"Basically you're encapsulating an operating system and applications within a virtual machine instead of separate physical servers, " said Marks.

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Movie rentals marks an extension of the credits system beyond virtual goods to real services, and (who knows) could potentially lead to physical goods.

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As this move to server virtualization transpired, a coinciding evolution in IT management capabilities needed to occur and we at Microsoft began delivering this years ago with the Microsoft System Center suite, adapting the tools to provide the same management experience across your physical and virtual environments.

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