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Call for Papers 3rd International Workshop on Virtualization Technologies in Distributed Computing (VTDC-09)

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Late last year our inbox received the Call for Papers to the 3rd International Workshop on Virtualization Technologies in Distributed Computing (VTDC-09)

It will be organised in conjunction with ICAC 2009 in Barcelona, Spain on June 15 2009

According to the the workshop’s Call for Papers “Virtualization has proven to be a powerful enabler in the field of distributed computing and has led to the emergence of the cloud computing paradigm and the provisioning of Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS). This new paradigm raises challenges ranging from performance evaluation of IaaS platforms, through new methods of resource management including providing Service Level Agreements (SLAs) and energy- and cost-efficient schedules, to the emergence of supporting technologies such as virtual appliance management.

For the last three years, the VTDC workshop has served as a forum for the exchange of ideas and experiences studying the challenges and opportunities created by IaaS/cloud computing and virtualization technologies. VTDC brings together researchers in academia and industry who are involved in research, development and planning activities involving the use of virtualization in the context of distributed systems, where the opportunities and challenges with respect to the management of such virtualized systems is of interest to the ICAC community at large.”

More information is on their website

* Submission deadline: February 20th, 2009
* Notification of acceptance: March 23rd, 2009
* Final manuscripts due: April 6, 2009
* Workshop: June 15, 2009

Details on how to submit will be posted on the above mentioned website.

Microsoft Application Virtualization (App-V) or Microsoft Enterprise Desktop Virtualization (MED-V)?

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WindowsITPro answers this question: when should one use Microsoft Application Virtualization (App-V) as opposed to Microsoft Enterprise Desktop Virtualization (MED-V)?

APP-V and MED-V address two very different scenarios. APP-V virtualizes at the application level, placing applications in a sandbox-type environment. Applications can’t see one another through the user of virtual file systems, virtual registries, or virtual services but the applications are still running on the local client OS. APP-V is great for resolving conflicts between applications and expediting application testing deployment, as APP-V applications aren’t locally installed on a computer.

MED-V, set to be available in the first half of 2009, virtualizes at the OS level and is used to resolve incompatibility problems between applications and an OS. MED-V is also a solution for the delivery and maintenance for virtual machine (VM) images on a client desktop. For more information about MED-V, see this previous FAQ.

If your problem is that applications are incompatible with one another or you need to deploy apps quickly with minimal testing, you want APP-V. If you have applications that won’t run on a new client OS or you want to manage VM images then you want MED-V. Either way, you need the Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack to get access to the technologies. It’s highly likely you may need to use both technologies for different applications within your organization.

Windows 7 Beta 1 Seems Virtualization-Ready

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From MaximumPC:

Although the official release of Beta 1 of Windows 7 isn’t expected until early January, a leaked copy of what looks like Beta 1’s been making the rounds on the Internet for a few days. ZDNet’s Ed Bott has spent some “quality time” with the build, and reports some interesting tidbits from the EULA:

  • The revision ID at the end of the EULA is: Win7_B.1_PRO_NRL_en-US – so it sure sounds like Beta 1 is on the loose.
  • There’s no limit on the number of installs you can perform, but they stop working on August 1.
  • Redmond says you can’t use Beta 1 in a production environment.
  • You can install Beta 1 in a virtual machine instead of a normal installation, but only one VM per hardware device.
  • Potential privacy concerns (such as Customer Experience Improvement Program and automatic error reporting) are turned on by default, but you can turn them off if you prefer.
  • Beta 1 must be activated.
  • Releasing benchmark test results to third parties without Microsoft’s prior written agreement is not permitted.

Insight Enterprises Named First Reseller Partner In U.S. To Serve VMware Service Provider Program

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Insight Enterprises announced today that it has been named the first U.S.-based reseller partner to offer subscription licenses to serve the expanded VMware Service Provider Program (VSPP). With the addition of Insight, VSPP partners can now expect the licensing flexibility they need in hosting environments leveraging the VMware technology, marketing and training they need.

VSPP partners are part of the VMware vCloud Initiative, which delivers an enterprise-class cloud computing platform. The VMware vCloud initiative offers broad support for existing and new applications, and it enables federation between on- and off-premise clouds. The core technology underpinning of the VMware vCloud Initiative is a set of VMware vServices that provide the APIs and technologies to enable this federation and facilitate business needs such as flex capacity, disaster recovery, or test and development for enterprises. VMware vServices also enable cloud providers to simplify how SMBs acquire compute capacity.

With the growth of cloud computing and VMware’s vCloud initiative, Insight can enable service providers to rent VMware licenses to capitalize on the market opportunity in delivering new on-demand cloud-like services for enterprises and SMBs, while preserving their capital.

DataCore Introduces SAN Software Starter Packages For SMBs

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DataCore Software has announced an expanded line of new SAN software starter packages priced for small-to-midsize businesses (SMBs).

The high cost and complexity of traditional SAN storage required to support virtual servers and desktops puts it out of the reach for many small and mid-size businesses. DataCore’s new packages firmly reset the industry’s starting price point for business continuity solutions that provide true auto failover/failback high-availability and fault tolerance. These new packages provide a new level of automated storage protection to ensure business uptime, while also significantly lowering the cost and complexity barriers of SAN storage for Microsoft Hyper-V, Citrix, Virtual Iron, Parallels, VMware and other server and desktop virtualization environments.

The new software packages, with entry prices starting at under $2,000 per server, include thin provisioning, data migration technology, storage performance caching software, snapshots for fast disk backups, remote site disaster recovery replication and DataCore’s High Availability (HA) data protection. In virtual server and desktop environments, DataCore’s HA is unmatched in automation (true failover/failback recovery), manufacturer independence (storage and server brands), network connectivity (iSCSI or FC, or both) and proven fault tolerance (deployed in thousands of systems worldwide).

DataCore’s new packages fill the gap between low-end, Windows system replication solutions that provide limited single system data protection (e.g. Double-Take Software) for VMs at a cost of thousands and higher-end, enterprise-class storage arrays and SAN that provide necessary protection but are complex and often cost $100,000 or more. With these packages, DataCore has created a new class of SAN solutions that deliver the highest-end data protection capabilities at a SMB price point.

iCore: Virtualization For Use At Home

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A new company, iCore Software, aims to bring the benefits of virtualization to the home PC market. The company’s first product, iCore Virtual Accounts, isolates and protects the various “identities” a home computer can have. Games, internet browsing, student files and important financial data can be completely segregated by virtually dividing one home computer into three. This is the first container-based virtualization solution for the Windows desktop.

iCore software allows to create multiple Virtual Account (iCore Computers) that run on top of an existing Operating System (OS). iCore VA are isolated and can be easily created or deleted without affecting each others’ state or the state of the core operating system.

Unlike many other virtual machines, iCore VA works on the OS kernel level. This means that iCore VAs can utilize all the power of your existing PC (such as modern video card, game adapter, etc.) and eliminate the need for additional licenses, performance overhead is almost zero.