Virtualization.com

News and insights from the vibrant world of virtualization and cloud computing

vmware

Former Microsoft Executive Paul Maritz Joins EMC To Head Cloud Computing Initiatives

by 3 Comments

 

virtualization-paulmaritz.jpg

Microsoft’s cloud computing team will not be happy to learn about this: Paul Maritz, former senior executive at Microsoft, is to become president of EMC‘s cloud computing initiative, which competes directly with the Redmond-based software giant.

Maritz is rejoining the corporate world after seven years of dabbling in startups and philanthropy, now that his company Pi Corporation, a Seattle-based information management provider, has been acquired by EMC. The 100-person company will continue to operate as a standalone entity, similar to the way EMC lets VMWare run independently.

When the deal is finalized, Maritz will become president and general manager of EMC’s new Cloud Infrastructure and Services Division reporting to CEO Joe Tucci.The release reads:

“He will continue to directly oversee development and operations for Pi, along with other key elements of EMC’s cloud computing strategy, which include the EMC Fortress SaaS infrastructure, the Mozy online backup service and other upcoming EMC cloud infrastructure systems and software offerings under development.”

EMC wouldn’t say how much it paid in the all-cash deal, but said it should be done within the first quarter of 2008 and will “be dilutive by $.01 per diluted share in 2008.”

[Source: The Seattle Times]

ManageSoft Integrates Enterprise Compliance Manager into VMWare ESX Server

by Leave a Comment

Boston-based ManageSoft announced today it now supports VMware ESX Server with its Enterprise Compliance Manager software that enables its customers to fill the license compliance chasm created by the virtualization wave. This software provides a path to resolution for companies embracing application and server virtualization, but concerned about software publishers’ licensing policies.

virtualiztion-managesoft-vmware.gif

ManageSoft claims vendors’ application licensing rules have gotten so complex that most enterprise customers can expect to be out of license compliance without an automated tracking system.

“Virtualization of servers and applications has created a large productivity and efficiency leap, but by the same measure has grown into a viral license compliance liability that customers must address,” noted Steve Butler, president and CEO of ManageSoft. “ManageSoft is the cure to get customers back in the driver’s seat for enterprise license compliance.”

Enterprise Compliance Manager’s license tracking now spans all corners of the physical and virtual enterprise from laptops, desktops, to the data center,” added Alan Swahn, ManageSoft’s vice president of marketing and business development. “Proper license entitlement has always been our strength and our competitors’ weakness. We have built an even higher wall by seamlessly handling both physical and virtual systems.”

virtualiztion-managesoft-vmware-screenshot.gif

Technorati Tags: , , , , , , , ,

Company Index: VMWare

[Source: VMBlog]

 

Tech Data & VMWare Take Their Partnership To A New Level

by Leave a Comment

virtualization-techdata.pngTech Data has announced it will start selling VMWare’s desktop and data center virtualization solutions, in addition to its existing offer including virtualization solutions from Virtual Iron, Parallels, and Citrix’s XenServer (ex-XenSource).

Tech Data previously worked with VMware only through OEM agreements with HP and IBM. As of now, it can separately sell the desktop and data center virtualization solutions including VMware Infrastructure suite, VMware VirtualCenter, VMware Capacity Planner, VMware Lab Manager, VMware Workstation, VMware ACE, VMware Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) and VMware Fusion.

Senior VP and General Manager of Tech Data Advanced Infrastructure Solutions Pete Peterson got his first official certification and thus became one of 200 TD employees who can call himself a VMWare Sales Professional (VSP).

virtualization-techdata-vmware-petepeterson.jpg

VMware will fall under Peterson’s Advanced Infrastructure Solutions division. In addition to 200 VSPs, Tech Data also has 10 VMware Certified Professionals (VCP) and hopes to double both numbers in the next 90 days, Peterson said.

“We’re really excited about this new partnership. They’re a $1.3 billion software virtualization company. Clearly, they are the market leader in this space. Virtualization is a huge opportunity for most IT shops today and a focus for our resellers,” Peterson said. “They say 5 percent of all servers globally that have virtualization software on them. Our goal is to make sure when we include it when we initially sell servers, but there’s also a huge install base that we have an opportunity to sell into as well.”

Tech Data joins Avnet, Arrow Electronics, Ingram Micro Inc. and Lifeboat Distribution as VMware distributors in the U.S.

Technorati Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Company Index: VMWare

[Source: ChannelWeb]

Kace Integrates Virtual Systems Management Tool Kbox Into VMWare Infrastructure

by 1 Comment

Kace announced today what it calls the first virtual systems management appliances to run natively within the VMware infrastructure. Kace’s Virtual Kbox appliances offer users a software product that runs on the user’s existing hardware. Earlier versions of the Kbox appliance required the installation of separate hardware to deploy and manage IT resources.

virtualization-kace-kbox.png

The Virtual Kbox appliances family is now shipping and fully supports physical and virtual machines across Windows, Mac, Linux and Solaris environments.

“Unlike a generation of virtual appliances preceding it, the Virtual Kbox family provides a systems management and deployment solution that is fully integrated from a highly optimized and hardened operating system through an easy-to-use, Web-based application,” Rob Meinhardt, cofounder and CEO of Kace, told TechNewsWorld.

virtualiztion-kace-kbox-21.gif

The virtual appliance aims at delivering the benefits of a hardware appliance, including fast deployment times with low costs and ease of use. It also provides the benefits of virtualization, such as improved resource utilization, reduced energy and cost savings, improved maintainability and support and the ability to quickly scale. While the product’s name implies that it is an actual hardware device, it is a software product that runs on the customer’s computer. The virtual appliance product will do all that a physical appliance will do, he said. It provides the full range of features found in physical appliance management devices.

Virtualization is exploding in popularity in many enterprise categories. Organizations are seeking new ways to leverage this technology, also according to Meinhardt. “We’ve seen an incredible ramping up for virtualization. This gave us an opportunity to deliver our Kbox products for virtual appliance management,” said Lubos Parobek, Senior Director of Product Management for Kace.

Kace, which started in 2003, is targeting companies with from 100 to 1 000 employees. It currently has 450 customers worldwide, mostly in the SMB category, according to CEO Rob Meinhardt.”That gives us up to 100 000 companies worldwide as potential users,” he said.

Technorati Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Company Index: VMWare

[Source: TechNewsWorld]

VMWare’s Mike DiPetrillo Openly Critical About Citrix – Xensource

by 1 Comment

If you thought the leaked internal VMWare memo criticizing the partnership between Microsoft and Citrix was bad, get a load of this: Mike DiPetrillo, Specialist System Engineer of Industry Research and Competitive Analysis at VMWare (VMW) and one of VMWare’s bloggers, posted a rather critical blog post on his personal space yesterday attacking Citrix’ acquisition of Xensource.

Other than calling Xensource a ‘good little company’, DiPetrillo says he’s still trying to figure out why Citrix paid $ 500 million for it in the first place.

“In Q3 XenSource announced 1,000 customers. On the call they said they added another 400 customers. Good growth! That puts the total at 1,400 customers. Then came the partner count – 1,817 partners certified to sell XenSource. Hmmm. So now we have 1,817 partners trying to get business from the 1,400 customers that total $2 million in revenue (that’s $1,100 in revenue per partner). Good days to be a Citrix partner.”

He goes on to say:

“OK. So the strategy is go and spend $500 million on a company that’s losing money, switch all of your current successful products and branding over to the losing company, and then exit the market when your larger partner moves into the market. Is this the end of Citrix then? Terminal Services in Windows Server 2008 closes the gap pretty nicely. Virtual Desktops are also taking large chunks of market share. Time will tell where Citrix ends up.”

In the end, it’s fair critiscm and DiPetrillo does raise some good points, but coming from a VMWare employee (although published on his personal blog), the article is bound to make some people frown.

[Via Channel Marker]

Technorati Tags: , , , , , , ,

Company Index: VMWare

Verizon Business Wants A Piece Of The Virtualization Pie Too

by Leave a Comment

After 3 years of supporting VMWare ESX Server in a staging and development environment, Verizon Business today announced it’s entering the virtualization space with a proper enterprise offering.

virtualization-verizon-business.gif

“Verizon Business is all about empowering our customers,” said Michael Marcellin, vice president of product marketing for Verizon Business. “With our newest virtualization option, customers can run leaner and meaner, while out-tasking the management of these complex environments. What’s more, this offering can even help companies to be ‘greener,’ which is a big plus in today’s eco-friendly business environment.”

In essence, Verizon Business is deploying a shared VMware Virtual Center management infrastructure to configure and operate this virtualized environment, enabling customers to take advantage of Verizon Business’ expertise and best practices in managing this technology.

Technorati Tags:

, , , , , ,