With added support for Hyper-V 1.0, System Center Virtual Machine Manager (SCVMM) 2008, Configuration Manager (SCCM) 2007 SP1 and R2, and Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) 3.0 SP1.
The tool can be downloaded free of charge here.
virtualization
Devon IT Installs Thin Client / Virtualization Test Center In China
Devon IT announced it will launch a thin client and virtualization test center at its China headquarters in Beijing. Customers can test the latest Devon IT thin clients working with virtualization software, mirroring the company’s Server-Desktop Solution Center at its U.S. headquarters.
For the first time, IT personnel in China will be able to test Devon IT’s latest thin client technologies against traditional PC environments. The test center will feature Devon IT’s newly launched green TC2 thin client series and the SafeBook LVO, which is built on the Lenovo ThinkPad and compatible with all Lenovo docking stations and accessories. Virtualization software from VMware and server solutions from IBM will round out the testing facility. In addition, the HC10 workstation blade will be available for demos in their facility. The HC10 is a remote workstation blade that delivers breakthrough graphics performance and a full PC experience. It connects to the TC10/CP20 using the PC-over-IP protocol, a technology that changes the desktop computing model by enabling desktop consolidation benefits to be realized across the enterprise.
Microsoft System Center Service Manager Beta 1 Made Available
From the Microsoft System Center team blog comes the news that Microsoft System Center Service Manager Beta 1 is now available.
I’m pleased to announce that the new beta of System Center Service Manger is now available. This beta includes the updated infrastructure components that will both deliver the performance we are targeting for the release and support our objective of delivering an IT service desk that is tightly integrated with the rest of the System Center product family.
How to Get the Bits: You can access the beta on Microsoft Connect, where you will first need to fill out a nomination survey. Once you’ve completed the survey, you will see the Service Manager beta connections page, which provides links and instructions for downloading.
As a reminder the objectives of Service Manager are to deliver an IT service desk that provides:
- Built in service management best practices
- Simple customization and extensibility
- Common platform and workflows across System Center
You can download a whitepaper outlining the vision for Service Manager here.
Key capabilities available for testing in this beta release include:
- Administrative tasks such creating users and groups
- Change management activities such as creating and monitoring the progress of requests
- Creating and viewing configuration items (CIs)
- Editing incident notification templates or workflows
- Create incidents and editing the incident (and problem) workflow
- Integration with System Center Configuration Manager
We’re excited to make this beta available publically and will be delivering a second beta in the middle of 2009. Until then I hope you enjoy this important step on the journey to expand the System Center family to include a strong Service Desk capability
Visit the Connect site to download and start trying out Service Manager today.
Industry Moves: VMware And Virtual Iron Lose Key Executives
VMware has lost a key executive today with the departure of Nand Mulchandani, former Senior Director of Security Products, who has decided to take on a job as CEO for OpenDNS instead of staying on at the troubled virtualization leader.
Virtual Iron has lost its Director of Corporate Marketing Tim Walsh, who started his own consulting business.
VDIworks2Go, Because Mobile Workers Need Virtual Desktops Too
VDIworks today introduced VDIworks2Go, a software solution that helps the mobile workforce capitalize on the use of virtual desktops. With VDIworks2Go, workers access a centralized virtual desktop from their laptop, and then can take it with them, allowing them to fully benefit from the security, total cost of ownership and management advantages presented by a centralized desktop computing infrastructure on the go.
VDIworks2Go users will be able to select either “disconnected” or “hosted” modes. The disconnected mode will stream the virtual machine onto the laptop so that the user can leave the office and take their virtual desktop with them.
VDIworks2Go will be available in late Q4 2008 and will be priced on a per-seat basis. Laptops equipped with VDIworks2Go must operate a processor with 1.6GHZ or higher of processing power, must contain 2GB or more of RAM, and should contain 6-8 GB of free storage to host a typical VM.
IBM Launches “Resilient Cloud Validation” Program
IBM today said it would introduce a program to validate the resiliency of any company delivering applications or services to clients in the cloud environment. As a result, customers can quickly and easily identify trustworthy providers that have passed a rigorous evaluation, enabling them to more quickly and confidently reap the business benefits of cloud services.
Cloud computing is a model for network-delivered services, in which the user sees only the service and does not view the implementation or infrastructure required for its delivery. The success to date of cloud services like storage, data protection and enterprise applications, has created a large influx of new providers. However, unpredictable performance and some high-profile downtime and recovery events with newer cloud services have created a challenge for customers evaluating the move to cloud.
IBM’s new “Resilient Cloud Validation” program will allow businesses who collaborate with IBM on a rigorous, consistent and proven program of benchmarking and design validation to use the IBM logo: “Resilient Cloud” when marketing their services.
IBM has delivered remote technology services to clients for decades and has developed strict standards for service quality — from infrastructure design to process excellence. Through its new Resilient Cloud Validation program, IBM’s Business Continuity and Resiliency Services unit will build on its 40-year history of eliminating downtime in the most demanding business environments to help cloud service providers meet the highest standards of resiliency. In addition, IBM Research has developed end-to-end tools for assessment and discovery within a customer’s configuration, modeling, ROI analysis, optimization and migration to a highly virtualized cloud environment.
IBM announced today that Allscripts, a leader in delivering innovation technologies that improve the health of patients and the bottom line of physicians and other healthcare organizations, is the first company to begin the certification process. The designation is expected to enable Allscripts to enhance the current online data backup service it provides to better serve the needs of the 150,000 physicians who use the company’s electronic health records, e-prescribing and practice management solutions. Next Spring, Allscripts will release a new online backup service, powered by IBM, which will provide a simple, easy to deploy remote data protection service, helping to ensure that sensitive patient information and medical documentation will be encrypted, securely stored away from the customer location, and easily recovered at a moment’s notice.
IBM’s Business Continuity and Resiliency Services have 155 data centers around the globe, and offer a range of capabilities from advisory services to fully-managed resilient infrastructures. These teams are available today to evaluate current cloud architectures against resiliency best practices, identify, quantify, and prioritize gaps and risks, then provide the ongoing design assistance and management expertise to run more resilient infrastructures.
The IBM “Resilient Cloud” program will be available in early 2009.