Microsoft has opened up the Beta program for one of its latest virtualization tools, the Offline Virtual Machine Servicing Tool. The tool aims to address one of the new IT challenges created by virtualization - how do I keep my offline, stored or template virtual machine images up-to-date? Virtual machines that are stored offline for a period of time are not receiving updates or patches to its operating system, Microsoft has opened up the Beta program for one of its latest virtualization tools, the Offline Virtual Machine Servicing Tool. The tool aims to address one of the new IT challenges created by virtualization – how do I keep my offline, stored or template virtual machine images up-to-date? Virtual machines that are stored offline for a period of time are not receiving updates or patches to its operating system, applications or anti-virus solution. These images typically become out-of-date and out of compliance, and if deployed or cloned, they can either quickly be attacked, compromised or attack other network resources.While the name of the tool is “Offline Virtual Machine Servicing Tool”, the tool doesn’t quite go as far as you might think, not yet anyway. At the present time, the tool involves bringing the “offline” virtual machine “online” in order to update it, and when finished, it returns it back to its offline and stored state. The tool sounds very similar to VMware’s new Update Manager tool, also used for patch management. Microsoft’s tool works with Microsoft System Center Virtual Machine Manager 2007 (VMM), PowerShell, and either Microsoft Windows Server Update Services 3.0 (WSUS) or Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager 2007.Microsoft describes the workflow like so: The tool uses “servicing jobs” to manage the update operations based on lists of existing virtual machines stored in VMM. Using Windows Workflow Foundation technology, a servicing job runs snippets of PowerShell scripts to work with virtual machines. For each virtual machine, the servicing job: “Wakes” the virtual machine (deploys it to a host and starts it). Triggers the appropriate software update cycle (Configuration Manager or WSUS). Shuts down the updated virtual machine and returns it to the library. The tool works with Windows Task Scheduler to determine when to run the servicing job.If you haven’t already, sign up for Microsoft Connect and then sign up for the Beta of Offline Virtual Machine Servicing Tool. Software Development