Server Virtualization Spotlight

Server virtualization has become near ubiquitous in the data center. From hypervisors to hybrid clouds, keep up with the latest virtualization technology trends here with news, how-tos and analysis from ServerWatch.

Tackling the 'Last Mile' of Workloads for Virtualization

A virtualization expert weighs in on how to effectively handle the mission-critical applications that tend to be the hardest to virtualize.

VMware CEO Aims for 90 Percent Server Virtualization

VMware grows its 2012 revenues as it plots a course forward for 2013.

Survey: 51% of x86 Servers Now Virtualized

A new study from 451 Research reveals that a slim majority of x86 servers are now virtualized.

VMware's Moves Signal a Shift in Server Virtualization for 2013

Three key actions from VMware punctuate the changes in the server virtualization ecosphere over the last twelve months, but what exactly do they mean for the future?

Why the Pivotal Initiative Spinoff Makes Sound Sense

VMware and EMC are taking both a back-to-basics and a forward-looking approach in committing key technologies and resources to the Pivotal Initiative.

vSphere Backup Brouhaha Leads to Veeam and Symantec Squabble

Veeam isn't willing to take a perceived slight over virtual machine backups lightly, but what exactly is the virtualization vendor blowing up over in this case?

SDN Surge Simply the Norm for Ever-Evolving Virtualization Market

The rate of evolution in the network virtualization market has jumped into hyperspeed mode over the second half of 2012.

Creating Custom Virtual Networks for VMware Player

Our latest tutorial reveals how you can use VMware Player's Virtual Network Editor to create custom virtual adapters and then assign them to VMs.

Red Hat Accelerates Open Source Virtualization in RHEV 3.1 Release

Linux vendor takes aim at VMware with upcoming virtualization platform update.

Top 10 Reasons Not to Virtualize

We take a break from the norm of extolling the virtues of virtualization to shed some light on those situations when it's important to just say no.

VMware Seeking Total Cloud Domination?

Like the infamous villains in James Bond flicks, VMware would very much like to rule the world -- the cloud world in this case.

VMware Earnings Grows as vRAM Is Removed

VMware executives explain how the new licensing changes for vSphere 5 are being favorably received.

What's the Real Story on KVM Usage?

While some surveys peg hypervisor usage of Red Hat's KVM at a meager 0.5%, support for KVM from vendors tells a different story.

VMware Automates Management for the Cloud

The company's latest vCloud Suite update provides new automation capabilities.

What the vTax's Demise Means for Server Virtualization

Is VMware's elimination of the hated "vTax" a sign that the company is changing its focus to where the real money is?

HotLink Hops on the Cloud with New Hybrid Express Solution

The company's latest product offering could have big implications for companies looking to make a facile move to the cloud.

VMware Eliminates vRAM Pricing for vSphere with 5.1 Update

VMware's new CEO backtracks on last year's vSphere pricing change as new virtualization solutions debut at VMworld.

Joint HP and Veeam Virtualization Initiative Starting to Take Real Form

Get a chance to check out the collaborative efforts of the two companies at next week's VMworld virtualization jamboree.

VMware View 5.1: Relieving Potential Pain from VDI Projects

The latest version of VMware View debuts with new functionality to improve the overall user experience, but are the enhancements enough to warrant an upgrade for your environment?

Solid State Storage's Surging Impact on Server Virtualization

With NAND flash technology and SSD prices continuing to fall, server virtualization is set to reap the benefits.  Is it time to splash some cash on flash?

What's Behind VMware Changing Out Its Highly Successful CEO?

VMware has enjoyed record growth and innovation during Paul Maritz's time as CEO, so why exactly is EMC's Pat Gelsinger set to take over on September 1st?

VMware Snaps Up Nicira in Virtualization Acquisition

The virtualization firm shows just how serious it is about the Software-Defined Networking (SDN) market, spending $1.2 billion to acquire Nicira.

Solving Virtualized Storage Problems with Thin Provisioning

While server virtualization and cloud computing can lead to storage problems, many of these can be eased by the sensible use of thin provisioning.

Tweaking VMware's High Availability and Admission Control Policies

You have to balance adequate failover capacity with the ability to remain productive and cost-efficient. Admission control in VMware allows you to do both.

Big Switch Relieves Virtual Machine Mobility Migraines

Big Switch Networks offers a solution that should make life a little easier for any company involved in server virtualization or cloud computing projects.

Pano Logic Delivers New Cloud and Chrome-Based Thin Client Server

Is a browser-based thin client server model all you really need for running applications?

Installing XenServer Tools on Windows 8 and Windows Server 2012 VMs

For better virtual machine performance and better management integration, install XenServer Tools. But for Microsoft's newest operating systems, there's a catch.

Hyper-V 2012 Heats Up VMware vs. Microsoft Server Virtualization Showdown

The recent barbs traded between VMware and Microsoft can mean only one thing -- each sees the other as a real threat in the server virtualization and private cloud computing markets.

Red Hat Debuts CloudForms for Cloud Management

Red Hat wants to manage all clouds, open source or not.

VeeamZIP: WinZip for Virtualization Machines?

Veeam releases a free VM backup tool that could be a vital addition to every server virtualization administrator's tool bag.

HP Aims for Cloud Convergence

New enhancements in HP's CloudSystem provide burstable cloud access.

VMware's Vision for the Software-Defined Data Center

Just how realistic is VMware's endgame of a data center where everything is virtualized and controlled via software?

Managing Stubborn VMware VMs from the Command Line

Working in vCenter is great until the unthinkable happens -- you have a "stuck" VM. You can't do anything with it except use some command-line magic.

New Version of Oracle VM Server for x86 Improves Storage Availability

Release 3.1 of Oracle VM Server for x86 offers enhanced ease of use for virtualization administrators and improves storage availability.

Oracle Enhances Desktop Virtualization, Expands Storage Options

Improvements to Oracle Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) and Sun Ray server software offer a broader range of storage options.

Dell Taps Unidesk for VDI Management

Dell aims to ease virtual desktop management by offering its integrated enterprise VDI packages with Unidesk's layering tech.

Virsto Seeks to Solve Storage Virtualization Challenges

What will it take for virtual desktop infrastructure to move beyond the proof of concept stage?  Virsto believes it has the answer in its new storage virtualization software.

VMware CTO: Server Vendors Love Virtualization

The software-defined data center is not a threat to server vendors.

Phantom Virtualization Tap Supports Multiple Hypervisors

Net Optics extends support across Xen, Oracle VM, vSphere 5 and KVM.

Taking VMware vSphere 5 for a Spin

While VMware vSphere can already handle some of the most complex virtual machine configurations you can throw at it, version 5.0 brings even more flexibility to the HA and storage capabilities with an eye toward performance and scalability.

VMware Source Code Leak Reveals Virtualization Security Concerns

Was VMware's recent security breach a bombshell or something barely worth raising an eyebrow about?  A security expert weighs in.

IT Managers Still Struggling with Server Virtualization Technology

New research indicates that nearly 90 percent of IT managers struggle with backing up data in virtualized environments.

Network Virtualization Poised for Primetime?

Significant signs are starting to emerge that network virtualization is a technology whose time is about to arrive.

SolarWinds Virtualization Manager Supports VMware and Hyper-V

The latest release of the company's Virtualization Manager lets IT manage both VMware and Microsoft Hyper-V environments in a  single view.

Rackspace Cloud (Just) Now Moving to OpenStack

While Rackspace helped to found OpenStack, the company is only just now beginning to adopt the project for its own cloud services.

VMware: OpenStack Is Immature

VMware's CEO emphasizes his company's strength in both private and public cloud infrastructure as revenues continue to grow.

Veeam's Management Pack Catches the Free Bug

The company is currently giving away its Management Pack for free, but there's a catch of course -- three, in fact.

HotLink Channels Holistic Virtual Management With 'Platform Transformation'

Thanks to an abstraction trick, this young startup is enabling enterprises to manage multiple virtualization platforms from a single console.

Dell Pursues Cloud-Based Virtual Desktops With Wyse Buy

Dell buys desktop virtualization specialist Wyse Technologies in a bid to boost data center sales and expand its cloud VDI business.

Dell Enlists 12G Servers, the Cloud for VDI Refresh

Dell refreshes its virtual desktop portfolio with a new appliance, a 12G PowerEdge-powered enterprise option and a cloud-based offering.

VDI Alternatives Prove Effective

Server-based computing is alive and well, delivering the benefits of centralized administration and data storage benefits of VDI, without the cost and maintenance of VDI.

Virtual Desktop vs. PC OS Standoff Looms

Often, what spells opportunity for aspiring startups is viewed as a threat by entrenched market leaders. In the case of virtual desktops hosted on the public cloud, Microsoft has a lot to lose. And one company stands ready to change the game further.

ElasticHosts Flexible, Pay-as-You-Go Cloud Hosting

British firm seeks to spread its on-demand computing model to North America, touting cost and efficiency savings of virtual server offering.

Server Virtualization Management Gains Steam

Management suites for server virtualization platforms is an area that continues to heat up. Not only are there more choices, but more vendors are also offering more products.

Xangati Promotes Holistic Performance Management

Touting the unique challenges of managing performance in the virtualization era, company offers "cross-silo" tools to keep tabs on diverse virtual and physical assets.

8 Cloud Security Boosts From VMware

Cloud security, or lack there of, is increasingly proving to be a barrier to adoption and revenue for companies that sell public cloud services. VMware aims to remedy this by partnering with these eight top guns in the security market place.

The Truth About RHEV

VMware, Microsoft and Citrix are the Big 3 of server virtualization and public cloud. It may soon be time to add Red Hat and rebrand them the Big 4, however. With more mission-critical Linux servers being virtualized, more servers are running RHEV, and cloud providers are not exempt from this trend.

Veeam Adds Hyper-V Infrastructure Support

The virtual infrastructure management company doubles down on Veeam One hypervisor options.

2012: The Year VDI Transforms to IDV

VDI has yet to capture the mainstream, but Virtual Computer has a plan -- flip the technology around. It believes Intelligent Desktop Virtualization,  or IDV, carries many of the benefits of VDI with few  of the disadvantages. Will enterprises bite?

Kaspersky Previews Anti-malware for VMware Environments

Security software provider secures virtual machines running Windows and hints at markets beyond VMware.

VMware Takes Steps to Conquer Nascent Hybrid Cloud Market

VMware rules in the virtual data center and private cloud, but it's second runner up in the public cloud. With hybrid clouds  on their way to being the future of computing and a consistent infrastructure between enterprises and service providers critical to their success, is it any surprise VMware is taking steps to protect its virtual kingdom?

VirtualSharp Seeks to Update Disaster Recovery for Virtualization Era

Two-year-old startup offers automated disaster recovery testing for virtual environments that promise stronger compliance with RTO, RPO.

VMTurbo Seeks to Put Virtualization on the Fast Track

VMTurbo, a workload management system for virtualized environments, seeks to simplify and streamline. It's first stop -- hooking into VMware vCenter.

PerspecSys Builds Bridge to the Public Cloud

For some enterprises, regulations rule out using the public cloud. This means some products, notably Salesforce.com, can't be considered. PerspecSys believes it has found the solution for those with this predicament.

VMware Delivers Real Financial Results for Virtualization Business

VMware had a great year in 2011 and has big plans for growing its business in 2012.

Server Virtualization Buying Guide -- Red Hat

If Red Hat has its way,  the Big Three of virtualization will expand to be the Big Four. With RHEV 3, Red Hat may have taken a big step in that direction.

Red Hat Turns to Linux for Red Hat Enterprise Virtualization 3

After two years of forcing users to use Windows to manage virtualization, Red Hat is finally bringing its virtualization management tech to Linux.

Microsoft Solidifies Its Private Cloud Approach

The System Center 2012 release candidate makes a very clear statement: Microsoft is ready to seize the private cloud  market from VMware.

Why the Ideal Virtual Infrastructure Is 'Boring Business as Usual'

Adopting virtualization technology  often leads companies to carry out security, backup and other day-to-day activities in new and different ways. This often adds unnecessary costs and complexity. Symantec's solution? Keep it simple.

The Beginning of the End of the Server Virtualization Landscape as We Know It

2012 just might be the year the sun gets a chance to set on VMware's empire of server virtualization hegemony.

Server Virtualization Buying Guide -- Xen Server

Citrix XenServer may not be the most advanced or robust server virtualization platform, but organizations with simple virtualization requirements or those looking for a supplementary virtualization solution will be more than satisfied with it.

VMware Extends View Virtual Desktop Clients to Mac, Linux

Aiming to help IT organizations make their virtual desktop infrastructure more flexible, VMware has released a "technology preview" of its View client for Mac OS X Lion, and has promised similar previews of clients for Ubuntu Linux and the Kindle Fire in coming weeks.

VDI Isn't Just for Desktops

While the 'D' in VDI stands for Desktops, VDI is now being used to deliver services in innovative new ways, like virtual ATMs.

Server Virtualization: The Year in Review

Server virtualization continued to make inroads in 2011. From the Open Virtualization Alliance to the vSphere 5 hypervisor to the quarterly V-Index, here are the highs and lows.

HP Floats Raft of Cloud Computing Options

From hardware and software to partner programs to training HP has launched a trajectory to the cloud.