Insight Integrated Systems (IIS) will showcase NetApp's server virtualization solutions. Virtualization is a technique for increasing server utilization by supporting multiple operating systems running on a single server. It provides an abstraction layer that decouples the server's physical hardware from the operating system, creating a uniform pool of computer resources that can be allocated to virtual servers in a controlled manner.

With cloud computing becoming ever more prevalent in the consumer space for rapidly scaling Web 2.0 applications, grid computing finally delivers similarly efficient scalability to the business world. Grid computing is an impressive, confident, powerful technology model, winning high-profile admirers as it approaches full maturity.

Ericom and BOSaNOVA announced a partnership in which all BOSaNOVA Linux, CE and XPe thin clients will include Ericom's PowerTerm WebConnect clients for Desktop Virtualization and Server Based Computing. With Ericom's PowerTerm WebConnect, BOSaNOVA thin client users will have secure and centrally managed access to applications and desktops running on Windows Terminal Servers, Virtual Desktops (VDI), Blade PCs and legacy host systems. This alliance empowers organizations with a full-featured virtualization solution that reduces the cost and complexity of traditional desktop management.

ClearCube announced that its software business is being spun-off and launched as an independent new company called VDIworks. Built on five generations of proven success within enterprise production environments, VDIworks delivers comprehensive, flexible software management platforms for creating, deploying and managing virtual desktop infrastructure. ClearCube, on the other hand, will continue to provide its complete solutions for centralized desktop computing, including end-to-end desktop virtualization. As independent companies, both ClearCube and VDIworks will maximize their business potential and gain the flexibility to meet the rapidly growing demands of their respective target markets.

The VMware Fusion team announced the release of VMware Fusion 2.0 Beta 1 for public download. VMware also announced VMware Fusion 2.0 will be a free downloadable upgrade for all VMware Fusion 1.x users. VMware Fusion Beta 1 ships with new features.

ClearCube announced the company's latest successes with strong market demand, technology innovations, customer and partner success. ClearCube's continued high standing in the centralized computing space is demonstrated by the company's momentum in a series of corporate developments over the past year.

In 2006 IDC released a study showing that the costs associated with data center management escalate at an alarming rate - in large part because of rising software management expenses. Virtualization has many definitions and uses in today's computing world, but three instances of virtualization are of key importance to solving the problems remaining in the data center after the implementation of state-based management and automation.

Virtual machines are wonderful things and server consolidation provides impressive and immediate ROI. However, server virtualization does not come without its challenges. According to Gartner, virtual machine (VM) 'sprawl' is the number one concern when it comes to managing VM environments. Is this a valid concern? What does sprawl have to do with managing the life cycle of virtual machines?

Charles Dickens' classic novel, 'A Tale of Two Cities,' begins, 'It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness.' When it comes to information to help business professionals make wise decisions, answer critical questions, and resolve significant problems, today truly is the best and worst of times.

The discipline of systems management is composed largely of managing the computing endpoint. The 'endpoint' is traditionally a computer that takes the form of an application/process server or an end-user desktop/laptop. This definition doesn't cover all endpoint types or devices but does represent a large enough population size for the purposes of this discussion.

There's no question that advances in server virtualization technology are becoming popular among corporations that want to save money by consolidating resources and improving operational efficiency. Virtualization enables a dramatic increase in cost savings in ongoing maintenance and the cost required to keep physical assets afloat.

When Honda introduced the Civic in America in 1972, industry experts declared Honda would never succeed because automobiles were too complex and required skills and technology beyond those of the mere motorcycle company. Fast forward to today when Honda's Civics and Accords are two of North America's top-selling cars.

There are pitfalls in using software-based network interface cards and host bus adaptors. They don't scale well in I/O-centric loads running on scaled-out architectures. The CEO of a leading virtualization companies said, 'Software virtualization addresses 80% of the market and it leaves 20% for hardware-based I/O virtualization.'

Server virtualization provides an immediate reduction in hardware and configuration cost. But in focusing merely on the hardware side of virtualization, are we leaving money on the table? While organizations can reduce the number of boxes they need, and save the cost of replicating servers for virtual test beds, these servers are becoming commodities.

Today's virtualized data center environment is like an F15 airplane - wonderfully flexible but at the same time dangerously unstable if not managed properly. The F15 is widely recognized as one of the most maneuverable fighter jets ever built. But flexibility comes at a price and the only way you can control it is by having very good computer systems supporting the pilot flying the plane.

Ordering additional mainframe hardware was once a regular, accepted part of the budget cycle. This process made capacity planning a far less challenging task than it is today. Performance problems, regardless of the cause, were easily addressed by adding more hardware. Performance analysts and capacity planners were able to deal with performance issues with little concern about the cost.

In the Old West, the cowboy with the fastest gun survived. Some cowboys modified or bought cut-down 'fast draw holsters;' modified the weight, balance, and length of their sidearms, and practiced drawing their weapons for hours - all to improve their speed.

Even in the best of times, security products that aim to thwart worms are playing catch-up. Anti-virus and anti-malware products are populated with signatures created for attack specific signatures, which are created and distributed only after an attack is underway. Internet worms propagate too quickly for such reactive solutions to be effective. This is a major problem in maintaining information security as well as providing business continuity for many organizations.

The operational impact of deployment is a primary inhibitor to the adoption of new technology in many companies.