This so called "bare metal" version of XenServer is only half an MB (500 kB with 50,000 lines of code) in size and runs from flash memory integrated onto the Proliant server. This Citrix XenServer HP Select Edition will be available for 10 (x64) Proliant models. They will be available from March 31. Also, a kit can be ordered to retrofit selected existing servers to support Citrix XenServer HP Select Edition. The XenServer HP Select Edition is part of HP iVirtualization initiave. The iVirtualization homepage is where HP (inadtertently) mentions that Microsoft will also be delivering an embedded version of Hyper-V.

Recent rumors have it that Dell will be offering ESX 3i for free whereas it seems that HP will be charging for the Citrix XenServer HP Select Edition. At first glance this seems to make sense because Citrix XenServer HP Select Edition has a couple of interesting features (with some ESX3i does not have):

          

A GUI!
One of the biggest obvious missing pieces in ESX3i is the absence of a proper GUI. Well, Citrix XenServer HP Select Edition has one. It's the same Java-based GUI that you are accustomed to when initially setting up a Proliant server or using ILO. This GUI has been christened the PVC: HP ProLiant Virtual Console. So even though I'm not to happy about all the Java-based GUIs in the HP products this one looks solid.

ILO Support
Yes! This  can also be used from HP ILO. This makes configuring of Virtual machines a lot easier. Be aware though, you need ILO Advanced, which is the paid version if I'm not mistaking.

(HP) Management Software ready
Of course HP did not get into this deal to sell more hardware, it's about the software! So Proliant servers that come with Citrix XenServer HP Select Edition also come with HP Management software agents pre-installed. So HP Systems Insight Manager (SIM) can manage these servers as well. In addition, HP Virtual Machine Manager (VMM) also now supports Citrix XenServer and can be used to perform advanced management of virtual machines.

Easy Upgrade
Citrix XenServer HP Select Edition provides a simple license-key upgrade to Citrix XenServer Enterprise and Platinum edition. This would allow you to do "dynamic provisioning" of both virtual and physical servers. (so no need to re-install and such)

I think the key of Citrix XenServer HP Select Edition could be in the pricing. Again, rumor has it that ESX3i will be free with selected servers (at least that is what Dell seems to doing ). HP will now (or in the very near future) offer two Embedded hypervisors: XenServer HP Select Edition and VMware's ESX3i. In the future they will be supporting the embedded Microsoft Hyper-V as well.

Here's some additional info that's available on the Citrix XenServer HP Select Edition.

• Press Release
• Simon Crosby on XenServer HP Select Edition
• Configuring VM demo
• HP ProLiant Virtual Console demo