EqualLogic is Storage Virtualization

In this Equalogic Bits Segment I will discuss how EqualLogic truly is Virtualized Storage and how this relates to Server Virtualization and Desktop Virtualization.

Source: MarcMalotke.net   By: Marc Malotke

Virtual Servers, Real Growth

 

If you follow tech industry trends, you’ve probably heard of cloud computing, an increasingly popular approach of delivering technology resources over the Internet rather than from on-site computer systems.

Chances are, you’re less familiar with virtualization — the obscure software that makes it all possible.

The concept is simple: rather than having computers run a single business application — and sit idle most of the time — virtualization software divides a system into several “virtual” machines, all running software in parallel.

The technology not only squeezes more work out of each computer, but makes large systems much more flexible, letting data-center techies easily deploy computing horsepower where it’s needed at a moment’s notice.

The approach cuts costs, reducing the amount of hardware, space and energy needed to power up large data centers. Maintaining these flexible systems is easier, too, because managing software and hardware centrally requires less tech support.

The benefits of virtualization have made cloud computing an economical alternative to traditional data centers.

“Without virtualization, there is no cloud,” said Charles King, principal analyst of Pund-IT.

That’s transforming the technology industry and boosting the fortunes of virtualization pioneers such as VMware (NYSE:VMW – News), Citrix Systems (NMS:CTXS), two of the best-performing stocks in IBD’s specialty enterprise software group. As of Friday, the group ranked No. 24 among IBD’s 197 Industry Groups, up from No. 121 three months ago.

1. Business

Specialty enterprise software represents a small but fast-growing segment of the overall software enterprise market, which according to market research firm Gartner is set to hit $229 billion this year.

As with most software, the segment is a high-margin business. With high upfront development costs but negligible manufacturing and distribution expenses, specialty software companies strive for mass-market appeal. Once developers recoup their initial development costs, additional sales represent pure profit.

Software developers also make money helping customers install and run their software, another high-margin business.

But competition is fierce. Unlike capital-intensive businesses, software companies require no factory, heavy equipment, storefront or inventory to launch. Low barriers to entry mean a constant stream of new competitors looking to out-innovate incumbents.

In addition to the virtualization firms, notable names in the group include CA Technologies (NMS:CA) and Compuware (NMS:CPWR).

All offer infrastructure software to manage data centers.

“Big-iron” mainframe computers began using virtualization in the 1970s, around the time when CA and Compuware were founded.

In the late 1990s, VMware brought the technology to low-cost systems running ordinary Intel (NMS:INTC) chips. VMware has since emerged as the dominant player in virtualization.

Citrix has added a twist to the concept, virtualizing desktop computers. Rather than installing workers’ operating system and applications on hundreds of PCs spread across the globe, companies can use the technology to run PCs from a bank of central servers. Workers, who access their virtual PCs over the Internet, don’t know the difference.

Microsoft (NMS:MSFT) has jumped in with its own virtualization product, HyperV, which it bundles free into Windows Server software packages. Oracle (NMS:ORCL) and Red Hat (NYSE:RHT – News) have launched virtualization products as well.

Meanwhile, CA and Compuware are racing to move beyond their mainframe roots to support virtualization and cloud-computing-enabled data centers. In February, CA said it would buy 3Tera to build services and deploy applications aimed at the cloud-computing market.

And Compuware bought privately held Gomez, Inc. last fall to manage cloud application performance.

Name Of The Game: Innovate. With a fast-moving market and steady influx of new competitors, keeping customers happy with good service and money-saving breakthroughs is vital.

2. Market

Nearly everyone who runs a corporate computer system is a potential buyer of virtualization software. Companies ramping up their information-technology purchases use the software to manage their sprawling infrastructure; others with limited budgets use it to squeeze more out of their existing systems.

Sales of server-virtualization software are set to grow 14% this year to $1.28 billion, according to a report by Lazard Capital Markets. Sales of software to manage virtual environments will grow 44% in 2010 to $1.88 billion.

Desktop virtualization revenue will rise 184% this year to $847.8 million. Citrix has the edge in this budding market with its XenDesktop product.

VMware is dominant among large enterprises, controlling about 85% of the server virtualization market. Microsoft is favored by small and midsize companies.

Virtualization is seen as “a strategic asset” for enabling cloud computing, and continues to gain momentum, says Lazard analyst Joel Fishbein.

VMware has the early-mover advantage in this market with its vSphere platform and has stayed ahead by adding new features such as data security and disaster recovery, analysts say.

But Citrix is partnering closely with Microsoft to take on VMware in virtualization.

3. Climate

Competition is heating up as companies scramble to adopt virtualization. Before 2009, just 30% of companies used virtualization, says analyst Fishbein. This year, that will double to 60%. Most of the gain is coming from small and midsize customers.

In addition, virtual servers are soon expected to more than double as a percentage of the overall server workload, from 18% today to 48% by 2012.

VMware says it can stay a step ahead of the pack by building new features into its products, says Dan Chu, VMware’s vice president of cloud infrastructure and services.

“We have a large technology lead with what we enable for our customers,” Chu said. “We are several years ahead of what the others are doing.”

Citrix CEO Mark Templeton says his firm’s broadening strategy — offering a variety of products with multiple licensing options and distribution channels — will grow sales.

“What’s going on is a massive shift in how computing gets delivered,” Templeton said. “In an environment that’s changing so dramatically, the highest-risk thing you can do is not act.”

4. Technology

The first virtualization boom stemmed from a shift over the last decade away from big expensive mainframes and minicomputers to massive banks of cheap Intel-powered machines. Virtualization gave these low-cost systems some of the high-end features of their pricier counterparts.

Virtualization software makers are betting on a second wave of growth fueled by the industrywide shift to cloud computing.

Technology managers use virtualization to run cloud computing in their own data centers. And large tech vendors such as Microsoft use the technology for cloud-computing services they sell to customers.

Dividing computers into isolated virtual machines gives cloud service providers the benefits of shared computing resources without the security downsides.

VMware has the early lead in virtualization. But the technology is quickly becoming a commodity as Microsoft and others bundle it into their broader platforms.

“VMware is known as a virtualization company, and Microsoft is a platform company,” said David Greschler, who heads up Microsoft’s virtualization efforts. “Their strategy is to sell virtualization, but our strategy is to make virtualization available as part of a larger platform at no extra cost.”

At the same time, a shift toward a world of cloud-computing services hosted by the likes of Microsoft, Amazon.com (NMS:AMZN) and Google (NMS:GOOG) could lead to fewer companies purchasing virtualization software themselves.

Source: Investor’s Business Daily

CIO100 – Genesys Health System – 2009 Winner

Project Description: Genesys Regional Medical Center deployed virtual clinical workstations so clinicians can access information within seconds. Rather than logging in and out of several applications during a session, a clinician simply needs his security badge and a single password to log in and commence or continue a session. Logging off takes one keystroke, which suspends work into a virtual session that can be resumed remotely at any time. The virtual workstation has freed up to two hours a day for patient care, as well as saved the group an estimated $50,000 a year in IT costs and $30,000 a year in electrical consumption. (Source: CIO.com)

VDI Performance Acceleration – Atlantis Computing’s ILIO

VDI platforms use shared storage located centrally for VDI desktop images. However, Windows operating systems were designed to operate with a low latency dedicated local disk for every desktop. The Microsoft Windows family of operating systems is dependent on performing input/output (IO) intensive tasks such as file layout optimization, background defragmentation, antivirus scanning and virtual memory paging. However, in a VDI environment, these tasks result in placing a heavy tax on shared storage infrastructure as each user, application and desktop compete for limited IO capacity (measured in input/output per second-IOPS). Without adequate storage IOPS, applications and virtual machines take longer to boot and applications respond sluggishly, leaving users frustrated.

Atlantis ILIO is a revolutionary approach to deploying VDI that makes the Windows operating system perform well without massive investments in storage infrastructure. Atlantis ILIO boosts VDI desktop performance by transparently offloading IO intensive Windows operations from VDI shared storage. ILIO terminates operating system and application traffic on the same rack as the VDI servers before traffic hits the storage fabric. The result is a 10x performance increase for VDI desktops, which translates into faster VM boot times, logon, and overall application performance. Atlantis ILIO also eliminates VDI IO bottlenecks caused by boot storms, logon storms and antivirus scanning.

Source: Atlantis Computing

VMware Workstation 7 – What’s New

Introducing VMware Workstation 7

Winner of more than 50 industry awards, VMware Workstation transforms the way technical professionals develop, test, demo, and deploy software. Innovative features help software developers, QA engineers, sales professionals, and IT administrators to reduce hardware cost, save time, minimize risk, and streamline tasks that save time and improve productivity.

Deliver Desktops as a Managed Service with VMware

Streamline Desktop Management and Deployment

Instantly provision desktops to local and remote users from the datacenter with VMware View. Standardize desktop deployments by creating images of approved desktops, then automatically provision as many as you need. Easily manage groups of users from a single desktop image. Delivering desktops as a managed service with VMware View typically lets you reduce your overall desktops costs by 50% by centralizing management and resources and removing IT infrastructure from remote offices.

Improve User Satisfaction

Provide a superior end-user desktop experience over any network, with VMware View with PCoIP, a high performance display protocol. Virtual desktop users can instantly access their personalized desktops, including data, applications and settings, from anywhere, without suffering the lag times of earlier technologies. Play rich media content, use multiple monitor configurations and seamlessly access attached peripherals.

Standardize Your Virtualization Platform

Enjoy a unified management experience through VMware View’s integration with VMware vSphere, the only virtualization platform tuned and optimized for desktops. Dynamically load balance virtual desktop machines to optimize computing resources. Power on thousands of desktops at once, without any performance degradation. Bring the power of the datacenter to the desktop and use a common platform to manage both servers and desktops from the datacenter to the cloud.

Easily Deliver Desktops to Remote Users

Deliver cost-effective virtual desktops and applications securely to call centers, government agencies, healthcare providers, branch campuses or offshore facilities. Give partner organizations and independent service providers temporary access to corporate desktops through a secure network connection. Perform maintenance and troubleshoot user issues without engaging in expensive on-site visits or maintaining remote IT staff and infrastructure. Deliver a high performance desktop experience to users—wherever they are.

Deliver Built-in Business Continuity for the Desktop

Meet work-from-home mandates in the event of quarantine or natural disaster with an emergency preparedness policy and VMware View 4, the only desktop virtualization solution that provides built-in business continuity and disaster recovery for the desktop at no additional cost.

Provide high availability for your desktops within your virtualized environment without the cost or complexity of traditional clustering solutions and back them up nightly in the datacenter as a business process. VMware View with VMware vSphere for Desktops lets you extend enterprise features such as VMotion, High Availability and Distributed Resources Scheduler to the desktop, ensuring an “always on” desktop. With VMware View you can:

• Let your desktops take advantage of key features in the vSphere platform such as VMotion, High Availability, Dynamic Resource Scheduler and Consolidated Backup.
• Access virtual desktop from a wide variety of devices over any network connection to ensure business continuity.
• Quickly provision virtual desktops to remote users or groups of users in the event of a pandemic or catastrophic event when it is difficult for workers to access the office.
• Keep desktops running even when server hardware goes down with automated failover and recovery.
• Shift desktop computing resources automatically as user needs and application loads change with dynamic load balancing.
• Give remote users a high performance desktop experience with VMware View with PCoIP while protecting access to sensitive data.

Ensure Security with Centralized Control and Management

Protect your organization’s information assets and ensure compliance with industry and government regulations such as HIPAA, SOX, government mandates on settings for PCs and more with desktop virtualization. VMware desktop virtualization solutions enable enterprises to secure data, centralize control of desktops and software access and maintain compliance without sacrificing end user needs.

Ensure Corporate Security Compliance with End User Restricted Entitlements

Ensure appropriate access for end users with specified credentials by restricting access to desktops based on the authentication method. For some business environments, this may mean, for example, you can allow access only to users who have authenticated with a smart card. VMware desktop virtualization solutions are modular by design, enabling integration with 3rd party software to allow for further extension of security requirements.

Maintain Locked-down Desktops without Restricting Application Access

VMware virtualized applications run entirely in user mode and can be deployed to fully locked down desktops. No administrative rights are needed to execute these virtualized applications. Additionally, applications can be encapsulated in a fully encrypted file for deployment. IT staff can be assured security compliance needs are met while enabling end users to easily and safely access business critical applications.

Manage and Track Software Application Usage & Deployment

Monitor software license usage and ensure compliance with vendors without imposing new process or enforcement tools. VMware desktop virtualization solutions provide out-of-the-box integrations with existing policy-based usage mechanisms such as Active Directory and LDAP. VMware View seamlessly plugs into existing management frameworks for discovery of software assets and systems, so you can use your existing monitoring and distribution tools to maintain single-pane-of-glass control of software license compliance.

Decouple hardware, applications and operating systems to eliminate compatibility issues during OS migrations and upgrades. Get the benefits of newer platforms without paying heavy support costs to test and troubleshoot integration issues. Run a single image of a new operating system across a variety of hardware types. Encapsulate older applications and even run multiple versions of the same application side by side.

Source: VMware

Pano Express Combines VMware vSphere™ Essentials, Windows 7 Operating System, Server and Storage Pre-Configured with Pano Logic’s Zero Client Platform

Pano Logic, the leader in zero client desktop virtualization, today announced Pano Express, the only all-in-one zero client, hypervisor, operating system, server and storage solution available. Pano Express drastically reduces the capital costs (CAPEX) and complexity of implementing a complete desktop virtualization solution by providing a pre-loaded, pre-configured 50-user suite combining VMware vSphere™ Essentials, Microsoft Windows 7 licenses, and server and storage hardware with Pano Logic’s award-winning zero client platform for just $489 per seat. That is the lowest cost available for a complete, all-in desktop virtualization solution.  

The pre-configured, pre-loaded all-in suite is designed for small and midsized businesses (SMBs) and eliminates the complexity and resources required to cobble together the right infrastructure, storage and software for these organizations. With an all-in price of $489 per seat, CAPEX spending for Pano Express is approximately half of what virtual desktop deployments from other vendors cost. The reduced complexity of Pano Express strips the decision-making process to one simple question: “How much does it cost to get started?” More importantly, because Pano Logic is a true zero client solution, with no processors, software or storage on the client device, lifecycle savings from reduced management, energy, repair and replacement costs are dramatic. Pano Express provides annual total cost of ownership (TCO) savings of as much as 80 percent over a typical PC infrastructure.

“Pano Express is the lowest cost desktop computing solution on the planet when you factor in the huge long-term savings in reduced support, maintenance and energy costs from zero client computing,” said John Kish, CEO of Pano Logic. “We’ve dramatically lowered the cost and made the entire transition process – the decision, the purchase, and roll out – simple for any organization to undertake regardless of training or expertise. Having already deepened our technical integration with VMware View™, we are continuing to expand our affiliation with VMware. Our low-cost, zero-complexity desktop virtualization solution will transform the implementation path for organizations embracing 100% centralization.”

Pano Express includes 50 zero client Pano Systems, VMware vSphere Essentials, 50 Windows XP or Windows 7 virtual desktop licenses, and a custom configured dual-quad core server with high-performance RAID5 internal storage. Pano Systems are comprised of the zero client Pano Device, Pano Direct service and Pano Manager. Pano Express ships pre-loaded and pre-configured, and will be available for purchase through an approved Pano Logic reseller in North America. 

“We’re pleased with the release of Pano Express, a pre-packaged solution that will enable SMBs to tap the extreme value and simplicity of desktop virtualization,” said Patrick Harr, vice president, desktop virtualization at VMware. “This suite is a powerful tool for expanding and speeding the adoption of desktop virtualization so that customers of all sizes can realize the dramatic savings and simplicity of centralized computing.”

Available in early June, Pano Express has already achieved success in the marketplace.

“I was sold on Pano Logic based on the ongoing support, maintenance and energy savings I would realize over time but when I learned of the additional price benefits and the convenience of having all of the software fully loaded and ready to go, I jumped at Pano Express,” said Mike Stewart, Assistant to the Director of Information Systems of the Blue Ridge High School District. “My department is stretched thin trying to maintain a computing infrastructure with limited resources. Having the computing equipment arrive, the software fully loaded and the components ready brought tremendous peace of mind and immediate savings in deployment costs.” 

About Pano Logic
Pano Logic is the leader in Zero Client Desktop Computing. Pano Logic’s all-in-one hardware and software solution redefines the delivery and management of end user computing by radically centralizing desktop management. Pano Logic is a complete end-to-end solution purpose-built for desktop virtualization that deploys in under an hour and dramatically simplifies the complexity and management of virtual desktops and slashes computing TCO by as much as 80 percent. The Pano Device, a zero client, contains NO processor, NO operating system, NO storage, NOR any moving parts, completely eliminating endpoint management and security breaches. The Pano Device uses less than 5 watts of energy or 97% less than a PC, drastically reducing energy costs. To learn more, visit http://www.panologic.com

Source” Pano Logic

Bandwidth Requirements for XenDesktop 4

Wyse Xenith™ – The zero client built for Citrix

Meet Wyse Xenith

Zero delays, Zero management, Zero security issues – Citrix HDX.

Outfit your cloud with the fastest, easiest to manage, and most secure Citrix client we’ve ever built – and that’s saying something.

From the company that invented the category and built more zero clients than anyone.

Yes, anyone.

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Zero Delays

 

Go from 0 to productivity faster than a Ferrari.

Wyse Xenith is ready to work in six seconds because its dynamically delivered firmware is smaller than a single digital photograph. Its efficient design is three times faster than competing devices and sports gigabit LAN and wireless-n, so it’s ready for serious tasks whether you’re wired in or not. With an industry first media decoder in hardware, Wyse Xenith will be able to deliver HD video without taxing your server, network or patience.

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Zero Management

 

That’s right, no management. It’s a zero configuration client.

Most thin clients require you to add software, tweak settings, or configure them in some way before you can use them. Not Wyse Xenith. Just take it out of the box and connect it to your network – your Citrix XenDesktop server configures it to your preferences.

Wyse Xenith is completely configurable, yet no management software is needed. So unlike some clients, when a hot new feature is released, you won’t need to buy new ones to get it.

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Zero Security Issues

 

It’s one less thing to worry about.

Wyse Xenith is the only dynamically configurable zero client that is virus and malware immune.

Yes, immune.

There are no Windows or Linux APIs for viruses to latch on to, so even network and memory-borne viruses can’t attack. Unlike other HDX compatible clients, Wyse Xenith needs absolutely no local firewall or anti-virus protection.

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Zero Energy Use (Almost)

 

Save $70 a year in energy versus a PC*

Wyse Xenith draws less than 7 watts of power – in full operation.

That’s less than every PC on the planet. And no multimedia rich client on the market today uses less energy.

When you hug a tree – it might hug back.

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Zero Compromise User Experience

 

Wyse Xenith is built for Citrix environments.

XenApp, XenDesktop, it’s what Wyse Xenith lives for.
It’s quite simply the best Citrix HDX client this side of Win32.
With HDX support that goes beyond any non-windows device on the market today.

The desktop just got a lot easier.

Specs

Processor:	VIA 1GHz
Chipset:	VIA VX855
Memory:	128MB Flash / 512MB RAM DDR2
I/O peripheral support:	One DVI-I port, DVI to VGA (DB-15) adapter included Dual-video Support with optional DVI-I to DVI-D plus VGA-monitor splitter cable (sold separately) Four USB 2.0 ports (2 on front, 2 on back) Two PS/2 ports One Mic In One Line Out Enhanced PS/2 Keyboard with Windows Keys (104 keys) PS/2 Optical mouse included
Networking:	10/100/1000 Base-T Gigabit Ethernet Internal 802.11 b/g/n (optional) eliminates theft of external wireless adapters
Display:	VESA monitor support with Display Data Control (DDC) for automatic setting of resolution and refresh rate Dual monitor supported Single: 1920×1200@60Hz, Color depth: 8, 15, 16, 24 or 32bpp, Two independent full resolution frame buffers Dual: 1920×1200@60Hz, Color Depth: 8, 15, 16, 24 or 32bpp
Audio:	Output: 1/8-inch mini jack, full 16 bit stereo, 48KHz sample rate Input: 1/8-inch mini jack, 8 bit stereo microphone
Physical characteristics:	Height: 1.38 inches (34mm) Width: 6.94 inches (177mm) Depth: 4.75 inches (121mm)
Shipping Weight:	6 lbs. (2.7kg)
Mountings:	Horizontal feet (optional vertical stand) Optional VESA mounting bracket
Device Security:	Built-in Kensington security slot (cable sold separately)
Power:	Worldwide auto-sensing 100-240 VAC, 50/60 Hz. Energy Star V.5.0 compliant power supply Average power usage with device connected to 1 keyboard with 1 PS/2 mouse and 1 monitor: Under 7 Watts
Temperature Range:	Horizontal and Vertical positions: 50° to 104° F (10° to 40° C)
Humidity:	20% to 80% condensing 10% to 95% non-condensing
Safety Certifications:	German EKI-ITB 2000, ISO 9241-3/-8 cULus 60950, TÜV-GS, EN 60950 FCC Class B, CE, VCCI, C-Tick WEEE, RoHS Compliant
Warranty:	Three-year hardware warranty

Wyse Announces the First Zero Footprint Software Engine for Cloud Client Computing

Today at Citrix Synergy 2010, the conference where virtualization, networking and cloud computing meet, Wyse Technology revealed the Wyse Zero™ engine. Wyse Zero™ is software that simplifies the development of cloud connected devices. Wyse Zero™, which connects users to cloud computing services and virtual desktops with efficient communications and protocol technology, is already in use in millions of devices, including thin clients, handheld smart devices, and zero clients. Specifically, the Wyse Zero™ engine is currently powering all devices that are utilizing Wyse ThinOS, all implementations of Wyse PocketCloud and — as of today — all Wyse Xenith™ devices.

“Wyse Zero™ addresses the limitations with current embedded options and is already powering the next generation of smart devices connecting to the cloud to provide virtual desktop access.”
.For current users of Wyse ThinOS, the highly optimized, management-free solution for Citrix XenApp, Citrix XenDesktop, Microsoft Terminal Server and VMware View virtual desktop environments, Wyse Zero™ ensures that every Wyse thin client delivers flexible and secure user access, boots-up in seconds, updates itself automatically, and delivers IT managers with simple, scalable administration to suit their organization’s needs; all while featuring an unpublished API that delivers built-in protection from viruses and malware.

For the thousands of users of Wyse PocketCloud on Apple’s iPhone, iPad and iPod touch, Wyse Zero™ functionality expands the end user browsing capability to include Adobe Flash support, for example, by intelligently using cloud resources.

Announced today in conjunction with Citrix Synergy 2010, Wyse Xenith™ will also capitalize on the Wyse Zero™ engine. This technology foundation completely eliminates the management and security issues associated with traditional clients, while ensuring a high-definition HDX user experience. More information on Wyse Xenith™ is available at http://www.wyse.com/citrix.

“For cloud computing to continue to take hold in the enterprise, OEMs require a software ingredient that simplifies the development of cloud connected devices; one with a lightweight footprint that can perform at the speed of business,” according to Curt Schwebke, Chief Technical Officer at Wyse. “Wyse Zero™ addresses the limitations with current embedded options and is already powering the next generation of smart devices connecting to the cloud to provide virtual desktop access.”

The Wyse Zero™ engine delivers several benefits:

•Rich – includes networking, management, and protocol technology
•Fast – does not require an underlying operating system, starts instantly, and provides a fast user experience
•Secure – no attack surface, so no vulnerability to virus and malware threats
•Green – lowest carbon footprint, energy efficient
About Wyse Technology

Wyse Technology is the global leader in cloud client computing, leveraging its industry-leading thin and zero client computing-based desktop virtualization software, hardware and services. Cloud Client Computing is the ultimate client computing solution for our time. It replaces the outdated computing model of the unsecure, unreliable, un-green and expensive PC. It delivers the security, reliability, user experience with the lowest energy usage and total cost of ownership. It simply connects all the dots: Thin and zero client computing, unified communications, desktop virtualization and the web for users to reach the clouds – in a private, public, government or hybrid cloud. It is software. It is hardware. It is services. It is in business. It is at home. It is on the go. It is freedom – so users can focus on what is important. Wyse partners with industry-leading IT vendors, including, Cisco, Citrix, CSC, IBM, Microsoft, and VMware. Wyse also partners with globally-recognized distribution and service partners along with its award-winning partner programs to service any customer, anywhere and anytime, in the world. Wyse is headquartered in San Jose, California, U.S.A., with offices worldwide.

Source: Wyse via BusinessWire

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