Partnerships

Verari Systems Joins Forces With Xsigo To Deliver Integrated Compute and I/O Density Solution

May 28, 2008 by Robin Wauters Leave a Comment

Verari Systems, a developer of blade-based computing and storage solutions and Xsigo today announced a high-density blade solution that offers virtualized network and storage connectivity. Available immediately and sold through Verari Systems, the new solution integrates Verari’s BladeRack 2 X-Series computing platform with Xsigo’s VP780 I/O Director.

The companies claims the integrated solutions increases up to ten times the I/O connections per blade as compared to other solutions available in the market today.

“Blade systems are an ideal complement for server virtualization,” said Mark Bowker, analyst, Enterprise Strategy Group. “When you add dynamic virtual I/O to this mix, it takes the value of the entire back-end to a whole new level, compounding all the benefits each derives independently. This kind of packaged functionality is exactly what is required to make the ‘virtual data center’ a reality. When you boil it down, these are root capabilities to make everything from Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) to ‘utility’ computing to ‘greening up’ the data center legitimate and not just marketing hype.”

According to the press release, the Verari and Xsigo solution supports green IT by increasing compute density, enabling complete lights-out management, and allowing users to run more virtual machines per blade. Server I/O infrastructure may be reduced by 70 percent, while overall data center efficiency is increased by 100 percent.

“The increasing demand for Web 2.0 applications in the enterprise is driving unstructured data at more than 100 percent growth,” said Dan Gatti, senior vice president of Marketing, Verari Systems. “These applications require more storage and I/O connections, and as IT managers virtualize more servers, system performance is stressed. By working together, Verari and Xsigo are providing the best solution available on the market to address the requirement of high density computing and I/O and redefine the standard in enterprise computing.”

Fujitsu Siemens Now Shipping PRIMERGY BladeFrame With VMware Infrastructure 3

May 26, 2008 by Robin Wauters 2 Comments

Fujitsu Siemens Computers recently announced it will be shipping PRIMERGY BladeFrame (powered by Egenera) combined with VMware Infrastructure 3.

Here’s how the company explains the move:

“The virtualization boom has revolutionized data centers, accelerating the shift from fixed, unresponsive, locked-down server resources to dynamic data centers of the future, where server resources are allocated according to demand and are reconfigured on-the-fly to guarantee that they always provide the best-possible levels of availability.

Introducing the market leading data center software virtualization platform to the highly-versatile PRIMERGY BladeFrame line means that Fujitsu Siemens Computers and VMware are delivering the industry’s ultimate platform for data center virtualization, bar none.”

[Source: MySolutionInfo]

Alternative Technology Adds McAfee Security Solutions and Services

May 22, 2008 by Robin Wauters Leave a Comment

Alternative Technology, an Arrow Electronics company and specialty distributor of thin-client/server-based computing, edge infrastructure, virtualization, and security solutions, has announced it will distribute the full line of McAfee security software, appliances and managed security services for small to medium businesses and enterprises. Those offerings include: system/endpoint security, network security, data protection, and risk and compliance management.

Alternative Technology will offer McAfee’s complete line of security solutions which can protect consumers, small business, and all types of enterprises. McAfee Total Protection Suites offer security solutions for servers, networks, desktops and mobile devices.

McAfee solutions offered by Alternative Technology include the recently announced 10Gbs Network Security Platform and high-performance McAfee Content Security Blade Server. McAfee offers scalability for security and compliance management for networks, data and endpoints across large-scale physical and virtual environments as well as small-scale and mid-size networks.

“McAfee security solutions are a significant addition to our line card and will be well received by our North American channel partners,” said Tom Zorn, senior vice president, Alternative Technology. “They complement our other products and service offerings. In particular, McAfee’s recently announced Email and Web Security Virtual Appliance, in beta, built from the ground up for the VMware platform, McAfee’s new virtual infrastructure security assessment service, and their plans to embed VMware’s VMsafe security technology into future McAfee security solution offerings, tie in very well with our rapidly growing VMware business.”

Complementing Alternative Technology’s professional methodology for security assessment, remediation and management, is the McAfee Foundstone Professional Services offering. The Foundstone Virtual Infrastructure Security Assessment is the first security service dedicated to virtualization. McAfee security solutions will also be added to Alternative Technology’s PCI Compliance Solutions Program.

IGEL’s Range Of Thin Clients Supports Citrix XenDesktop

May 21, 2008 by Robin Wauters Leave a Comment

IGEL Technology announced the broadest range of thin client models supporting the important Citrix XenDesktop virtualization standard. With all of its 22 (!) models now supporting Citrix XenDesktop, IGEL claims its unique digital services approach allows organizations to offer the best user experience combined with robust desktop resilience and powerful remote management.

The IGEL Technology range includes traditional desktop designs, PC upgrade cards, 17” and 19” LCD integrated units, wireless tablets and quad screen units. The variety of choice allows organizations of all types to deploy the Citrix XenDesktop virtualization solution to almost any part of the business, including office workers, mobile users, space constrained point-of-sale areas and multi-screen environments such as dealing rooms.

The flexibility of the IGEL approach allows organizations to pick and choose the best digital services to deliver a true PC experience, including web browser, Java, SAP GUI, PDF, terminal emulation and VoIP. This also provides desktop resilience if the virtual PC connection should be lost, for example, users can access email via the local web client or SAP via the native SAP GUI in this event.

“The arguments for virtualizing PCs are becoming overwhelming,” said Dirk Dördelmann, technical director, IGEL Technology. “Applications can now be migrated to the data center without compatibility issues. The access device choice is so broad that organizations can place them almost anywhere, and the process of deployment is no more complex than plugging in a telephone. IGEL offers the end user a thin client experience that is just like a PC but without the hassles, and we are excited to now offer this capability in conjunction with our long-term partner Citrix.”

VMware Introduces New Partner Programs

May 7, 2008 by Robin Wauters Leave a Comment

At VMware Partner Exchange 2008, VMware today announced new and enhanced strategic enhancements to its partner programs. The enhancements build on initiatives announced in February 2008 to enhance the VMware VIP Partner Program, helping VMware’s more than 13,000 partners around the world that resell VMware virtualization solutions “by accelerating partners’ expertise, profitability and opportunity in VMware virtualization.”

New program enhancements include:

Expansion of the VMware Authorized Consultant Program
A new VMware Alliance Affiliate Initiative to accelerate profitability through joint solution selling with VMware’s technology alliance partners
New programs designed to capitalize on the market opportunity of VMware virtualization

“These new benefits take the value proposition of VMware virtualization to new levels,” said Steve Houck, vice president of worldwide channels at VMware. “We continue to enable our business partners to build VMware virtualization practices that are profitable, offer customers advanced training for sophisticated VMware deployments, and deliver increased opportunity. VMware’s business partners are poised to lead the way for new and existing customers of all sizes in the rapidly growing virtualization market.”

As for the company’s training and education programs:

The enhanced VMware Authorized Consultant Program enables VMware to better offer its channel partners the resources necessary to build and expand their VMware services practices quickly. New features include access to important tools and resources, such as the VMware Service Acceleration kits—which help partners fine-tune their services offerings for chargeback, configuration management and FDA compliance—as well as technical training that helps partners develop robust services offerings. The program will also provide partners with access to the VMware Authorized Training Center (VATC) program in North America during the second half of 2008. This enables VMware VIP partners that meet certain criteria to become a VATC to offer additional value to customers by providing extensive training options.
VMware PartnerPath, the VMware partner training roadmap, has been further enhanced with a family of four new whiteboard training modules called SolutionTrack Whiteboarding. SolutionTrack Whiteboarding consists of flexible education options from instructor-led training classes to a selection of self-paced online courses. This training helps partners work with customers to develop a successful strategy for virtualizing their datacenters and desktops. For consultants, VMware is also introducing the Services Enablement Framework, a common and standard way of mapping services assets and tools to training and business development activities to improve partner engagement.
VMware will be launching the VMware Certified Design Expert (VCDX) program for VMware Infrastructure 3, which is an advanced certification program for VAC partners who are already VMware Certified Professionals (VCPs) and who want to take their VMware virtualization expertise to the most advanced level. This program is for architects who design VMware enterprise deployments. The program measures technical professionals’ abilities to assess their customers’ needs and teaches them to design VMware Infrastructure deployments for an enterprise datacenter as well as implement, test, document and present the design. This certification program provides the highest level of technical expertise in VMware virtualization.

SunGard Leverages Virtualization For Disaster Recovery, Teams Up With VMware

May 5, 2008 by Robin Wauters Leave a Comment

SunGard Availability Services today announced a partnership with VMware, leveraging its virtualization technology to create a suite of simple, fully-managed AdvancedRecovery services, including managed virtual recovery services. The offering is expected to be available later this year.

“VMware’s virtualization platform is transforming disaster recovery by helping companies to protect a wide range of applications and data,” said Frank Casey, vice president of product strategy for SunGard. “We are working with VMware to create a faster, centralized and automated information availability service to help organizations of all sizes that need to protect both virtual and traditional IT environments. It is the next stage of SunGard’s commitment to delivering AvancedRecovery solutions to companies with varying IT infrastructure needs, and we are tapping the best minds and technologies in the industry to make this happen.”

Sungard Availability Services operates more than 3 million square feet of hardened facilities. Sungard Availability services range from 48-hour disaster recovery hot-sites to always-on, high-availability infrastructure and electronic vaulting services. It has more than 25,000 customers in more than 50 countries, including the world’s 50 largest financial services companies.

[Source: Data Center Knowledge]