Virtualization.com

News and insights from the vibrant world of virtualization and cloud computing

Robin Wauters

What’s Up At Virtugo Software?

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We got an interesting comment on our report on Qlusters calling it quits, which points us to the fact that the website of Virtugo Software has been down for some time. Commenter Blocka suspects the company has gone belly-up, since the phones have been disconnected and e-mails remain unanswered.

Virtugo Software had a powerful virtual management suite called VirtualSuite, enabling system administrators to monitor host and virtual servers in real-time as well as optimize the performance of applications running on the servers in the virtual environment. In April 2007, Virtugo was acquired by uXcomm, who changed its name in Virtugo Software, and in September 2007 they shipped an upgraded version of VirtualSuite, which got quite some positive reviews. The company also subsequently raised about $2 million in venture capital.

After that, it got a little quiet around Virtugo Software, with the exception of a Network World review of VirtualSuite in February 2008. Then one of the co-founders left the company to become a Vice President at Computer Associates last March. Apparently, Chris Dickson fled a sinking ship.

We have an e-mail in with the company for a response, and well update this post if we get an answer.

If anyone has more information, get in touch.

HP To Embed Parallels Virtuozzo In Integrity Server Line

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eWeek reports that HP will start selling and supporting Parallels‘ container virtualization technology, Virtuozzo, with its Integrity server line-up, starting today.

HP Integrity servers support the company’s Unix operating system, HP-UX, Microsoft Windows Server 2008 and several variations of Linux. The Parallels Virtuozzo containers are designed to work with both Windows and Linux. HP already embedded VMware ESX Server and Citrix XenServer at factory level, so this is a way for them to give customers even more options to virtualize.

The Parallels Virtuozzo containers will cost $4,500 per two processors and the Parallels Infrastructure Manager bundle costs $5,000. The Virtuozzo suite does not currently integrate with HP’s management software for Integrity.

SoftLayer Extends Offer With Windows Server 2008 Hyper-V

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SoftLayer extends its solution set to include virtualization with the release of Microsoft Windows Server 2008 Hyper-V. Hyper-V can be ordered through the SoftLayer customer portal and provisioned automatically along with a server’s operating system or systems.

“Deploying Hyper-V is the first step in an extensive virtualization strategy that we are rolling out over the coming months,” stated George Karidis, Chief Strategy Officer. “The opportunities and advantages of virtualization are radically impacting the way we envision SoftLayer’s future and our fundamental approach to server and data center architecture.”

Citrix Pushes Embedding XenServer With Extended OEM Incentive Program

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Citrix has extended its Citrix Advisor Rewards program today to pay channel partners on sales of Citrix XenServer software that ships as an embedded feature in servers from original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) like HP.

The program, originally introduced in 2004, pays Citrix Solution Advisors for designing and delivering solutions based on Citrix application delivery products, even if a different channel partner ultimately fulfills the order. Extending the program to include embedded versions of XenServer eliminates any potential channel conflict with OEM partners and ensures strong incentives across the board by compensating partners that influence embedded XenServer deals as well as those who fulfill them.

Citrix has announced several OEM agreements in recent months to embed XenServer in servers from systems vendors such as HP. As a result of today’s announcement, the Citrix Advisor Rewards program now pays channel partners on sales of these products, effectively eliminating potential channel conflict and focusing the extensive expertise of Citrix Solution Advisors on delivering the best possible solutions to customers.

“Customers want to implement virtualization with reduced risk, and HP understands that the channel is essential to meeting those requirements,” said Scott Farrand, vice president, Industry Standard Server Software, HP. “Citrix’s new channel program enables partners to offer a comprehensive virtualization solution that integrates the power of HP ProLiant servers with the rich functionality of the Citrix XenServer HP Select Edition from a single, reliable source.”

Dell Introduces Blade Chassis Virtualization Tool FlexAddress

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Dell has followed on the introduction of its PowerEdge M-Series blade server solution with Dell FlexAddress, a tool for blade chassis virtualization and persistent identity. Dell FlexAddress is in essence an I/O virtualization tool for its blade servers, making it easier for IT managers to install new blades and swap out servers.

Dell FlexAddress is enabled by a special SD card for the PowerEdge M1000e Chassis Management Controller (CMC) and the latest firmware. The FlexAddress SD card is now available worldwide with a starting price of $499.

Dell says FlexAddress allows any M-Series blade enclosure to abstract the Fibre Channel World Wide Name (WWN) and Ethernet/iSCSI Media Access Control (MAC) from the blade hardware and, instead, tie it persistently to a slot in the M1000e chassis. This feature provides customers with an efficient, flexible and consistent infrastructure. Dell FlexAddress is managed by the Chassis Management Controller (CMC) in the PowerEdge M1000e, keeping it agnostic to the I/O module and avoiding the need to “switch your switch.”

Since Dell FlexAddress is controlled by the Chassis Management Controller (CMC), it doesn’t add a management layer. This means it can seamlessly integrate into the network management tools already used in any data center today, such as CiscoWorks.

Univa UD Appoints New Management Team, Unveils New Data Center Automation Strategy

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Univa UD, a provider of data center automation and virtualization products, recently announced it has named industry veterans Alex Brown and Kent Purdy to lead its data center automation business division and retool its product suite. The announcement comes as Univa UD officially launches Reliance as its cornerstone product for service-based management of application delivery environments.

Brown joins Univa UD as VP and general manager of data center automation. Brown brings 20 years of experience and a wealth of enterprise software and data center strategy expertise to Univa UD. He joins the company from Dell, where he was the global leader in charge of developing Infrastructure Services solutions, most recently including Dell’s initial Virtualization and Data Center Power/Cooling offerings.

During his time at Dell, Brown also ran Asia-Pacific-Japan Consulting as well as his initial post at Dell leading Central United States Consulting. His previous firm, Plural, was acquired by Dell in 2002.

Also joining Univa UD is Kent Purdy, who will lead product development for the data center automation division. Purdy also brings more than 20 years experience in the business software industry, maintaining product focus specific to IT centric administration and management solutions for servers, distributed computing, and grid environments.

Purdy joins Univa UD from Altiris, where as senior product alliance manager he drove product strategy into partner roadmap and execution plans. At Altiris, Purdy managed Dell’s OpenManage product line, including Dell’s Client Manager for desktop and mobile management as well as their Dell Management Console server management platform. Purdy has also held lead product management positions at Platform Computing, Novell, and Citrix.

Univa UD at the same time officially launched its data center automation business, anchored by its Reliance product for service-level management of application delivery environments. Univa UD plans to release a major upgrade for Reliance in Q3 2008 including key partner integrations.