Avastu Blog: Sustainable Global Clouds

Paris, 10 November 2008 - Atos Origin, an international IT services company, today announced that it will become a VMware global IT partner to address the growing demand for adaptive virtualization services*. The relationship will enable Atos Origin to deliver end-to-end virtualization services to customers during IT transformation phases. As a result, customers worldwide will have access to a broad portfolio of industry-leading virtualization solutions, which can increase IT agility while reducing capital, operating and energy costs by up to 80 percent through effective implementation of adaptive virtualization services. “Virtualization is the highest-impact issue changing infrastructure and operations through to 2012. It will change how you manage, how and what you buy, how you deploy, how you plan and how you charge. It will also shake up licensing, pricing and component management.” (Gartner, Inc., “Virtualization changes virtually everything,” by Philip Dawson, T...

SoftLayer, a leader in next-generation web hosting and on-demand data center services, has announced today that they will use and offer the new Citrix Cloud Center™ (C3) solution from Citrix Systems, Inc. as a key part of their cloud computing strategy. SoftLayer’s implementation of Citrix C3 will leverage SoftLayer’s leading automation capabilities and further the company’s vision for utilizing virtualization to transform the data center industry. The first component of the Citrix C3 product family adopted by SoftLayer will be Citrix® XenServer™ Cloud Edition. “Partnering with Citrix was an easy decision. It’s clear they are listening to enterprises and cloud service providers—these solutions meet and exceed the needs of this rapidly-evolving IT segment,” said Nathan Day, Softlayer Chief Technology Officer. “The flexibility and scalability of Citrix XenServer allows us to deliver advanced virtualization today. And the full Citrix C3 solution wil...

"We are excited to be part of this partnership with Data Domain," says Giovanni Paliska, General Manager of Arkivio. "Their customers will benefit from the inclusion of so many great archiving and file virtualization products in their nearline storage offerings, and we are proud to have been selected to be part of their offering." www.arkivio.com "AXS-One has completed extensive benchmarking of the AXS-One Compliance Platform(TM) with Data Domain systems," said Marie-Charlotte Patterson, Vice President of Product Management and Corporate Marketing at AXS-One. "We are very pleased with the near-line de-duplication results that we have achieved and are confident of the capacity optimization for long-term data storage this can offer our enterprise customers. As the leading provider of high performance archival, e-discovery and electronic records management software solutions, our customers are looking for ways to manage growing volumes of e-mail and...

Fortisphere, a leading provider of policy-based virtualization management software, today announced that it plans to support VMware VMsafe™ technology, expanding the market reach of its Virtual Essentials™ software suite, which provides customers with greater levels of visibility and control over their VMware virtualized environments. VMware VMsafe technology helps vendors combat the challenges of compliance, management and security in ways previously not possible in physical environments. VMsafe technology integrates into the VMware hypervisor and enables vendors to develop open, interoperable and cross-platform technologies that enable better granularity, visibility, correlation and scalability in VMware environments. “With VMware VMsafe technology, Fortisphere can offer customers an effective solution to help enforce operational, security and compliance policies in real time,” said Nand Mulchandani, senior director, product management and marketing at VMware. “Together, VMware and o...

LOS GATOS, Calif., June 30, 2008 – Hifn™ (NASDAQ: HIFN), the catalyst behind storage and networking innovation, today announced that its award-winning Swarm™ Series has been certified with VMware ESX 3.5 and VMware ESX 3i, expanding the customer options for iSCSI SAN storage in a VMware virtual environment. Hifn’s Swarm Series Software is now listed in the VMware “Storage/SAN Compatibility Guide For ESX Server 3.5 and ESX Server 3i”, highlighting the Swarm’s functionality and support for three VMware environments: ESX 3.5, ESX 3i Embedded and ESX 3i Server Installable. The VMware Storage/SAN Compatibility Guide enables VMware users to quickly determine which storage solutions have passed the company’s stringent requirements for iSCSI SAN connectivity and compatibility with hosts running VMware ESX 3.x environments. “Hifn’s certification gives customers an officially sanctioned option for creating a fully virtualized infrastructure under VMware without the complexity and cost of a Fib...

The Server Virtualization Validation Program (SVVP) is open to any vendor who delivers a virtualization machine solution that hosts Windows Server 2008, Windows 2000 Server Service Pack 4 and Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 2 and subsequent service packs. The virtualization solution can either be hypervisor-based or a hosted solution. The program enables vendors to validate various configurations so that customers of Windows Server can receive technical support in virtualized environments. Customers with validated solutions will benefit from the support provided by Microsoft as a part of the regular Windows Server technical support framework. The Server Virtualization Validation Program is not a logo program, rather a reference that companies and customers will be able to use in conjunction with their validated solutions. Validated Configurations Submissions Open in June 2008 The upcoming list of validat...

In addition to EonStor FC-host arrays, Infortrend has also submitted their iSCSI-host SAN subsystems for VMware hardware certification testing. As a VMware Technology Alliance Partner (TAP) member, Infortrend will have closer collaboration with VMware to ensure future EonStor products meet VMware compatibility requirements. Widely recognized as the leader in the virtualization marketplace, the VMware hypervisor is a thin virtualization layer that partitions the physical server so multiple virtual machines can run simultaneously on a single server. Computing resources of the physical server are treated as a uniform pool of resources that can be allocated to virtual machines in a controlled manner. VMware software isolates each virtual machine from its host and other virtual machines, leaving them unaffected if an application in a virtual machine crashes. Data does not leak across virtual machines, and applications can only communicate over pre-configured network connections. More here...

"VMware welcomes Vizioncore as part of the VMware Alliance Affiliate Initiative, which is aimed at helping increase partner profitability and joint solution selling," said Steve Houck, vice president of worldwide channels at VMware. "Vizioncore is a longstanding VMware partner and with a robust reseller program and valuable management solutions for the VMware platform, particularly in the areas of disaster recovery and business continuity strategies. Vizioncore's solutions are helping companies address these important issues affordably and reliably." "This initiative is just one more validation of the impressive success and leadership role Vizioncore continues to build in the burgeoning virtualization market," said Mike Coffman, vice president of Corporate Development for Quest Software. "We recognize the bond and mutual vision that Vizioncore has developed with its reseller channel, which has not only generated accolades like this, but...

Looking to expand its market to reach more SMBs and geographies, VMware has announced that it will certify its VMware ESX and ESXi hypervisor on servers offered by certain white box manufacturers. The virtualization vendor announced its new relationships with ODMs (original design manufacturers) ASUS, Gigabyte, Inventec and Tyan at Computex Taipei. The new ODM relationships are in addition to VMware's deal with Supermicro, announced in February. VMware's move is designed to capture more of the SMB market and also make greater inroads in geographies where white box servers have a strong presence, according to Ben Matheson, director of product management. Link

LOS GATOS, Calif., May 28, 2008 – Hifn™ (NASDAQ: HIFN), the catalyst behind storage and networking innovation, today announced that it has signed Xdata Corporation as the latest addition to its roster of resellers for the award-winning Swarm™ secure iSCSI appliance product line. Xdata, based in Greenwood Village, CO, is a storage solution specialist with a core competency in business continuance. Using proven methodologies and best practices developed from real life experience, the company designs and implements custom solutions for data storage, backup and recovery, data replication, storage management, SANs, NAS, iSCSI, IP SANs, compliance, and disaster recovery. By signing on to Hifn’s Channel 100 Partner Program for the company’s Swarm products, Xdata Corp. gains access to a broad range of reseller resources, such as training webinars, lead generation, product spiffs, joint customer visits with Hifn storage experts, discounted demo units, public relations and telemarketing support...

David Blackman, partner director for VMware A/NZ, said Australia is on a fast-track to virtualisation, with VMware posting triple-digit growth year-over-year in the country during the first quarter of 2008. “This agreement makes it even easier for companies in Australia and New Zealand to gain the efficiency and productivity benefits of a virtual data centre,” he said. According to Blackman, as part of the agreement the Fujitsu support group will provide 24/7 VMware support services out of its operations in North Ryde, Sydney. This complements the existing levels of hardware support services that are run from the same location. Link

Atos Origin, a global Information Technology (IT) services company, and Integri, leading provider of test tools and services for payment, ticketing and mobile applications, announce a partnership for providing a complete SEPA test service to Belgian banks. This service will allow banks to test their system for compliance with the SEPA Credit Transfer and Direct Debit requirements followed by Card Transactions in the near future. With the introduction of the SEPA initiative, all electronic payments in Europe will be considered as a single domestic payments market making payment transactions easy and more efficient for bank customers. The new directive, however, increases the complexity of a bank’s ICT operations. It is a critical task to reach compliance to the new directive rapidly as it impacts their payment products as well as the electronic processes that run in the back office. The partnership enables all Belgian banks to test their conformance to this new European standard with an...

SANTA CLARA, CA – May 7, 2008 – Citrix® Systems, Inc. (Nasdaq:CTXS), the global leader in application delivery infrastructure, today announced the availability of Citrix XenServer™ factory integrated on Dell PowerEdge™ servers. Building on the announcement made on October 23, 2007 , Citrix and Dell Inc. have partnered to make server virtualization technology a reality for customers of all sizes. The initial products now available to Dell customers worldwide include the Citrix XenServer Dell Express Edition and Citrix XenServer Dell Enterprise Edition as part of factory-integrated solutions designed to make it even easier for customers to begin implementing their virtualization strategies. The Citrix XenServer Dell products are the only virtualization solutions to feature integrated Dell management agent technology. As a result, customers can use the same familiar Dell OpenManage System Management software on their existing Dell servers to help increase server and storage utilizati...

SANTA CLARA , CA – March 31, 2008 – Citrix Systems, Inc. (Nasdaq: CTXS), the global leader in application delivery infrastructure, and NetApp (NASDAQ: NTAP), a leading provider of innovative data management solutions, today announced a global, strategic partnership to deliver a complete server virtualization solution capable of fully leveraging the power of NetApp® storage solutions. Citrix XenServer™ Adapter for NetApp Data ONTAP® enables customers to unlock the power of virtualized storage in Citrix XenServer environments. This jointly developed certified solution simplifies virtual machine creation and management by allowing customers to centrally manage storage configuration and provisioning from a single console, making it one of the industry’s few virtualization solutions optimized for storage environments. Citrix and NetApp are building on their existing relationship and extending virtualized data management environment capabilities included in Citrix XenServer 4.1, which be...

Ottawa , March 24, 2008 – Embotics , the Virtualization Lifecycle Management Company™, today announced its membership in the Microsoft Startup Accelerator Program . Stewarded by the Emerging Business Team (EBT) at Microsoft Corp., the program is designed to connect high-potential startups committed to the Microsoft platform to an extensive support network. This program provides access to Microsoft people and programs, guidance on future directions and support to accelerate their success. “Being a part of the Microsoft Startup Accelerator Program validates our position in the virtualization lifecycle management and automation market,” said Jay Litkey, CEO and founder of Embotics. “Microsoft’s selection of Embotics for this program further propels our success and growth with current customers, as well as solidifies our stance in the industry as a company to watch.” Designed specifically for virtual environments, Embotics’ V-Commander complements and extends existing virt...

I spoke to John Glendenning, VP EMEA, and he quickly told us what it will mean for the virtualization community as a whole. In fact this talk was much before the official announcement, and I managed to get John to do this "secret pre-briefing" with me :-) Lots of exciting things are happening around Citrix, what is Citrix announcing this time? These are very exciting times. We’ve been working on co-development with HP for a year, and today Citrix is announcing a strategic development and distribution agreement with HP that will integrate an enhanced version of Citrix XenServer™ into 64-bit HP ProLiant servers. How will it change the virtualization game for the next 2 quarters? Integrating the hypervisor directly into the server changes how companies can deploy virtualization, making it possible for a broader range of companies. The integration simplifies deployment of virtualization, and enables companies to be up and running and creating virtual machines wi...

SANTA CLARA, CA – March 20, 2008 – Citrix Systems, Inc. (Nasdaq:CTXS), the global leader in application delivery infrastructure, today announced a strategic development and distribution agreement with HP that will integrate an enhanced version of Citrix XenServer™ into 64-bit HP ProLiant servers. Under the terms of the agreement, Citrix and HP have jointly developed an integrated server virtualization solution called Citrix XenServer HP Select Edition, which will be marketed to HP and Citrix customers. The new product features an easy-to-use graphical management console and is seamlessly integrated with the same HP Insight Control management software that customers already use to physically administer their HP ProLiant servers. With this new solution, new and existing HP and Citrix customers will be able to deploy and manage a virtualized environment faster and easier than ever before. As enterprises continue to search for new and better solutions for rising power costs and complex...

“Dell is leading the transformation of storage IT to simpler, more manageable and robust environments,” said Stephen Murdoch, vice president, Global Infrastructure Consulting Services, Dell. “GlassHouse offers intellectual property and knowledgeable people that, when combined with our products and services, enhance our ability to help customers simplify their storage environments.” “Teaming with Dell through a strategic partnership allows us to continue developing our IP to better serve our customers,” said Mark Shirman, CEO of GlassHouse. “Dell is a natural partner for GlassHouse as we are both focused on service offerings in the storage, virtualization and data center markets.” More here...

Edited Press Release PARIS -(Dow Jones)- Novell Inc. (NOVL) and Atos Origin SA (5173.FR) said Monday they are partnering to deliver new joint compliance and governance solutions. Leveraging Novell's identity and security management technologies and Atos Origin's consulting, systems integration and managed operations services, the companies will deliver end-to-end solutions to allow customers to meet stringent security, governance and compliance requirements. As a result, customers can reduce both risk and cost through automating their user provisioning, access and security monitoring processes, the companies said. The partnership will initially focus on identity and security management and will be rolled out in major European countries, they added. In the area of identity management and provisioning, the partnerships will offer services to automate and integrate employee provisioning and de-provisioning to reduce costs and meeting compliance requirements and mapping to existing...

The new relationship will not only give Bell Micro an immediate and strong position in the virtualisation sector, but it will also enable the company to further improve its competitive offering in the data centre space. By partnering with Parallels in this way, Bell Micro can ensure that it offers its channel partners the latest product to take to customers wanting the option of virtualising business critical applications, as well as deploying Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) at market leading consolidation rates. Russell Blackburn, UK Country Manager at Parallels said, “We have chosen Bell Micro as a key partner as a result of the company’s reputation in the market and its focus on further developing its data centre portfolio. We believe this relationship will be win-win for all involved: customers will be offered a lower cost virtualisation solution, while resellers will benefit from higher margins in the virtualisation space.” Parallels Virtuozzo Container differs from hardware ...