VMWorld

VMware at VMworld outlined its vision for the future of end-user computing with new products and services to help organizations evolve their legacy desktop computing environments to a more modern, user-centric application and data delivery model.

In support of its end-user computing vision, VMware is launching new products that help CIOs move their organizations forward in an evolutionary journey, from today’s PC-centric environments to a future where users have access from any device to any application, enabled by cloud computing:

• Modern Desktop Management and Delivery: At the core of VMware’s end-user computing model, VMware View 4.5 establishes a modern, user-centric desktop management and delivery architecture. Available in the coming weeks, VMware View 4.5 enables enterprises to improve security and compliance, lower operating costs, and simplify desktop administration and management for an even greater number of use cases than before.

VMware View 4.5 is the first enterprise-class solution that delivers rich user experiences across an organization on a growing number of devices at any location – online or offline. High-performance PC-over-IP technology enables users to work with their virtual desktops over a LAN or WAN connection, while VMware View with Local Mode enables secure offline access while leveraging local processing resources. The result is a seamless user experience designed to combine the best of desktop and client virtualization.

VMware View 4.5 delivers a simplified, integrated desktop and application management platform designed to enable IT organizations to manage tens of thousands of virtual desktops. VMware View 4.5 also manages applications from a centralized administrative interface while simplifying key IT processes such as provisioning, configuration management, connection brokering, policy enforcement and application assignment.

VMware View 4.5 also strengthens security and control by hosting virtual desktops centrally to prevent data leakage while leveraging VMware vShield Endpoint for enabling centralized anti-virus protection. VMware vShield Endpoint, in tandem with solutions from VMware ecosystem partners, will protect virtual machines and their hosts against malware, viruses and other intrusions by optimizing antivirus and other host and endpoint security for use in VMware-virtualized and cloud environments.

VMware vShield Endpoint is designed to eliminate the need for antivirus agent footprints by enabling the offloading of antivirus and anti-malware functions to hardened, tamper-proof virtual machines delivered by VMware security partners.

• Unprecedented cost advantages with VMware View 4.5 –Tiered storage enhancements unique to VMware View 4.5 enable an unprecedented level of cost savings.   Enterprises leveraging existing client devices can now deploy a secure, flexible, and highly responsive, stateless virtual desktop at a datacenter infrastructure cost under $252 per user, more than 60 percent lower than previously published architectures. Learn more in a new reference architecture brief titled VMware Reference Architecture Brief for Stateless Virtual Desktops with VMware View 4.5.

Additional information on VMware View 4.5 can be found at  www.vmware.com/files/pdf/vmworld/view4.5-backgrounder-en.pdf

• Application Independence: Available now, VMware ThinApp 4.6 simplifies application delivery by encapsulating applications into a single package that can be deployed, managed and updated independently from the underlying operating system – helping to reduce the cost and complexity of application delivery for customers. A key component of VMware View, VMware ThinApp enables enterprises to quickly migrate existing applications to Microsoft Windows 7, adding application compatibility to virtual desktop environments to reduce the management burden of desktop applications and images.

Additional information on VMware ThinApp 4.6 can be found at www.vmware.com/files/pdf/vmworld/thinapp4.6-backgrounder-en.pdf.

• Enterprise-class Collaboration in the Cloud: Recently announced, Zimbra Appliance is a next generation email and collaboration solution delivered as a virtual appliance.  Designed to run on the VMware vSphere platform, Zimbra Appliance combines powerful enterprise features with maximum administration simplicity.  Flexible enough to run either within a customer datacenter or the public cloud, Zimbra Appliance, along with all of the Zimbra Collaboration Suite products, delivers rich application experiences on any device, online or offline, and provides them with a collaboration platform that enables rapid, seamless and secure access to corporate and personal applications and data.  In addition, Zimbra software is easier to deploy, manage and update, driving down TCO and increasing deployment flexibility.  As a result, customers and partners can manage their email and collaboration needs with fewer resources, lower costs and fewer risks.

VMware will deliver these solutions to customers the way they need them – either as enterprise-ready configurations or as a cloud-based service from VMware vCloud partners.

At VMworld 2010 in San Francisco, VMware will preview a cloud-based management service – codenamed Project Horizon – that will securely extend enterprise identities into the cloud and provide new methods for provisioning and managing applications and data based on the user, not the device or underlying operating system.

Project Horizon will establish a user’s “Cloud Identity,” securely extending on-premise directory services between private and public clouds and enabling customers to take advantage of the flexibility and new services in the public cloud while maintaining the security and control from their private clouds.

VMware Professional Services offers on-site, end-to-end consulting services to help customers who are interested in beginning the journey to a more modern, user-centric application and data delivery model.

For organizations looking to get started with VMware View 4.5, VMware offers three core assessment services: a Desktop Infrastructure Virtualization Assessment to identify both the users and desktops that are the best candidates to move into a virtual desktop environment; an Application Virtualization Assessment to identify which applications are the prime targets for virtualization; and a Desktop Virtualization Strategy Assessment that combines the Desktop Infrastructure Virtualization and Application Virtualization assessments with a strategic workshop to help organizations prepare and proactively manage for the successful adoption of this technology.