Parallels announced it would release Parallels Server for Mac 4 on July 2. Parallels Server for Mac 4 is a new version of the server virtualization software that is optimized for running on Mac OS X Server hosts. The new version increases performance over the previous version, according to Parallels, and adds support for additional operating systems, as well as other new features.

The new version supports running Windows Server 2008 R2 and Windows 7 in virtual machines, as well as Snow Leopard Server. (At this point, VirtualBox 3.2 was the only virtualization product to run Snow Leopard client in a virtual machine.) As before Parallels Server can run one or more copies of Mac OS X Server as guest OS's.

Version 4 also adds support for Apple xSAN and VLANs, and includes new features such as resource usage accounting, full and incremental backups, migration and conversion of virtual machines as well as express installations for Windows and Linux guests. The new version also supports Parallel's web-based management system, Parallels Virtual Automation, which enables the administration of multiple virtual machines on multiple computers from a single place.

The company targets Parallels Server for Mac 4 at small businesses and academic institutions that wish to consolidate servers into a single higher-end Mac computer, such as an Xserve or Mac Pro. Parallels Server for Mac 4 will be available for US $2000, with a free upgrade for owners of version 3 who have a maintenance contract. Owners of version 3 without a maintenance contract will be offered an upgrade price.