This post was written by Denise Ross
Zeus ZXTM 4.1 is an enterprise-class load balancing system suitable for virtually all TCP/IP-based applications. Despite all the advantages of running server software in the virtual machine format, network I/O is a little less efficient with VMs than on dedicated hardware. However, with its ability to rewrite content, monitor service levels and handle multiple protocols, ZXTM is an extremely powerful suite, and better support for protocols other than HTTP would be welcomed by organizations that need load balancing or advanced routing capabilities for non-TCP/IP applications.
Reviewers found the Vizioncore esxRanger Professional backup suite particularly valuable. esxRanger Pro has three operating modes. Its GUI does not run the jobs - it merely creates a command line for esxRanger Pro’s command line interpreter (CLI), which takes commands and actually runs the jobs. Moreover, it’s not necessary to shut down or even quiesce the VM operating system while making backups. The bottom line is that, as with all backup suites, it’s important to test your backups to ensure they will actually restore if needed.
Sun Microsystems’ VirtualBox desktop virtualization software is a surprisingly full-featured, no-cost alternative to VMware Workstation and Parallels Desktop that’s well worth the consideration of software developers looking to test on multiple platforms and of IT managers who are evaluating the strategic value of desktop virtualization. From running business productivity applications to playing downloaded videos, VirtualBox performed without error on reviewer’s test systems. All in all, VirtualBox proved an able hypervisor for running guest OSes with a minimum of fuss and even less money.
Microsoft’s Virtual PC 2007 offers developers and administrators an inexpensive option for satisfying their testing, support and application compatibility needs through the magic of virtualization. The most notable addition to the product, which is a follow-on to Microsofts Virtual PC 2004, is support for Windows Vista as a host or guest operating system. Probably our favorite feature of VPC 2007 is its support for creating Differencing Virtual Hard Discs. During installation mouse and display may not work well. PC 2007 lags VMware Workstation in overall functionality.
VMware Workstation 6.5 is an outstanding tool for creating and running a wide variety of virtual machines on a stand-alone PC or laptop. It is an excellent tool for developers, multiplatform power users and anyone who needs to emulate a network of computers on a single machine. Workstation proves to be a top-notch hypervisor for running guest operating systems. It is a Type 2 hypervisor, which means it is software that installs on top of the operating system installed on the physical host system. The Easy Install feature is surprisingly, well, easy to use.
VKernel’s Capacity Analyzer 2.0 can use VMware VirtualCenter statistics to offer clarity in virtualization deployments. However, the virtualization tool is not a cross-platform product; it doesn’t address Microsoft’s Hyper-V virtualization technology. But in VMware environments, the virtualization tool will help IT administrators get the most out of their ESX installations. The biggest difference between VKernel’s Capacity Analyzer and VMware’s Capacity Planner is that VKernel uses added technology to make predictions about when and where capacity problems will occur. Capacity Analyzer is best suited for small to midsize enterprises that have moderately sized data centers.
HP Middle East has introduced a new virtualization software suite that helps companies transition from traditional distributed desktop computing to a virtualized client environment. The HP Virtual Client Essentials portfolio involves multimedia, brokering and streaming solutions, designed with a strong user focus. Its solutions include the HP Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) Enhancements and HP Remote Graphics Software, two protocol options that offer a rich multimedia experience when deploying virtual computing solutions. It also features HP Session Allocation Manager (SAM), a session broker for remote clients that provides connectivity and advanced management capabilities.