Double-Take Software unveiled its protection, availability and migration solutions for Windows Server 2008 Hyper-V at the Microsoft TechoEd conference.

Support includes real-time physical-to-virtual (P2V) full system replication for migration and failover, and virtual-to-virtual (V2V) replication and failover for maximum uptime. Double-Take Software will release an edition of Double-Take specifically designed for Windows Server 2008 Hyper-V, allowing IT administrators to easily and continuously replicate and failover entire virtual machines between Hyper-V hosts for V2V disaster recovery and remote availability.

Double-Take Software will also add Hyper-V support to its existing P2V protection and migration solutions such as the Double-Take Virtual Recovery Assistant. The company will round out its suite of solutions by extending Hyper-V compatibility to its GeoCluster product, which provides additional capabilities to Microsoft failover clustering. This functionality will extend the Quick Migration capabilities of Windows Server 2008 Hyper-V so that administrators can quickly migrate virtual machines from not just one host to another host, but also from one location to another remote location and remove the risk of having a single point of failure.

"As customers begin to adopt Windows Server 2008 Hyper-V, we want them to know that Double-Take Software offers the tools they need to successfully migrate to and then protect their Hyper-V based virtual infrastructure," said Dave Demlow, chief technology officer, Double-Take Software.

"Organizations adopting Hyper-V for their virtual infrastructure will require data protection solutions to ensure the same business resilience as in their physical environments. Double-Take Software's cost-effective recovery platform reduces downtime and data loss, ensuring ready access to data," stated Lauren Whitehouse, analyst with Enterprise Strategy Group.

Whitehouse cited a recent Enterprise Strategy Group report and highlighted that, "an analysis of vendor preferences among planned virtualization adopters revealed that, among planned server virtualization users, Microsoft leads the pack: 69 percent of respondents say they are evaluating or considering a Microsoft solution."

Double-Take Software has a long history of working with Microsoft to develop innovative data replication and failover solutions. Expanding its product suite with a substantive Windows Server 2008 Hyper-V offering is the logical next step in the partnership in addition to being a proactive response to customer needs. Double-Take Software expects to release this extensive product line shortly after the release of Windows Server 2008 Hyper-V.

"Windows Server 2008 Hyper-V enables IT organizations to more cost-effectively adopt virtualization, improve utilization, optimize infrastructure, and rapidly provision new servers using systems management tools for both physical and virtualized environments," said Zane Adam, senior director of virtualization strategy at Microsoft Corp. "Double-Take Software provides one of the leading real-time software-based replication and failover products. Our work together will ensure that our mutual customers have complete access to innovative technology to manage their evolving IT infrastructure needs."