VMware ESX Server Named Best Overall Product in 2004 by the Editors of Windows IT Pro

Industry-leading Product Recognized for Innovation and Impact on the IT Community

PALO ALTO, Calif., December 14, 2004 — VMware, Inc., the global leader in virtual infrastructure software for industry-standard systems, today announced that the editors of Windows IT Pro Magazine have named VMware ESX Server the Best Overall Product in 2004. The award is the fifth major industry accolade that ESX Server has received over the last 12 months. Past industry recognition includes the CNET Enterprise Product of the Year award, IDG Enterprise Product of the Year award, Microsoft TechEd Europe Best of Show award and PC Magazine Technical Excellence award.

"We're honored to be recognized for our continuous innovation. Because the judges placed so much emphasis on the opinion of the IT community, it's a great endorsement of the company and of VMware ESX Server," said Michael Mullany, vice president of marketing at VMware. "2004 has been the year of virtual infrastructure in many ways as the technology has rapidly become a strategic priority for IT departments around the world."

The Windows IT Pro Editors' Choice awards, which were announced at Microsoft IT Forum in Copenhagen, recognize the development of innovative products and services that make a real difference in the IT community.

"Recognition from technical experts in the industry is an honor, and is the ultimate 'seal of approval' for the products that won," said Peg Miller, associate publisher of Windows IT Pro. "The Windows IT Pro Editors' Choice Awards were created as a way to give leading technology companies industry-wide recognition for developing innovative products and services that help connect the IT community."

VMware ESX Server is virtual infrastructure software for partitioning, consolidating and managing systems in mission-critical environments. Adopted by thousands of IT organizations worldwide over the last three years, ESX Server has saved hundreds of millions of dollars in costs through providing server consolidation, fast provisioning and disaster recovery. ESX Server provides a highly scalable platform with advanced resource management capabilities, which can be managed by VMware VirtualCenter. Using VMotion technology, enterprises are able to respond to changing business demands in real-time and move virtual machines from one physical server to another with continuous service availability.

About Windows IT Pro

First published in 1995, Windows IT Pro is an editorial leader in its field and the hub of the Windows IT community. Since its inception it has grown into an information network that includes the magazine, three print newsletters, 12 direct-request email newsletters, Web sites and in-person events such as Web seminars, road shows, trade shows and conferences. The magazine has a paid subscription base of 102,000; more than 2.3 million IT professionals are reached through the Windows IT Pro network every month. The magazine is published in 13 languages and has an international reach into 160 countries.

About VMware, Inc.

VMware, an EMC company (NYSE: EMC), is the global leader in virtual infrastructure software for industry-standard systems. The world's largest companies use VMware solutions to simplify their IT, fully leverage their existing computing investments and respond faster to changing business demands. VMware is based in Palo Alto, California. For more information, visit www.vmware.com or call 650-475-5000.

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