Virtual machines, containers, functions. Market knowledge for IT decision makers since 2003
Dell has released a paper titled: "Dell Wyse Datacenter for Citrix Graphics Reference Architecture". The paper which contains 47 pages describes a Reference Architecture, covering the design, configuration and implementation for Citrix XenDesktop using shared graphics acceleration options on NVIDIA GRID cards. The Reference Architecture uses XenDesktop 7 on VMware vSphere 5 and XenServer 6.
The paper contains the following sections:
VMware has released version 4.4. of its centralized image management for Windows desktops with backup and OS migration capabilities: Horizon Mirage. Horizon Mirage uses a layering technology to segment OS, applications and user personalizations into isolated containers allowing administrators to separately manage hardware and each layer of software.
Horizon Mirage is build on the technology which VMware acquired when it acquired Wanova in 2012. VMware later integrated this into its Horizon product suite containing the end-user computing products.
Oracle last week released a beta version of the upcoming version 3.3 of its enterprise virtualization solution Oracle VM. Oracle VM is available for both x86 and SPARC with a common management tool called Oracle VM Manager to manage the virtualization platform.
Version 3.3. provides the following new features:
Cisco has released a paper titled: "FlexPod Datacenter for 2000 Seats of Citrix XenDesktop 7.1 on VMware vSphere 5.1". The paper which contains 275 pages describes a Cisco Validated Design (CVD) covering FlexPod Datacenter for 2000 Seats of Citrix XenDesktop 7.1 on VMware vSphere 5.1 including technologies XenDesktop 7.1, Cisco UCS Blade Servers, Cisco UCS unified fabric, as well as NetApp Clustered Data ONTAP 8.2.
Oracle has released a maintenance update for its virtualization platform VM VirtualBox. The maintenance update includes bug fixes and improves the stability. Version 4.3.6. can be installed on top of version 4.3.x which was released in October last year.
The bug fixes and stability improvements are detailed in the change log.
Citrix has released a paper titled:"XenDesktop 7.1 on Hyper-V Hands-on Lab Pilot Guide". The paper which contains 299 pages provides hands-on experience with the configuration and operation of XenDesktop 7.1 and related components. The guide can be used to build a Proof of Concept (PoC) and/or pilot environment.
VMware has released a paper titled:"VMware Horizon Mirage Branch Office Reference Architecture". The paper which contains 28 pages covers a reference architecture for VMware Horizon Mirage. Horizon Mirage provides centralized image management for Windows desktops with enhanced levels of backup and OS migration capabilities. The reference architecture provides guidance on how to backup desktops deployed throughout the enterprise, and how to migrate remote desktops from Windows XP to Windows 7.
The paper includes test results detailing the results of Horizon Mirage to backup and migrate 10 remote endpoints from Windows XP to Windows 7.
Microsoft has released a free eBook titled: "Microsoft System Center: Building a Virtualized Network Solution". The book is written by Nigel Cain, Alvin Morales, Michel Luescher, Damian Flynn and Mitch Tulloch as a series editor and contains 121 pages covering the concepts of virtualized network solutions from Microsoft. Network Virtualization decouples virtual networks from the physical network infrastructure and removes the constraints and limitations of VLANs and hierarchical IP address assignment from virtual machine provisioning.
The Xen Project, the community which develops the Xen hypervisor under the GNU General Public License (GPLv2) and which is now transferred from Citrix to the Linux Foundation, today announced the availability of two maintenance releases version 4.3.2 and 4.2.4 of the Xen hypervisor.
Besides fixing some vulnerabilities, this release also includes bug fixes and improvements.
Catbird has released version 6.0 of Catbird, a rebranded name for which was known as the vSecurity products. In the past, Catbird released the products for several hypervisors, like ESXi and Hyper-V individually, but has now decided to rebrand this under one product.
Catbird is a well-known security player in the virtualization market with its product able to proactively secure the virtual network and guest operating systems by analyzing and responding to network events and attack, and enforcing correct VM configuration automatically mapping to industry-standard compliance frameworks such PCI, HIPAA, FISMA and COBIT.