VM /ETC

Archive for February, 2010

Download The VMworld 2009 Presentation on IO DRS

A common question from those that did not get to attend VMware Partner Exchange 2010 has been “So, tell me about what you saw that you can’t tell everyone about!” Unfortunately, like Maverick in the movie Top Gun said, “It’s classified. I could tell you, but then I’d have to kill you.”

On the other hand, more and more information is starting to surface on the web. I can neither confirm or deny that all features and version numbers will be available or released as reported, but the TechTarget folks have put together a couple of good summary articles for those who interested in a little more information on a possible future roadmap of VMware vSphere and VMware View. Check the following articles for a round up of general speculation and reaction during and after the PEX 2010 conference. Most of the sources used are credible. (That last comment will make more sense to you after you follow the links)

VMware to add memory compression, I-O resource management to next vSphere

“The next release of VMware’s vSphere will add memory compression, I/O resource management and better VMotion performance, according to attendees of last week’s VMware Partner Exchange in Las Vegas. If the company architects these features as promised, they could improve performance and resource utilization of VMware environments.”

VMware vies for virtual desktop dominance with View 4.5

“The upcoming version of VMware’s VDI software will better integrate its desktop and server virtualization software and expand the role of its ThinApp application virtualization software, all in an effort to extend its server virtualization dominance to the desktop.”

The above quotes are just the opening paragraphs of each TechTarget article. Read the rest for the details.

To use another quote from the movie Top Gun, Read the rest of this entry »

This is just a quick note to announce that VMETC.com is now optimized for most mobile browsers. I’ve configured the WPTouch plugin for the site so a mobile theme should show up automatically. Various mobile browsers and devices are supported including the iPhone and iPod Touch.  Bookmark the site in your mobile browser!

For quick access from the iPhone or iPod Touch open VMETC.com in the Safari browser, click the  ”+” icon on the bottom bar, choose “Add to Home Screen”, and then marvel at the Virtually Insane icon that appears among your other apps!

Leaving comments should also be an option from the mobile theme, but I have not fully tested that feature.

UPDATED 02.18.10 – Since there are still several mobile devices, Blackberrys, and other PDAs that do not have a browser supported by the WPTouch plugin (hopefully popular devices will continued to be added during the plug in’s devlopment),

I’ve created m.vmetc.com as an alternative for all mobile devices.

This URL is actually a redirect to my RSS Feed converted into a mobile site via Google Reader. You don’t have to open the URL in Google Reader (or any other RSS reader) , however. Just bookmark and use the URL. I learned about this quick and easy trick from an old LifeHacker article.

I guess I have a face for Internet radio as I was invited back as a guest for another episode of Greg Knieriemen’s (@knieriemen of Chi Corporation ) and Marc Farley’s (@3parfarley of 3Par and StorageRap.com) popular Infosmack podcast.

Along with the famous StorageIO.com’s Greg Schulz (@StorageIO – making the exact same guest lineup as my previous appearance on Episode 34), on Episode 38 we wonder about the privacy concerns surrounding Google Buzz, provide a little more coverage of VMware Partner Exchange 2010, discuss new processors from Intel and IBM and their potential use in storage devices, and, among other things, generally wonder why the great technology from IBM doesn’t make a bigger splash in the community. We also discuss Dell buying Exanet and Exar buying Neterion.

Here’s a quick list of links if you are interested in a little more information on the topics.

Episode 38 Topic Links

Google Buzz Privacy Changes

Google Buzz Recast as Auto-suggest to Quell Privacy Fears

Dell buying Exanet for rumored $12M
http://storageio.com/blog/?p=1104
Exar buying Neterion
http://www.neterion.com/how/product.html
IBM announced SONAS

IBM rolls out SONAS clustered NAS based on GPFS

IBM announced Power7:
http://storageio.com/blog/?p=1098

VMware Partner Exchange 2010 – plenty of coverage here on VMETC.com!

http://vmetc.com/tag/vmwarepex/

Download/subscribe the episode/podcast on StorageMonkeys.com. I’ve also embedded a player to listen to it right from this post if you prefer. Enjoy!

Future HP Blade Tech Day Infosmack Episode?

At the end of the month I will be at a HP Blade Tech Day Event in Houston, TX along with Greg Knieriemen.

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I thought I was done blogging about VMware Partner Exchange 2010, but, twist my arm, there seems to be enough public knowledge about an upcoming feature of vSphere that I thought I would briefly point it out.

Steve Herrod discussed in his Wednesday Keynote  that vSphere will soon have the ability to set DRS Resource Shares on I/O per VM. Here’s a photo of Herrod discussing the feature last Wednesday.

Other’s have posted on this feature this week as well as in the not to distant past. Check out these posts for more info:
Read the rest of this entry »

What a week in Las Vegas at VMware Partner Exchange 2010! For all those that complained just 4 months ago that VMworld 2009 was disappointing because the announcements were few and far between, all I can say is, based on what I watched, experienced, and touched this week at PEX 2010, VMware should grab your attention again soon! Unfortunately, so much of what was discussed falls under the VMware Partner NDA that I’ll have to ask VM /ETC readers to wait for the technology to become public. We’ll have plenty to discuss when it does.

For now I’ll quickly wrap up my week and drop some hints about VMware’s future direction based on my understanding about what I saw during the PTAB meetings, the Keynotes, and the Hands On and Self Paced Labs. I’m also linking to some reactions from others to support my impressions.

The official VMware News Release for Partner Exchange can be found at this link:

VMware Partner Exchange 2010 Kicks Off With Record-breaking 2,600+ Attendees, 55 Sponsors and 45 Countries Represented

PTAB: Cloud Infrastructure and Virtual Desktops

I knew what was on the Partner Technical Advisory Board meeting agenda before I arrived, but I have to admit I was still pleasantly surprised. In short, the two day meeting was split by topics. We talked about virtual servers on Day 1 and virtual desktops on Day 2.

The server discussions included everything from possible future enhancements to the vStorage API to details about Project Redwood architecture. Discussions included a mix of vSphere roadmap possibilities and potential directions of VMware in the private and hosted cloud. VMware is serious about Platform as a Service, Infrastructure as a Service, and Software as a Service, and the slides presented to the PTAB committee revealed a considerable strategy to make it happen. I’ll just say it is a lot clearer to me where exactly Zimbra and SpringSource fit into VMware’s future plans.

Switching to the second day and to the topic of virtual desktops,

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Although my busy VMware Partner Exchange 2010 schedule included various meetings, break out sessions, company dinners, conference parties, and vendor receptions, a daily dose of social networking was found in between it all. Oh yeah, Las Vegas was a part of the equation as well. Here’s a quick list of my extra curricular conference highlights:

• It “cost me” $140 to learn how to play Craps at the Tropicana, but I had a blast with my Softchoice co-workers while rolling some dice! At some point I was actually up $35, but that was a fleeting moment in time. I’m sure many others can tell similar stories with much larger amounts of cash than me.
• I can now personally guide anyone using all means of transport between the Mandalay Bay, Excaliber, The Luxor, New York, New York, and Tropicana casinos. My legs are tired, but I have some great memories scattered at various points now on that end of the Vegas strip!
• Like the Thirsty Bear was during VMworld 2009, The Nine Fine Irishmen seemed to be a common stop for me during PEX2010.

I’ve created a photo collage of some of the good times, and for those that are curious about the #PEX3WORD goings on last week I’ve got a summary report at the end of the post.

Photo Collage

Here’s a collage of images from my week captured with my cell phone camera. Popular Twitter names pictured in various images are vseanclark, vmdoug, theronconrey, djroberts, asweemer, sakacc (really small in front of the tailgate party big screen), herrod (on stage during keynote), stockberger, and bknudtson.

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Here’s some links, thoughts, and general information surrounding some of the announcements that caught my attention during the VMware Partner Exchange 2010 conference. This is by no means and inclusive list of every press release and announcement made during the conference. To be honest, I wouldn’t doubt that I missed something more significant than the handful of news listed here. Let me know if I did!

The VMware Express

I personally toured the 18 wheeler on Monday evening before the Conference Kickoff Reception. I would recommend VM /ETC readers catch this VMware View demo center on wheels when it rolls through your town.

• VMware View Hits The Road

“The VMware Express  is a datacenter and demo environment on wheels and it will be crossing the U.S. and Canada over the next year letting you, our customers get hands on with the latest and greatest technologies in your own back yard.”

NetApp’s Vaughn Stewart has a nice post about the VMware Express with great photos from inside the truck. There is also another half dozen blog posts in the form of

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