include only the VMware ESXi architecture.

- VMware recommends that customers start transitioning to the ESXi architecture when deploying VMware vSphere 4.1.
- VMware will continue to provide technical support for VMware ESX according to the VMware vSphere support policy.
- To learn more about the ESXi architecture and how to migrate from ESX to ESXi, go to the VMware ESX to ESXi Upgrade Center.

Scripted Install for ESXi. Scripted installation of ESXi to local and remote disks allows rapid deployment of ESXi to many machines. You can start the scripted installation with a CD-ROM drive or over the network by using PXE booting. You cannot use scripted installation to install ESXi to a USB device. See the ESX and vCenter Server Installation Guide, the ESXi Installable and vCenter Server Setup Guide, and the ESXi Embedded and vCenter Server Setup Guide.

vSphere Client Removal from ESX/ESXi Builds. For ESX and ESXi, the vSphere Client is available for download from the VMware Web site. It is no longer packaged with builds of ESX and ESXi. After installing ESX and ESXi, users are directed to the download page on the VMware Web site to get the compatible vSphere Client for that release. The vSphere Client is still packaged with builds of vCenter Server. See the ESX and vCenter Server Installation Guide, the ESXi Installable and vCenter Server Setup Guide, and the ESXi Embedded and vCenter Server Setup Guide.

Don’t forget to reference this link, for all the new features, download links and information your techie mind can handle!

-NS