virtualisation

Egenera Introduces PAN Manager 5.2

January 20, 2009 by Robin Wauters Leave a Comment

Egenera today announced its next generation software solution for unifying virtual and physical infrastructure management, PAN Manager 5.2.

New features including open APIs enable customers and third parties to integrate PAN Manager commands and functions into their own software suites. By logically abstracting and representing all types of computing assets, both physical and virtual, PAN Manager simplifies the data center environment while ensuring high availability and full disaster recovery.

PAN Manager’s reliable virtualized architecture is based on industry standards and supports popular hypervisors, SANs and server platforms. PAN Manager minimizes data center complexity, and reduces operational and capital expenditures by up to 70 percent.

The major innovations in the latest release of PAN Manager software focus on simplifying manageability through an increasingly granular level of management for both virtual and physical resources. The many major new and enhanced features in PAN Manager software, release 5.2 include:

Open APIs enabling customers or third parties to integrate PAN Manager commands and functions into their own software suites;
Linux 2.6 kernel compatibility to run PAN Controllers for enhanced performance;
Embedded Citrix 4.1 technology enabling Live Migration, support for Red Hat 64-bit operating systems and dynamic memory allocation;
Support for vLAN technology enabling superior flexibility in designing computing environments within the processing area network – the PAN; and
Support for WinPE 2.1 enabling customers to utilize industry standard tools to manage their Microsoft operating system deployments and provisioning.

PAN Manager software by Egenera, release 5.2, is available immediately.

Cisco Plans Bold Move Into Server Business, Enters Arena With HP And IBM

January 20, 2009 by Robin Wauters 1 Comment

According to the NY Times, Cisco Systems is planning a big push into the server market, essentially entering into competition with its historical partners HP and IBM (who declined to comment on the story).

A risky move for Cisco, but a very interesting one.

The product — a server computer equipped with sophisticated virtualization software — is a bold but risky move by Cisco into an unfamiliar, intensely competitive market that typically produces far lower profits than Cisco makes from network gear. But it reflects the company’s ambition to grow beyond its roots as the so-called plumber of the Internet to offer everything from instant messaging software to digital stereos.

As The Register points out, VMware technology is likely the foundation of the virtualization part, since Cisco still owns part of the company (about 2%). Cisco is not disclosing any specifics though, but the NY Times learned that Cisco could show off the first of its new systems as early as March.

Acquisition rumors between Cisco Systems and VMware (and even EMC in full) are sure to flare up again.

A good follow-up article was published on Forbes.

Evolve Technologies CEO Dave Sobel Releases Book On Virtualization

January 19, 2009 by Robin Wauters Leave a Comment

Evolve Technologies today announced that CEO, Dave Sobel, will release his first book on virtualization at Reiter’s Books in Washington D.C. on Thursday, January 22 at 6:00 p.m.

Sobel’s book entitled, “Virtualization: Defined. A Primer for the SMB Consultant,” explores, in depth, the basics of this technology for small to medium-sized business (SMB) solution providers and IT professionals alike.

Sobel’s first book positions virtualization as a valuable, time and money saving asset for businesses in hopes of eliminating the recent hype surrounding the emerging technology. “Virtualization: Defined” is the essential guide for SMB consultants looking to better understand and utilize virtualization technology to grow their business and increase efficiency and productivity.

Quest Software Releases vWorkspace 6.0

January 19, 2009 by Robin Wauters Leave a Comment

Quest Software recently announced the general availability of Quest vWorkspace 6.0, its platform-agnostic virtual desktop management solution allowing the management of multiple desktop deployment models and virtual application delivery. Previously branded Provision Networks Virtual Access Suite, Quest vWorkspace offers customers a desktop deployment and application delivery platform that further extends Quest’s EOP capabilities.

New to vWorkspace is full integration and automation with Parallels Virtuozzo Containers, the OS-level server virtualization solution for desktop deployments with native scalable single image management capabilities and minimal storage requirements.

Quest vWorkspace simultaneously supports and fully integrates and automates application delivery, desktop deployment, and management from Microsoft Hyper-V, VMware ESX, Virtual Iron and Parallels Virtuozzo Containers.

Microsoft MED-V Now In Public Beta

January 19, 2009 by Robin Wauters Leave a Comment

In the beginning of this month, we explained the difference between Microsoft’s App-V and MED-V.

Last week, Microsoft announced the release of the public beta of Microsoft Enterprise Desktop Virtualization (MED-V), formerly known as Kidaro Managed Workspace, a solution that is designed to essentially help enterprise organizations run older operating systems and applications on new Windows-based systems.

According to the company, MED-V can be used to give companies more time with their legacy operating systems and software applications while they upgrade their Windows environment. As an example, IT shops can continue to run Windows XP-based applications even while they upgrade to Vista.

Alessandro offers more information.

Research and Markets’ Latest Report: “Vendor Landscape: Virtualization Competition Heats Up”

January 19, 2009 by Robin Wauters Leave a Comment

Via VMBlog comes word of a new report from Research and Markets titled: “Vendor Landscape: Virtualization Competition Heats Up”:

“VMware retains its leadership position in this updated vendor landscape of virtualization software. However, the virtualization market has seen greatly increased competition in 2008. Microsoft has emerged as a legitimate competitor through its release of the Hyper-V hypervisor and Citrix has stormed onto the scene with its acquisition of XenSource.

This research note provides an overview of the x86 server virtualization landscape and addresses how the vendors meet the following key selection criteria:

-Vendor and product maturity.
-Advanced features and suitability for a utility infrastructure.
-Cost of licensing.

VMware remains in the leadership zone due to its market share and continued innovation toward comprehensive data center virtualization. However, where VMware was the only game in town a few short years ago, now the competition has become serious. Going into 2009, expect continued feature innovation and pressure on pricing. ”