Virtualization.com

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

Robin Wauters

CommVault Releases Results Of End-User Virtualization Survey

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CommVault last week released the results of its Virtualization Survey, which polled Simpana software customers worldwide to determine the key factors driving adoption of server virtualization and the major challenges associated with managing these environments.

-A total of 479 respondents underscored the continued rise in server virtualization, with 46 percent of those polled citing that between 51- and 85-percent of their total servers were virtualized while 21 percent reported successful virtualization of all or nearly all servers. VMware was listed as the virtualization platform of choice by 83 percent of those polled.

The survey revealed that the top three factors driving server virtualization decisions among the respondents are: the need for improved business cost savings and efficiencies, customer responsiveness and improved service levels. The opportunity to leverage virtualization as an alternative disaster recovery strategy was also cited.

-The majority of CommVault customers polled for this survey are running mission-critical applications on VMs in their production environment. Some industry commentary has suggested that many organizations are reluctant to deploy vital applications on virtualized infrastructures because of data protection concerns. With Simpana software, CommVault continues to address these concerns, effectively alleviating data management difficulties in virtualized environments.

According to those polled, the top three challenges relative to managing virtualized server environments include the inability to backup all virtual machines (VMs) reliably and in a timely manner, additional resource costs and administrative time due to lack of data management automation and the increased demand for corporate-wide virtualization.

HP To Acquire 3PAR After Dell Walks Away From Bidding War

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The bidding war between HP and Dell for data storage company 3PAR is over.

The winner? Hewlett-Packard, with a $2.4 billion offer. That was 83 percent above Dell’s first offer and more than three times what 3Par stock was trading at then.

The only silver lining for Dell?

It is entitled to receive a $72 million break-up fee from 3PAR upon the termination of its merger agreement.

Make sure to read this good article from the AP following Dell’s withdrawal from the bidding war.

Wyse Launches PocketCloud 2.0, A Mobile Cloud App for iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad

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Wyse Technology has announced the upcoming availability of Wyse PocketCloud 2.0 for iPhone, iPod touch and iPad. Wyse PocketCloud 2.0 can be purchased from the iTunes App Store.

Wyse PocketCloud is a remote desktop application that has been extremely successful in the iTunes app marketplace, and is ranked among the top 10 business applications since it was introduced at VMworld 2009.

It allows end users to access their files, desktop and applications on any physical or virtualized infrastructure via a choice of popular, well supported protocols. Wyse PocketCloud is VMware Ready Certified for VMware View™ for the entire family of Apple iOS devices (iPhone, iPod touch and iPad), with seamless integration into a pre-existing VMware View environment with no special setup or software required.

Wyse PocketCloud provides secure mobile display and control of physical or virtual instances of Microsoft Windows 7, Windows XP, Windows Vista, Remote Desktop Services, and Terminal Services features in Windows Server products.

Wyse PocketCloud for iPhone and iPad also includes the new Wyse PocketCloud Premium. Wyse PocketCloud Premium enables a richer and more intuitive interaction with the multimedia, files and applications in your Windows desktops.

New in Wyse PocketCloud for iOS devices (iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad):

  • Auto Discovery: Secure hassle-free access to your devices with minimal setup, no technical know-how needed
  • VNC Support: Connect to your Mac, and Home editions of Windows
  • External Monitor support on iPhone 4 and iPad (requires Apple’s VGA adapter): Share your desktop on an external display
  • Performance improvements made for iOS 4
  • iPhone 4 retina display support

Wyse PocketCloud Premium

  • Video Streaming: Stream media video files (mpeg, wmv, avi) from your remote desktop to your device anywhere over WiFi and 3G
  • File Browser: Quick access to applications, files and active applications
  • Need a file and don’t know where you put it? Finding files is easy with desktop and folder search
  • Thin Browser enhancements: Use your remote desktop’s Internet Explorer bookmarks and history

Promotional pricing will continue at $14.99.

All customers using Wyse PocketCloud 2.0 will have access to the new Wyse PocketCloud Premium that enables new capabilities during your remote desktop experience. Wyse PocketCloud Premium will be available in 3 month and 12 month increments at $2.99 and $9.99 respectively. All versions will be available at the iTunes App Store.

Quest Software’s Virtualization Monitoring Solution vFoglight Will Support Microsoft Hyper-V

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Quest Software today announced that vFoglight, its solution for virtualization monitoring and capacity planning, will support Microsoft Hyper-V and provide increased automation of virtual infrastructures with vFoglight 6.5, currently planned for release in Q4 2010.

vFoglight now also supports Microsoft Active Directory and Microsoft Exchange.

Quest is working to set a new standard for analyzing and monitoring performance and capacity across physical, virtual and cloud infrastructures while easing administration through automation.

Features and enhancements included in vFoglight 6.5 include:

  • Extended Hypervisor Support – Manage multiple hypervisor platforms, including VMware and Microsoft Hyper-V, more consistently and effectively.
  • Administration – Reduce time and costs of empowering administrators to start, stop and pause VMs, in the context of daily activities.
  • Event Remediation – Administrators can view alarms then speed mean-time-to-resolution for problems by launching workflows to automate resolution.
  • User Perspectives – Designed to provide administrators tailored views for understanding performance monitoring, capacity planning, chargeback, and more.
  • Enhanced FAQts – First introduced with vFoglight 6.0, the enhanced FAQts in vFoglight 6.5 provide factual information about the dynamic infrastructure, displayed clearly for administrators.

AppDynamics Survey Claims Mere 14% of Companies Have Virtualized Mission-Critical Applications

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AppDynamics has announced the results of its Application Virtualization Outlook survey.

Focused on understanding enterprise efforts to virtualize business applications, the survey revealed a significant divide in the pace of adoption of virtualization for non-critical systems versus mission-critical systems.

In particular, the results show that the majority of companies have yet to move Tier 1, mission-critical applications to virtual environments. Despite widely acknowledging the benefits of virtualization, most companies noted that they need more evidence that mission-critical applications will succeed in virtual environments.

According to the survey:

Application Virtualization Experiences ‘VM Stall’

While 83 percent report they have virtualized their non-critical applications and systems, in stark contrast, only 14 percent of respondents reported that they have fully virtualized “Tier 1” applications. With regard to those mission-critical applications, respondents said they were 50 percent more likely to virtualize applications used by employees than to virtualize the applications that directly interact with customers.

People, Performance & Design Are Top Concerns

When asked about the primary obstacles preventing the virtualization of mission-critical applications, respondents cited ‘people issues’, performance and design concerns as most the common. In fact, 52 percent of companies noted that application owners have blocked the project to virtualize a Tier 1 application. At the same time, 49 percent worry that the applications aren’t designed to support virtualization and 45 percent cited concerns about performance degradation once virtualized.

Benefits Are Clear, Confidence Is Lacking

While these concerns persist, there is wide recognition that compelling benefits exist when companies virtualize mission-critical applications. 59 percent strongly agree that virtualization would result in server consolidation and related power and cooling savings, while 49 percent strongly agree that failover/disaster recovery capabilities would improve in a virtual environment. 41 percent agree that their IT agility and responsiveness to the business would improve. Yet, the majority of companies still expressed a lack of confidence that their applications could succeed in virtual environments.

For more information about the Application Virtualization Outlook survey visit their blog.

Pano Logic Launches Zero Client Certification Program

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Pano Logic, provider of zero client desktop virtualization solutions, has announced a partner certification program to provide new users with additional resources that will help them quickly implement and test desktop virtualization with the Pano Logic zero client desktop virtualization solution.

The inaugural class, comprised of representatives from Pano Logic’s global network of 300 authorized channel partners, will take place during VMworld and emphasize conducting and evaluating successful pilots.

The partner program expands the resources Pano Logic has invested in its channel, which handles nearly 100 percent of the company’s sales. The program will provide basic technical training on installing and managing Pano System deployments across a range of network architectures with an emphasis on successful pilots and evaluation services.

The program also extends Pano Logic’s efforts to assist end users in their rollout of new virtual desktop deployments. The most recent move was the May release of the Pano Express, a pre-loaded, pre-configured 50-user suite combining VMware vSphere Essentials, Microsoft Windows 7 licenses, and server and storage hardware with Pano Logic’s award-winning zero client platform.

Pano Express drastically reduces the capital costs (CAPEX) and complexity of implementing VDI deployments and eliminates the need for specialized skills or training.

Pano Logic Zero Client Computing:

  • Pano Logic solves major challenges inherent in the current PC-based, client-server computing model, while providing end users with the same, familiar PC-like Windows experience.
  • End users connect to their virtual machine with a zero client that contains no processor, no operating system, no memory, no drivers, no software and no moving parts. This represents a major shift from highly complex and costly PC and thin client computing solutions.
  • Pano Logic radically reduces computing TCO by as much as 80 percent by completely eliminating endpoint device management, support and obsolescence and centralizing 100 percent of computing in the data center.
  • Pano Logic starts a $319 per seat and is also available in a pre-configured, pre-loaded all-in 50-user suite combining VMware vSphere™ Essentials, Microsoft Windows 7 licenses, and server and storage hardware with Pano Logic’s award-winning zero client platform.