Virtualization.com

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

Robin Wauters

Xsigo Introduces First Adapter-Free Ethernet-based Virtual I/O

by Leave a Comment

Xsigo Systems yesterday announced a significant advancement in virtual I/O technology, simplifying and accelerating data center convergence – a key enabler of private cloud computing.

The company today released an Ethernet-based version of its award-winning Xsigo I/O Director, the industry’s first virtual I/O technology to leverage the standard Ethernet ports found on every x86 server.

The new technology helps customers drive enterprise efficiency – both OPEX and CAPEX – by connecting servers to every data center resource via a single conventional Ethernet server port. Unlike alternative approaches such as FCoE that require costly add-on cards, Xsigo’s new approach can deliver a complete end-to-end converged connectivity solution for less than $500 per server, or about 1/3 the cost of a converged network adapter (CNA) card alone.

Previously, infrastructure convergence meant purchasing add-on cards like FCoE adapters and PCIe link extenders that are disruptive to install, increase power consumption, and strain IT teams with laborious support tasks. Compared with these alternatives, Xsigo virtual I/O can save up to 80% on capital cost and avoid days or weeks of server downtime.

By connecting to servers via standard Ethernet ports, the new Xsigo I/O Director allows customers to:

  • Leverage the power of converged infrastructures with fast, simple and cost-effective deployment: Dynamically connect servers to as many as 64 isolated Ethernet and Fibre Channel networks with a single Ethernet cable to consolidate server connectivity and make private cloud architectures a reality.
  • Install on existing equipment without disruption: Companies can utilize the standard 1 gigabit and 10 gigabit Ethernet ports found in all x86 servers today – no special server hardware is required.
  • Spend less on new purchases: IT managers can save up to $5,600 per server by eliminating the converged network adapters required by other products.
  • Respond quickly to change: IT administrators can modify server connections in seconds via software rather than physically changing conventional adapters and cables, which can take hours or even days.

The new product installs in just minutes by connecting a server’s Ethernet port to the Xsigo I/O Director. Customers then install drivers to their server. Server I/O consolidation and management can begin immediately.

The Ethernet-based Xsigo I/O Director employs the same hardware and software platform as Xsigo’s proven InfiniBand-based I/O Director, which is deployed in more than 100 enterprise data centers worldwide and is demonstrated compatible with software and hardware from VMware, Microsoft, Citrix, Dell, HP, IBM, Hitachi, Oracle, EMC, NetApp, Cisco, Brocade and many others.

Available in September, the Ethernet-based Xsigo VP780 and VP560 I/O Directors are priced starting at $35,000.

Arkeia Software Releases Backup Agent For vSphere 4.1

by Leave a Comment

Arkeia Software, a provider of network backup solutions, today announced availability of Arkeia Network Backup v8.2 for VMware’s vSphere 4.1.

The Arkeia Network Backup Agent for vSphere 4.1 uses VMware’s latest vStorage APIs for Data Protection (VADP). The agent supports VMware’s Changed Block Tracking for fast incremental backups and both vCenter and vApp for flexible management of large vSphere deployments across multiple physical hosts. Learn more at www.arkeia.com/vstorage.

For a limited period, the Arkeia Virtual Appliance for VMware Essentials includes an Arkeia vStorage agent license for three VMware hosts. The standard package offers support for only one VMware host. This represents a discount of more than 60% over à la carte pricing.

The Arkeia Virtual Appliance is a preconfigured, ready-to-deploy backup server available for VMware ESX and ESXi.

This Arkeia Virtual Appliance package delivers a turn-key backup solution for a VMware Essential bundle (including 3 host servers) for less than $3,000.

DMTF’s Open Virtualization Format 1.1 Receives Thumbs Up From ANSI

by Leave a Comment

Distributed Management Task Force (DMTF), the organization bringing the IT industry together to collaborate on systems management standards development, validation, promotion and adoption, today announced that its Open Virtualization Format (OVF) standard version 1.1 has been adopted as an American National Standards Institute (ANSI) International Committee for Information Technology Standards (INCITS) standard.

This achievement marks a major milestone in DMTF’s efforts to enable interoperable, platform-independent cloud and virtual management solutions.

OVF has been designated as ANSI INCITS 469 2010 by the INCITS Executive Board. INCITS is accredited by ANSI, the organization that oversees the development of American National Standards. ANSI accreditation signifies that the procedures used by the standards body in connection with the development of American National Standards meet the Institute’s essential requirements for openness, balance, consensus and due process.

DMTF will continue to work with INCITS to submit OVF to the International Standards Organization/International Electrotechnical Commission (ISO/IEC) for adoption as an international standard.

First published in March 2009, OVF simplifies interoperability, security and machine lifecycle management by describing an open, secure, portable, efficient and extensible format for the packaging and distribution of workloads consisting of one or more virtual machines and applications. This enables software developers to ship pre-configured, ready-to-deploy solutions and allows end-users to distribute applications into their environments with minimal effort. OVF is the cornerstone of DMTF’s virtualization standards efforts and is also considered an important foundation for the organization’s cloud standards development.

HyTrust Partners With EMC’s RSA To Help Enable Visibility and Compliance in Virtual Infrastructure

by Leave a Comment

HyTrust today announced it has added interoperability with the RSA enVision platform, a leading 3-in-1 log management solution for Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) from RSA, The Security Division of EMC.

The combination of the HyTrust Appliance and RSA enVision platform puts powerful controls into the hands of joint customers, helping to enable them to confidently virtualize more workloads, satisfy compliance requirements and implement a cloud-based service model.

HyTrust Appliance provides a central point of control for compliance, access control and policy management for virtual infrastructure. It enables virtual environments to be as secure and operationally-ready as physical environments. HyTrust Appliance allows a broader adoption of virtualization, along with all the business and technological benefits that it brings.

By enabling separation of duty, restricted delegation and self-service, HyTrust allows organizations to adopt virtualization and cloud computing for their information technology needs.

The RSA enVision platform is designed to give organizations a single, integrated 3-in-1 log management solution for Security Information and Event Management to help simplify compliance; enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of security operations and risk mitigation; and optimize IT and network operations. The RSA enVision platform is engineered to provide automated collection, analysis, alerting, auditing, reporting and storage of IT log data.

VMware Details End-User Computing Strategy And Launches New Products

by Leave a Comment

VMware at VMworld outlined its vision for the future of end-user computing with new products and services to help organizations evolve their legacy desktop computing environments to a more modern, user-centric application and data delivery model.

In support of its end-user computing vision, VMware is launching new products that help CIOs move their organizations forward in an evolutionary journey, from today’s PC-centric environments to a future where users have access from any device to any application, enabled by cloud computing:

  • Modern Desktop Management and Delivery: At the core of VMware’s end-user computing model, VMware View 4.5 establishes a modern, user-centric desktop management and delivery architecture. Available in the coming weeks, VMware View 4.5 enables enterprises to improve security and compliance, lower operating costs, and simplify desktop administration and management for an even greater number of use cases than before.

VMware View 4.5 is the first enterprise-class solution that delivers rich user experiences across an organization on a growing number of devices at any location – online or offline. High-performance PC-over-IP technology enables users to work with their virtual desktops over a LAN or WAN connection, while VMware View with Local Mode enables secure offline access while leveraging local processing resources. The result is a seamless user experience designed to combine the best of desktop and client virtualization.

VMware View 4.5 delivers a simplified, integrated desktop and application management platform designed to enable IT organizations to manage tens of thousands of virtual desktops. VMware View 4.5 also manages applications from a centralized administrative interface while simplifying key IT processes such as provisioning, configuration management, connection brokering, policy enforcement and application assignment.

VMware View 4.5 also strengthens security and control by hosting virtual desktops centrally to prevent data leakage while leveraging VMware vShield Endpoint for enabling centralized anti-virus protection. VMware vShield Endpoint, in tandem with solutions from VMware ecosystem partners, will protect virtual machines and their hosts against malware, viruses and other intrusions by optimizing antivirus and other host and endpoint security for use in VMware-virtualized and cloud environments.

VMware vShield Endpoint is designed to eliminate the need for antivirus agent footprints by enabling the offloading of antivirus and anti-malware functions to hardened, tamper-proof virtual machines delivered by VMware security partners.

  • Unprecedented cost advantages with VMware View 4.5 –Tiered storage enhancements unique to VMware View 4.5 enable an unprecedented level of cost savings.   Enterprises leveraging existing client devices can now deploy a secure, flexible, and highly responsive, stateless virtual desktop at a datacenter infrastructure cost under $252 per user, more than 60 percent lower than previously published architectures. Learn more in a new reference architecture brief titled VMware Reference Architecture Brief for Stateless Virtual Desktops with VMware View 4.5.

Additional information on VMware View 4.5 can be found at  www.vmware.com/files/pdf/vmworld/view4.5-backgrounder-en.pdf

  • Application Independence: Available now, VMware ThinApp 4.6 simplifies application delivery by encapsulating applications into a single package that can be deployed, managed and updated independently from the underlying operating system – helping to reduce the cost and complexity of application delivery for customers. A key component of VMware View, VMware ThinApp enables enterprises to quickly migrate existing applications to Microsoft Windows 7, adding application compatibility to virtual desktop environments to reduce the management burden of desktop applications and images.

Additional information on VMware ThinApp 4.6 can be found at www.vmware.com/files/pdf/vmworld/thinapp4.6-backgrounder-en.pdf.

  • Enterprise-class Collaboration in the Cloud: Recently announced, Zimbra Appliance is a next generation email and collaboration solution delivered as a virtual appliance.  Designed to run on the VMware vSphere platform, Zimbra Appliance combines powerful enterprise features with maximum administration simplicity.  Flexible enough to run either within a customer datacenter or the public cloud, Zimbra Appliance, along with all of the Zimbra Collaboration Suite products, delivers rich application experiences on any device, online or offline, and provides them with a collaboration platform that enables rapid, seamless and secure access to corporate and personal applications and data.  In addition, Zimbra software is easier to deploy, manage and update, driving down TCO and increasing deployment flexibility.  As a result, customers and partners can manage their email and collaboration needs with fewer resources, lower costs and fewer risks.

VMware will deliver these solutions to customers the way they need them – either as enterprise-ready configurations or as a cloud-based service from VMware vCloud partners.

At VMworld 2010 in San Francisco, VMware will preview a cloud-based management service – codenamed Project Horizon – that will securely extend enterprise identities into the cloud and provide new methods for provisioning and managing applications and data based on the user, not the device or underlying operating system.

Project Horizon will establish a user’s “Cloud Identity,” securely extending on-premise directory services between private and public clouds and enabling customers to take advantage of the flexibility and new services in the public cloud while maintaining the security and control from their private clouds.

VMware Professional Services offers on-site, end-to-end consulting services to help customers who are interested in beginning the journey to a more modern, user-centric application and data delivery model.

For organizations looking to get started with VMware View 4.5, VMware offers three core assessment services: a Desktop Infrastructure Virtualization Assessment to identify both the users and desktops that are the best candidates to move into a virtual desktop environment; an Application Virtualization Assessment to identify which applications are the prime targets for virtualization; and a Desktop Virtualization Strategy Assessment that combines the Desktop Infrastructure Virtualization and Application Virtualization assessments with a strategic workshop to help organizations prepare and proactively manage for the successful adoption of this technology.

VMware Introduces vFabric Cloud Application Platform

by Leave a Comment

VMware at VMworld introduced its cloud application platform strategy and solutions, enabling developers to build and run modern applications that intelligently share information with underlying infrastructure to maximize application performance, quality of service and infrastructure utilization.

VMware vFabric cloud application platform combines the market-leading Spring Java development framework with platform services including lightweight application server, global data management, cloud-ready messaging, dynamic load balancing and application performance management. Applications built on VMware vFabric provide performance and portability across heterogeneous cloud environments.

Principles that have defined today’s most demanding consumer applications – built-in scalability, new data models, distributed infrastructures – are heavily influencing the production of new internal customer enterprise applications.  As such, these modern applications need to support dynamic user interactions, low-latency data access and virtual infrastructure all while meeting the security and compliance demands of the enterprise.  VMware vFabric is uniquely optimized for cloud computing’s increasingly dynamic architectures, unlike traditional middleware that requires complete stack control.

Applications are increasingly built with modern development frameworks that leverage runtime and data management services that are much more agile and designed for virtualization. An open solution, VMware vFabric will initially target the 2.5 million users that develop Spring Java applications. VMware vFabric will deliver the following key benefits:

  • Maximize Speed and Innovation: Customers can bring modern applications to market faster and with less complexity; new applications can be delivered in days or weeks rather than months or years, and at scale.
  • Extend the Benefits of Virtualization to the Application: VMware vFabric can coordinate with underlying infrastructure to help ensure optimal application performance, quality of service and infrastructure resource utilization.
  • An Evolutionary Path to the Cloud: Developers will be able to build new applications in a familiar and productive way while enabling the choice of where to run them, whether on premise or in public clouds such as VMforce or Google.

Spring can speed development by more than 50 percent through developer tools and features that make it easy to create new applications that:

  • Provide a rich, modern user experience across a range of platforms, browsers and personal devices
  • Integrate applications using proven Enterprise Application Integration patterns, including batch processing
  • Access data in a wide range of structured and unstructured formats
  • Leverage popular social media services and cloud service APIs

The VMware cloud application platform delivers modern middleware infrastructure to developers, application architects and IT teams as a collection of cloud-scale, integrated services:

  • Lightweight Application Server: tc Server, an enterprise version of Apache Tomcat, is optimized for Spring and VMware vSphere and can be instantaneously provisioned to meet the scalability needs of modern applications.
  • Data Management Services: GemFire speeds application performance and eliminates database bottlenecks by providing real-time access to globally distributed data.
  • Cloud-Ready Messaging Service: RabbitMQ facilitates communications between applications inside and outside the datacenter.
    Dynamic Load Balancer: ERS, an enterprise version Apache web server, helps ensure optimal performance by distributing and balancing application load.
  • Application Performance Management: Hyperic enables proactive performance management through transparent visibility into modern applications deployed across physical, virtual and cloud environments.