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VMware Details End-User Computing Strategy And Launches New Products

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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

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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.

VMware, Verizon To Launch Hybrid Cloud Solution

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At VMworld 2010 on Tuesday, Verizon Business and VMware unveiled a new enterprise-class hybrid cloud solution that will enable enterprises to move their applications to the cloud more quickly without compromising security or performance.

The new solution, underpinned by Verizon’s world-class global IP network and the industry-leading VMware vSphere virtualization platform, will help remove the major barriers to cloud computing adoption, while enabling the delivery of “IT as a Service.”

The new offering joins Verizon’s Computing as a Service (CaaS) portfolio of cloud computing services.

Earlier this month, Verizon began field trials of this new service — Computing as a Service (CaaS) enabled by VMware vCloud Datacenter — that will allow enterprises to decide which applications to move to the cloud so they can react more quickly to changing business conditions.  The hybrid cloud environment from Verizon and VMware will help enterprises leverage the scalability and cost effectiveness of the public cloud by paying only for IT resources consumed (server, connectivity, storage) while delivering the levels of security, performance and control available in private cloud environments.

Additionally, with Verizon’s new compute service, enterprises utilizing the VMware platform can leverage their existing infrastructure, tool and skill sets without changing their underlying IT setup.

Kerry Bailey, Verizon Business senior vice president for enterprise strategy, said, “Verizon is highly committed to helping large-business and government clients harness the transformative power of clou

Verizon’s latest enhancements to its CaaS platform are built on VMware vCloud Datacenter, leveraging VMware’s cloud infrastructure technology including VMware vSphere, the new VMware vCloud Director and VMware vShield™ security solutions.  This enhanced platform provides enterprises with consistent performance and auditable security, while integrating key Verizon security features including layer 2 isolation and LDAP integration with the addition of role-based access control.

By using the same VMware technology as they do their own data centers, enterprises can take advantage of a compatible virtualized data center management and security model that enables application portability across internal data centers and all VMware vCloud Datacenter services, making the transition to the cloud virtually seamless. Enterprise clients also have the option to architect their hybrid cloud using Verizon’s private MPLS-based network or its global IP network.

Computing as a Service (CaaS) is Verizon’s flagship cloud computing solution with built-in security and high performance.  CaaS is the first cloud solution to achieve PCI compliance, Verizon Security Management Program (SMP) compliance, SAP certification and VMware vCloud Datacenter certification to deliver a truly secure computing experience for enterprises around the globe. The CaaS platform is also SAS 70 Type II compliant.

BlueLock Launches VMware vCloud Datacenter Service With CloudConnector

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At VMworld 2010, BlueLock, a provider of cloud hosting and managed IT services, announced it is partnering with VMware to announce the beta availability of a new enterprise-class cloud service, VMware vCloud Datacenter Service in North America.

BlueLock is one of only three North American service provider partners to offer the vCloud Datacenter Service beta. As part of BlueLock’s enterprise cloud offering, the company also announces beta availability of BlueLock CloudConnector, a plug-in that enables VMware customers to view and manage private cloud environments and BlueLock’s public VMware vCloud Datacenter Service resources in a single interface.

As a VMware vCloud Datacenter beta provider, BlueLock’s public cloud is an enterprise-class cloud delivering consistent and auditable security and performance features including layer 2 isolation, role-based access control and LDAP integration in a SAS 70 type II certified data center. BlueLock’s use of the same VMware technology provides a common management and security model that enables complete application portability across internal data centers and all VMware vCloud Datacenter services.

With BlueLock CloudConnector, VMware customers can immediately realize the benefits of the next generation of cloud capabilities provided by VMware vCloud Director, the cloud delivery platform for VMware vCloud Datacenter. BlueLock CloudConnector for VMware vCloud Director enables current VMware customers to view and manage their existing VMware environment (their private cloud) and BlueLock’s VMware-based public cloud resources in the VMware vSphere Client control panel they already have, making the transition to public cloud even easier for existing VMware administrators.

BlueLock hosted VMware vCloud Datacenter Service with BlueLock CloudConnector is available immediately for beta.

To get started, VMware customers must contact BlueLock for a beta account, then download and install the BlueLock CloudConnector into their VMware vSphere Client interface. Additional capabilities will be rolled out in general availability planned for later this year.

Virtual Computer Launches NxTop 3.0 At VMworld

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Virtual Computer has announced NxTop 3.0; a suite of products for large enterprises, businesses, and consumers.

Distributed management features, stand-alone bare-metal (Type 1) hypervisor with quick-booting virtual appliance for server- and cloud-based computing, and broad PC hardware coverage, extend NxTop support to any size organization and type of user.

NxTop 3.0 suite includes:

  • NxTop Enterprise: Desktop virtualization and management solution for large organizations; includes NxTop Business with added distributed remote-office management and help-desk support.
  • NxTop Business: Desktop virtualization and management solution suitable for organizations from 5 to 500 users operating in a LAN environment.
  • NxTop Express: Free desktop virtualization and management solution for five users.
  • NxTop Workstation: Free stand-alone Type 1 hypervisor with local virtual machine installer and a quick-booting virtual appliance for access to server- and cloud-based applications.

NxTop Express and NxTop Workstation can be downloaded from the Virtual Computer website. NxTop Enterprise and NxTop Business will be generally available September 2010.

New Distributed Management Features

NxTop was the first product to combine centralized virtual desktop management with distributed execution on a bare-metal client hypervisor. By distributing the deployment model to take advantage of remote servers, NxTop customers can reduce their operational costs in half without sacrificing mobility or user computing experience, even in bandwidth-constrained environments. NxTop 3.0 broadens these capabilities with new management features that include:

  • Hierarchical Management enables deployment of NxTop Center servers at remote offices that use intelligent caching for more efficient bandwidth utilization.
  • Remote Help Desk Capability allows IT administrators remote control of end-user PCs, providing assistance across all areas of the platform.
  • Policy-based Bandwidth Throttling between NxTop Center and client hypervisor ensures business critical network traffic can be prioritized over system updates and backups.

New Client Features

With NxTop 3.0, IT organizations can create a single managed infrastructure of PCs that will support any combination of local desktops, remote VDI sessions, and server- and cloud-based applications. Enhancements include:

  • NxTop Connect: Quick-booting (in seconds) embedded virtual appliance that provides seamless access to server- and cloud-based applications and server-hosted desktops from all major VDI vendors. Pre-loaded applications include Google Chrome, Skype, and RDP client. NxTop Connect can run standalone on the desktop as thin client or alongside locally executing virtual machines.
  • Local Creation of Virtual Machines: IT departments can enable end-users to create their own personal virtual machines that run alongside corporate virtual machines with full isolation (e.g. viruses cannot spread across virtual machines).

Broad PC Hardware Compatibility

NxTop 3.0 supports the broadest set of new and old PCs and peripheral devices in the industry, specifically:

  • Intel: Any multi-core CPU with VT-x
  • AMD: Any multi-core CPU with AMD-V
  • Enhanced Graphics: Recent graphics chipsets from Intel, NVIDIA, and ATI
  • 3G/4G Modems: Integrated and USB-based 3G/4G broadband modems
  • USB: All categories of USB devices including web-cams and other multi-function devices along with policy based filtering/enabling
  • Serial Ports: Access to older printer devices used in banking and health-care environments
  • 64-bit Guest OS: 32-bit and 64-bit Windows configurations

Zmanda Upgrades VMware Backup Client For Amanda Enterprise

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Zmanda, provider of open source based backup solutions and a VMware Technology Alliance Partner, recently announced enhancements to its VMware Backup Client for Amanda Enterprise (AE).

In addition to running a full image-level backup of a live virtual machine (VM), users now have the ability to run faster and more efficient block-level differential backups of VMs. During recovery, the Zmanda’s VMware backup client will automatically combine a full backup image with the relevant differential backup image.

Performance benefits are also achieved with the new VMware Client because only those blocks that are being used by the virtual machine are backed up. The client skips the unused raw space on the Virtual Machine Disks (VMDKs), which considerably reduces the size of backup images. This also makes the backup process faster by reducing the amount of data being transferred over the LAN.

Also announced today, VMware vSphere backup is now a built-in feature of the Zmanda Backup Appliance (ZBA).

ZBA is a pre-loaded VM, licensed, and configured with Amanda Enterprise and can immediately back up all virtual machines running on the same hypervisor as the appliance. With its flat rate, all inclusive pricing model, ZBA is a very cost effective alternative to licensing backup for each virtual machine in the environment.

vSphere is VMware’s first cloud operating system, able to manage large pools of virtualized computing infrastructure, including software and hardware.

Zmanda VMware Backup Client supports backup of VMs running on vSphere Essentials, vSphere Essential Plus, vSphere Standard, vSphere Advanced, vSphere Enterprise, or vSphere Enterprise Plus. Zmanda’s VMware backup solution provides end-to-end recovery of a VM to the original hypervisor or even to a completely independent hypervisor.

AE is an enhanced and supported version of the world’s most popular open source backup and recovery software. AE allows users to easily and affordably backup, archive, and recover servers, workstations, desktops and business-critical applications across a network. The backup data and archives can be stored on disks, tape, optical devices or storage clouds such as Amazon S3.

ZBA is a pre-configured virtual backup server powered by SUSE Linux Enterprise Server. ZBA enables IT organizations to quickly and easily install a backup and recovery solution for heterogeneous desktops and servers. ZBA can backup information to local disk, tape, and is the first virtual appliance that can backup to a public or private cloud. Zmanda developed the ZBA solution as part of the SUSE Appliance Program, a comprehensive business and technology program that enables Independent Software Vendors (ISVs) to rapidly build, update, configure and go to market with fully-supported software and virtual appliances.

The VMware Client for AE is immediately available for $300 and may be purchased and downloaded from www.zmanda.com/aee. ZBA is immediately available at a starting price of $600 per year and may be purchased and downloaded fromhttp://www.zmanda.com/zba.html.