Parallels has released Parallels Server for Mac Bare Metal Edition, a new edition of its server virtualization software for Mac. Unlike the previously released Parallels Server for Mac, the Bare Metal Edition doesn't require a host operating system. The hypervisor is installed directly on the Mac hardware, and server operating systems run in virtual machines. The Bare Matal Edition can run multiple Windows and Linux servers and Mac OS X at the same time.

Although there are "bare metal" hypervisors available for server platforms, Parallels' new solution is the first for Apple hardware. Parallels said that the software is optimized for Apple's Xserve and will run on the Mac Pro as well.

The company said the Bare Metal version has increased performance for software running in the virtual machines. Parallels Server Bare Metal Edition can provide each virtual server OS with up to 12 virtual CPUs, 64 GB of virtual RAM, virtual disk images up to 2 TB in size, and up to 16 virtual network interface cards.

The new edition includes a set of management tools called Parallels Virtual Automation. A web interface is used to manage virtual machines running Mac OS X Server, Windows, and Linux. A migration utility provides for "hot migration," the ability to migrate physical servers into virtual machines without going offline. The software also enables administrators to create virtual machine templates than enable the deployment of a configured server virtual machine with "a few clicks."

Parallels is also promoting the use of Parallels Server for Mac Bare Metal Edition by cloud services providers. The company announced that web hosting Go Daddy will use Parallels Server for Mac Bare Metal Edition to offer Mac OS X services.

Parallels Server for Mac Bare Metal comes in a Small Business Edition (US $499 per server, unlimited CPUs), which includes Integrated snapshots, backups, live migration & resource monitoring and Gold Support. The $999 Standard Edition includes more management tools, resource monitoring, resource accounting & reporting, and resource scheduling.