VM /ETC

Posts Tagged ‘things that make you go hmmmm’

Alex Barrett’s SearchServerVirtualization.com VMware clampdown on free ESXi may prompt defection to Hyper-V article presents VMware’s reasons for making a request to Veeam to stop supporting Veeam Backup with the free ESXi versions. Quoting the interview from Barrett’s story:

“We provide certain APIs [application programming interfaces] and methods particular to the virtualization environment,” said Patrick Lin, the vice president of product management for VMware’s server business unit. By offering access to the hypervisor via a preferred set of APIs, “our intent is to provide a level playing field in the basis of backup,” he said.

But Veeam did not use VMware-approved methods to develop its product, said Parag Patel, VMware’s vice president of alliances. “We’re not exactly sure what they did, but it didn’t seem sound,” Patel said. “For us it’s a question of what’s built and how it’s built. … To be perfectly honest, we didn’t want to be associated with it because it wasn’t satisfactory.”

Perhaps more to the point, Veeam Backup is inconsistent with VMware’s vision of free ESXi deployments. “It’s meant to be a starter … walk before you run,” Patel said. “It’s not supposed to be for complex software environments.” With free ESXi, “you shouldn’t need a whole lot of other tools to make it work.” If you do, you are free to upgrade.

On the other hand, Barrett’s interview also helps confirm the idea that VMware does not wish
Read the rest of this entry »

In the official press release today Veeam Software Offers New Essentials Bundle, Acceleration Kits for VMware vSphere 4 Veeam mentions a new policy removing support for the use of Veeam Backup with the free version of ESXi.

“At the same time, Veeam introduced a new policy with respect to support for the free edition of VMware ESXi. “As a longtime Premier Technology Alliance Partner and supporter of VMware’s product strategy, Veeam Software takes great pride in creating innovative software products that enhance the customer value of VMware ESX, ESXi, and ESXi Free,” said Ratmir Timashev, Veeam president and CEO. “One such example is support for the free edition of VMware ESXi in Veeam Backup and Replication.

“Recently, VMware requested that Veeam discontinue support for ESXi Free in Veeam Backup and Replication in order to comply with VMware’s updated licensing policy,” Timashev continued. “In light of VMware’s request, and our close technical partnership, Veeam Backup and Replication will no longer support ESXi Free. We will still continue to offer support for ESXi Free to existing Veeam customers who purchased Backup & Replication prior to version 3.1.””

Be sure to read those two paragraphs again.

Veeam, a company that seems to have found a successful niche marketing to SMBs and remote branch office VMware deployments, has been asked to remove support of the use of one it’s popular products with free ESXi. Possibly shedding some additional light on this mystery, the press announcement mentions respect for VMware’s product strategy and Veeam’s long time status as a technology partner. There is no mention of Veeam pulling free ESXi support of the popular FastSCP file management tool.

Without any inside information about the VMware ESXi roadmap and strategy, here is a quick review of ESXi’s public timeline: Read the rest of this entry »

The V12N community ache about the changes to the Exhibitors and Sponsors contract for VMworld 2009 is apparently still throbbing. The most recent gripes seem to be centered on 2 topics:

• Whether or not VMware is being deceitful about calling VMworld an “Industry Event”.
• VMware is restricting Microsoft and Citrix to 10×10 booths and asking them to keep their crowds and demonstrations within that defined space

Brian Madden has again ignited the blogisphere with his latest and third post on the topic.

“The best part is that a provision in the sponsor agreement says that (1) exhibitor employees must remain in the boundaries of their booths, and (2) no crowds watching demos are allowed to spill out of the booth into the common traffic areas, and if they do, VMware reserves the right to “resolve the situation.” (I am absolutely not making that up.)

[Omitted]

Look, I understand this is a VMware conference, and as such, it’s VMware’s decision to do whatever they want. My problem is that they’re limiting the competition on one hand while at the same time claiming the event is an industry event on the other. That’s the BS that I hope stops.

The bottom line: I’m behind VMware’s decision to limit competition, but ONLY IF they stop calling this thing an industry conference and start calling it a VMware conference. Or, even better, maybe VMware will drop the 10×10 limit for non-partners and really open this up like they’re claiming it is already!”

It’s always been obvious to me that VMworld is a VMware conference. In fact, the VMworld 2009 home page doesn’t mention anything about industry equality or competition fairness.

“This year at VMworld 2009, discover how virtualization is revolutionizing the next generation of computing—providing efficiency and flexibility at a time when both are critical to the future of IT.
As the only event completely dedicated to virtualization, VMworld, brought to you by VMware, is your opportunity to:

• Learn how VMware is transforming the datacenter and desktop into a flexible, reliable cloud infrastructure
• Discover the best way to introduce more efficiency, control and choice to your organization
• Connect with peers and virtualization thought leaders

Today it’s more important than ever for organizations to do more with less. VMworld 2009 is the place to discover how.”

The objectives of VMworld 2009 seem pretty clear cut to me. Furthermore, the VMworld 2009 Sponsors and Exhibitors page shows that most of THE INDUSTRY will be there.

News Flash: VMworld is an industry event because the virtualization industry cannot afford to miss it. The idea that VMware needs to cater to the competition is insane.
If the new contract verbiage and the 100 square foot limitation on the booth is upsetting, then be appreciative of the world spot light VMworld has created.

This also just in – There is an option to not attend VMworld 2009.

Other blogger reactions:

This VMworld Thing is Like Watching a Train Wreck – Scott Lowe

VMworld Exhibitor T&C – Storm in a proverbial teacup? – Mike Laverick

VMworld 2009 contract verbiage causes kerfuffle – SearchServerVirtualization.com

Is VMworld still open for competition or not? – UPDATED – Alessandro Perilli

In response to the stir created earlier today when Brian Madden interpreted new verbiage in the VMworld Sponsors and Exhibitors contract as a ban against competition, the VMworld Team has set the record straight on the VMworld.com blog by posting VMworld 2009 Exhibitors.

“VMware is totally committed to continuing to make VMworld the leading virtualization conference in the world, highlighting the rich, diverse
ecosystem that is the virtualization marketplace. Just to be clear, the exhibitor sponsorship contract we are using is standard across the
industry. Nothing out of the ordinary or meant to limit the value of VMworld.

As you’d expect, Microsoft and Citrix have already signed up and will of course be participating in the conference this year, as well as hundreds of other companies.

We encourage companies to exhibit and participate that compete with us in one fashion, but complement us in others. It’s all about customers and community!”

VMware’s response has triggered a new post on brianmadden.com, which offers a passable explanation about how this type of mix up occurred. From Brian’s update:

“At the last VMworld, some sponsors / exhibitors specifically trashed their competition and trashed VMware. VMware wanted to prevent that from happening
again this year, but they didn’t have any text in their sponsor agreement that would let them enforce that. So they looked at the sponsor agreements from other
industry events (like TechEd) and added the language that we referenced yesterday.

So the facts are:

1. YES, that anti-competitive text was added to the agreement and was NOT in there last year.
2. It was more of a legalese change, and not a change of policy for VMworld or what VMware wants the event to be.”

updated 05.28.09 – Hany Michael suggests that Madden may have manipulated the v12n blogisphere in an attempt to generate some publicity for his own BriForum conference. Check out the post SCREW
YOU Brian Madden…you are not the hero in this story.

[updated 052809 - VMware will allow competition to present and exhibit at VMworld 2009. See VM /ETC post Things That Make You Go Hmmmm - VMware Sets Record Straight On Competition At VMworld]

It’s been a while since I’ve been inspired to add to my “Things that make you go Hmmmm” series, but Brian Madden’s post about VMware’s change in the VMworld 2009 Sponsor and Exhibitor agreement has temporarily rekindled my motivation. In summary, Brian points out that the new agreement verbiage states that products deemed by VMware that overlap or substitute with/for VMware’s products will not be allowed in sessions or on the exhibition floor. I could not find the referenced agreement on the VMworld 2009 Sponsors and Exhibitors page.

Read Brian’s post:
For shame! VMware is now banning competing vendors’ products from VMworld! – Brian Madden – BrianMadden.com

He has some strong opinions on the matter:

“What kind of crazy world is VMware living in? Do they think that by denying that competition exists, more people will be tricked into buying their stuff?

And what’s this mean for VMworld? No Microsoft. No Citrix. No Neocleus or Virtual Computer. No InstallFree or Xenocode. No Symantec or Quest. VMworld 2009 will just be a big rah rah hug-fest.”

Personally, I can understand VMware’s decision, but it still sits funny with me. VMworld’s popularity and draw was no doubt based on the open door policy for all virtualization vendors making it a virtualization community wide event. Obviously, market competition has influenced the business decision to allow this to continue. This will be a PR nightmare if handled wrong. I’m sure the competition is loading their marketing cannons with this new ammo as quick as possible.

updated 052809 - Scott Lowe offers his opinions and projections on the topic with his post VMware, This is Wrong:

“What are you going to do, VMware? Let’s see, you’re expanding into the territory formerly handled by many of your ISVs, and now you’re blocking access to competing products at VMworld.”

updated 052809 - Marc Farley offers an understanding view of VMware’s decision with his post The end of free love at VMworld? Ok

Looking for a silver lining, this decision could have a positive effect on Read the rest of this entry »

Some VM /ETC readers may remember a weekly series of posts I was doing earlier this year – “things that make you go hmmm“. Well, the August 12 ESX/ESXi 3.5 Update 2 BUG definitely deserves a resurrection of that series and a post all to itself. Although this topic is still a little too sensitive to be humorous today, I’ve included a mix of comic and serious links. Hopefully we can all look back and at least chuckle about these events sometime in the future. So, here is a sampling of of the various reactions and opinions on the VMware time bomb bug from around the internet. Laugh if you can. After all, it’s Friday … Read the rest of this entry »

I’ve listed 3 quick links that made me grin this week. Hopefully they will do the same for you!

Read the rest of this entry »