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15 Sep 2008
On the eve of its VMworld user event in Las Vegas, virtualisation specialist VMware has unveiled new solutions for virtual desktops, more products to manage the virtual datacentre, and a cloud computing offering.
VMware unveiled two related initiatives aimed at helping enterprises make use of cloud computing, utilising their own infrastructure and that of external service providers.
The Virtual Datacenter Operating System (VDC-OS) expands the firm's existing virtualisation suite to enable organisations to pool their servers, storage and network resources into an on-premise cloud that can be allocated to applications as necessary, according to VMware.
The company is adding in a host of applications to VDC-OS, including Application vServices for fault tolerance and Hot Add, which lets users add more components like memory and CPUs without shutting down systems.
A VNetwork Distributed Switch function has also been added to allow the control of up to 16 ESX hosts from a single switch.
Meanwhile, the vCloud Initiative enables organisations to extend capacity when needed by making use of external clouds operated by VMware's service provider partners.
This can safely federate workloads to external clouds for additional compute resources, the company said.
"We will be the cloud providers for virtualisation just like Cisco provided all the hubs and routers during the internet boom," said Paul Maher, VMware head of communications.
The vCloud system will allow software from a wide variety of vendors to be deployed using VMware's technology.
The company announced more than 100 supporting partners include BT, R ackspace, SAVVIS, Sungard, T-Systems, and Verizon Business.
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A work in progress
This announcement from VMware is a positive for end-users and partners alike. The ability for enterprises to utilise both their own infrastructure and that of external service providers means there will be additional choice for the end-user. The additional competition should also see a rise in the level of quality of the cloud computing options on offer and also an opening up of the market to smaller organisations. But, while cloud computing undoubtedly has benefits, it doesn't spell an end to in-house, or hosted, physical data centres. Some pundits have pointed to security concerns, while others have pointed to application licensing, interoperability and compliance as inhibitors in the short term. However, cloud computing is definitely a concept that businesses can capitalise on now and increasingly in the future. The key to success is that IT departments and CIOs need to keep control over what stays in the physical world - and what doesn't - and determine a strategy accordingly. Indeed, what's best for the customer in the end is having plenty of choices. Cloud computing can be a great concept, but companies need to embrace it for the right reasons, ensure that the technology is advanced enough to work effectively - and lastly ensure that they haven't forgotten the power of physical equipment.
Posted by: Peter Knight, CEO Adapt PLC 19 Sep 2008