Virtualization Strategies News, Analysis, White Papers and Case Studies on Virtualization Software and Hardware Strategies

Sun Microsystems announced that it has expanded its portfolio of small and medium-sized business (SMB) solutions with the introduction of two new virtualization solutions that combine Sun’s x64 server and open storage products with VMware ESX and Microsoft Hyper-V software.

Sun said it’s SMB initiative delivers uniquely designed solutions for virtualization deployments, while reducing total cost and complexity. Sun’s SMB solutions portfolio includes Windows Essential Business Server (EBS), Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 upgrade, MySQL database and Sun’s secure web server solution. Sun’s overall commitment to open source software and industry-standard hardware make it easier and more affordable for SMBs to access Sun’s leading products. Customers can choose from a wide range of products and platforms like the Sun Fire x64 servers and Ultra-SPARC processor-based servers; multiple operating systems like Solaris 10, Windows and Linux; and industry-leading databases like Sun’s MySQL database. Sun’s SMB initiative continues to deliver customer value across a range of industries from media and entertainment to education and technology. Sun SMB customer case studies can be found at http://www.sun.com/customers/. Read More…

Posted under Desktop Virtualization, SMB Virtualization, Virtualization Case Studies, Virtualization Products / Reviews

Intel and Citrix are planning to bring desktop virtualization technologies to a wider audience in an effort to make it easier to run and manage virtual machines within a corporation.

Intel and Citrix Systems are looking to combine their virtualization and hardware management technologies into one overall offering that will make it easier to secure and manage multiple virtual machines running within one corporate client.

Under this agreement Intel and Citrix plans to produce a new class of virtualization solutions that optimize the delivery of applications and desktops to millions of Intel Core2 and Centrino 2 processor-based devices, dramatically reducing the cost of desktop management.  The hypervisor-based virtualization solution should bring both mobile and office users the benefits of centralized desktop virtualization with a rich, personalized PC environment.  As a result, mobile and office workers will be able to take advantage of enterprise-scale virtualization without sacrificing security, manageability, ease-of-use, performance or mobility. Read More…

Posted under Desktop Virtualization, Virtualization News, Virtualization Products / Reviews

An agreement between Mitel and Sun Microsystems has produced the world’s first virtualized voice and data desktop, providing businesses with lower operating costs, simplified IT management, and enhanced security. With the combination of Mitel call control on Sun servers and the Mitel Unified IP Client for Sun Ray^TM, Mitel and Sun have delivered the first ultra thin desktop solution, providing a simplified, device-secure authentication source for voice and data hot desking and mobility.

The Mitel Unified IP Client for Sun Ray provides businesses with a complete voice and data solution in a virtualized environment that reduce desktop hardware costs and simplifies network management while driving business value.

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Posted under Desktop Virtualization, Virtualization News, Virtualization Products / Reviews

VMware on Tuesday released VMware View 3, new software aimed at providing desktop virtualization, application virtualization and management of virtual desktops in one product.  This technology helps IT organizations reduce storage cost, improve user experience and enables IT to rapidly provision and update thousands of desktop from a single image.

This is a major advance in virtual desktop computing. With VMware View 3, IT organizations can “decouple” a desktop from specific physical devices or locations to create a personalized view of a user’s desktop, applications, and data that is securely accessible from almost any device, at any time. By hosting these virtual desktop images in the datacenter using VMware View 3 IT personnel can provision and manage thousands of virtual desktops simply, securely, and with substantially lower operating costs. Read More…

Posted under Desktop Virtualization, Virtualization News, Virtualization Products / Reviews, Virtualization Software

Microsoft announced the release of System Center Virtual Machine Manager 2008 (SC VMM 2008) which adds support for VMware ESX Infrastructure virtualization technology. The move by Microsoft is unprecedented as Microsoft usually let third parties manage non-Microsoft software. Now Microsoft can manage VMware virtualization technology.

A consistent theme from large and small companies is these groups are looking to aggressively manage costs and improve operational efficiency.  Microsoft’s new virtualization software addresses these areas.  First, IT managers can acquire Microsoft  virtualization offerings for about 1/3 the cost of what a comparable VMware installation would cost, helping them realize immediate cost reduction benefits.  The portfolio of technologies Microsoft offers spans the entire IT infrastructure from the desktop to the datacenter, while providing the tools for managing a customer’s infrastructure and apps regardless of whether it’s their physical or virtual assets. Read More…

Posted under Desktop Virtualization, Virtualization News, Virtualization Products / Reviews, Virtualization Software

HP today introduced a high-performance thin client and blade workstation that provide virtualization customers a true workstation experience combined with the security, ease of management and lowered total cost of ownership of thin client computing.

Offering significantly more processing and graphics performance, the new HP gt7725 Thin Client and HP ProLiant xw2×220c Blade Workstation deliver a leading remote experience for 3D mechanical computer-aided (MCAD) applications, rich media, flexibility and performance.

“The maturation of virtualization technologies, in combination with the reality of today’s business environment, have made the  security, manageability and flexibility benefits of adopting client virtualization increasingly attractive to business customers,” said Roberto Moctezuma, vice president and general manager, Desktop Solutions Organization, HP. “This latest technology from HP removes one of the last remaining barriers to transitioning to a virtual client infrastructure for customers who require the highest levels of processing power or high-quality multimedia capabilities.”

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Posted under Desktop Virtualization, Virtualization News, Virtualization Products / Reviews

IN addtion to servers, virtualization Software has many valuable applications for desktop PC as well. One example would be, if you’re developing an application under Windows XP and need to test your program on other versions of Windows. Virtualization or virtual machine (VM) software allows you to run Windows 98 or Vista without forcing you to reboot your computer. The best VM software also allows exchanges between the host machine and the virtual one. If you encounter a bug, you can switch back to the host, correct the code, and send an update back to the virtual one for further testing. There are many other applications for desktop virtualization software. Yet, which is the best desktop virtualization software on the market?

There are three packages that come highly recommended. Microsoft Virtual PC 2007 offers easy installation and best of all you can free trial download. VMware Work Workstation also offers a free 30 day trial for Windows or Linux. ARS Technica did a review comparing virtualization software for desktop that is very informative.

But what about Parallels desktop virtualization solutions? Read More…

Posted under Desktop Virtualization, Virtualization Products / Reviews