The OpenVZ project (http://openvz.org) today announced availability of its operating system (OS) server virtualization software as a modified version of the CentOS 4.4 bootable Live CD so that users can test drive the OpenVZ software without changes to their computer or installing anything on their hard disk.

"We're following on the success of our delivery of a Live CD for the Knoppix distribution, which is very popular with hobbyists," said Kir Kolyshkin, manager of the OpenVZ project. "Now, we're taking a new direction with CentOS, known as the community enterprise operating system, which gives those users a risk-free way to test OpenVZ."

"Adding OpenVZ software on top of CentOS in a LiveCD format is a unique, easy and powerful way to bring virtualisation within reach of users," said Dag Wieers, CentOS team member. "Once tested and proven, this combination is easily deployed for production use as well."

CentOS (http://centos.org) is a free enterprise-class Linux distribution. The bootable CentOS Live CD with OpenVZ can be downloaded here, http://wiki.openvz.org/Download_live_CD#CentOS. It is not necessary to install anything on a hard disk and there is no need to have a Linux distribution installed.

A step-by-step guide explaining how to add OpenVZ software function to the Centos 4.4 Live CD can be found here, http://wiki.openvz.org/Creating_OpenVZ_LiveCD_based_on_Centos_4.4. The Wiki site serves as a forum to gain and share knowledge about OpenVZ and includes documentation and a knowledge base, including this information which explains the basic operations with a Live CD, http://wiki.openvz.org/Getting_started_with_OpenVZ_live_CD.

The OpenVZ project freely distributes and offers support to its users, promoting operating system virtualization through a collaborative, community effort. Supported by SWsoft, the OpenVZ project serves the needs of the community developers, testers, documentation experts, and other technology enthusiasts who wish to participate in and accelerate the technology development process. OpenVZ is open source software that is used as the basis for the SWsoft Virtuozzo virtualization software product.

Since going into full production late in 2005, the OpenVZ project has been very active with the user community with more than 20,000 message posts on its support Forum. The OpenVZ website attracts tens of thousands of visitors each month as more businesses and individuals explore and contribute to the leading open source operating system virtualization project.