Author: Angelo Luciani

VMware has now entered the server space with VMware GSX and ESX server software that will run on a hosted machine and bare metal. Get ready for the virtualization tsunami. I can see how this will lower costs through server consolidation and bring flexibility to IT teams.

According to the VMware Press Release:

VMware GSX Server helps customers achieve mainframe-class control on Intel servers and VMware ESX Server is a highly scalable product for high-performance server environments that adds mainframe-class resource and system management capabilities.

VMware will ship a version of the GSX Server that runs on servers with Linux operating systems in January 2001 and a version of GSX Server for servers with the Windows NT operating system in the second quarter of 2001. Both versions of the GSX Server enable customers to deploy Windows and/or Linux operating systems in virtual machines.

VMware will ship ESX Server in limited quantities in the first quarter of 2001. ESX Server does not require a host operating system and can also be used to deploy Windows and/or Linux operating systems in virtual machines.

The ESX version excites me the most. Not requiring a host operating system and installing ESX directly on the hardware, I suspect we will see performance improvements. I am also expecting that we will save on Windows server licenses.

What do you think of this news? Are you thinking about how virtualization will fit into your IT plans? Let me know and thanks for reading.

This is great news for VMware, looks like Google has taken a liking and will start using their software to run different operating systems simultaneously. This should save Google loads of money. We know startups need to stretch their cash as long as they can.

According to a VMware Press Release:

Palo Alto, Calif., March 13, 2000– VMware, Inc. today announced that Google, Inc., one of the fastest growing search destination sites on the World Wide Web, has decided to deploy VMware software to develop for multi-platform environments and to access applications on multiple operating systems.

Before deploying VMware’s software, Google developers had to use a bank of test computers, each dedicated to running a specific operating system and browser combination. Google then installed VMware and configured virtual machines with the same operating system and browser combinations as the bank of test computers had. Since multiple virtual machines can run on one machine, Google developers were able to perform the same tests as before without ever having to leave their desks.

When Google begins to praise your technology you know you are on to something really cool. Way to go VMware, lets see where this leads. What do you think of this news? Let me know.