Channel Strategies for the CIONew VMware management tools address gaps in product line
Beta versions of VMware management tools
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vCloud Request Manager and vCenter CapacityIQ 1.5 are now available and include new governance and storage features useful to solution providers.
The VMware vCloud Request Manager is a management tool for vCloud Director users that adds workflow approvals to provisioning requests from vCloud Director and tracks software license usage. The product is an add-on to vCloud Director, has a starting cost of $100 per virtual machine (VM) and will be available for purchase at the end of the year, according to SearchServerVirtualization.com.
VCenter CapacityIQ 1.5 gives solution providers visibility into the storage infrastructure, including snapshots, I/O and disk capacity reports. Providers can also use the tool to run "what if" analyses that predict storage capacity shortfalls. CapacityIQ 1.5 is priced at $75 per managed VM and will also be available at the end of the year.
Microsoft releases MED-V 2 beta to public
The MED-V 2 beta includes a number of new automation and management features that solution providers can take advantage of.
MED-V 2 workspaces are now deployed and managed using existing electronic software distribution systems, including Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager 2007 R2. New applications deployed to MED-V workspaces are automatically available to the Windows 7 host, according to BrianMadden.com. USB devices and smart cards can also be shared between the host and applications running in the MED-V workspace.
BrianMadden.com notes that MED-V is really like a "fancier version of XP Mode," which is used to help solve application compatibility issues when migrating from Windows XP to Windows 7.
Customers give VDI lukewarm reception
Although this year was supposed to be the year for desktop virtualization, a 2010 Virtualization Decisions Purchasing Intentions Survey proved that many customers aren't quite ready for virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI).
The survey, conducted by SearchServerVirtualization.com, collected data from more than 800 IT professionals and found that 44% of respondents have no interest in deploying or evaluating desktop virtualization in 2010. Twenty-seven percent said they are evaluating the technology this year. These numbers are higher than 2009, when 20% said they planned to evaluate VDI that year and 20% would look at it in 2010, according to SearchVirtualDesktop.com.
There are also lingering questions among survey respondents about complexity and price. The survey shows that complexity is the main reason that 21% they haven't deployed virtual desktops, and more than 32% said price is the problem.
Gartner Inc. predicts there will be 4.5 million virtual desktops by the end of this year and 50 million by 2014, which would still only account for 10% of the market.
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