virtualization.info Editors

VMware pledges to support 64-Bit extended Windows, Linux over next 18 months

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As reported by CRN:

VMware has pledged to support the 64-bit extended architectures of Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) and Intel for its virtual machine software running on both Windows and Linux over the next 18 months.

To start off, the Palo Alto, Calif.-based subsidiary of EMC will release later this quarter an update to its recently released VMware Workstation 4.5 product that supports 32-bit and 64-bit host operating systems.

Furthermore, over the 2004-2005 time frame, VMware plans to offer 64-bit extended support for its GSX and ESX server software.

HP said it will work with VMware to offer its virtual infrastructure software on its recently debuted Proliant server based on AMD’s Opteron processor and future Intel’s Xeon Extended Memory 64-based systems.

The software will allow 64-bit applications such as databases to be virtualized. It will support both Microsoft’s 64-bit Windows Extended, now in beta testing, and 64-bit extended versions of Linux, said Michael Mullany, vice president of marketing at VMware.

VMware’s support for 64-bit extensions will allow users to mix 32-bit and 64-bit operating systems and workloads on a single server. It will also allow customers to virtualize 64-bit memory-intensive data-mining applications, and large databases in virtual machines.

It’s still early for 64-bit processor technology, but the ability to have virtualization capabilities for extended architectures of AMD64 and Intel EM64T will be useful, says David Crosbie, CEO of Leostream, a Burlington, Mass. ISV, whose Virtual Machine Controller software manages virtual machine software from VMware and Microsoft.

VMware announces support for 64bit computing

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After yesterday CRN article now VMware officially announces:

VMware, Inc., the global leader in virtual infrastructure software for x86-based systems, today announced support for 64-bit extended x86 platforms, including AMD64 and the Intel Extended Memory 64 Technology (Intel EM64T). VMware software will support systems with terabytes of physical and virtual memory, enabling the virtualization of the next-generation memory-intensive applications such as data-mining and managing large databases.

“Just as the 64-bit extended platforms allow users to mix 32-bit and 64-bit applications running under a 64-bit OS, VMware’s support for 64-bit extensions will allow users to mix 32-bit and 64-bit OS environments within the same system,” observed Nathan Brookwood, principal analyst at Insight 64. “Workloads that don’t benefit from 64-bit extensions can be moved intact to 32/64-bit platforms without any changes whatsoever. VMware software even allows legacy 16-bit applications and operating environments to run on 64-bit platforms. VMware’s technology makes it easier for customers to consolidate existing 32-bit server workloads on the latest 64-bit x86 platforms.”

With the introduction of virtualization for AMD64 and Intel EM64T, VMware once again extends virtualization capabilities for industry-standard platforms. Earlier innovations by VMware include VMware Virtual SMP, the only industry-standard multi-processor virtual machine; VMware VMotion, groundbreaking general-purpose, live virtual machine migration technology; VMware ESX Server, the only microkernel-based platform for industry-standard servers specifically optimized for virtualization; and VMware Workstation and VMware GSX Server, the original breakthrough VMware products.

“By bringing virtualization to 64-bit extended platforms, VMware protects investments in operating system and applications software, as customers start to deploy next-generation server and desktop technologies,” said Ed Bugnion, chief architect for VMware. “These new VMware features will facilitate software migration to 64-bit platforms.”

Availability
VMware support for concurrent 32/64-bit computing will be introduced across the VMware product line over the next 18 months, beginning with experimental support for 64-bit host operating systems in a forthcoming update to Workstation 4.5 which is expected to be available this quarter.

Notice VMware first upgrade to 64bit Workstation product to target developers, who will move to the new architecture sooner than all others. IMHO probably ESX and GSX (in this order) will follow in 6 months.
Also notice this will simplify eventual SUN Solaris 10 adoption as hostOS (since many customers are asking for it).

This move will further boost VMware competitive advantage over Microsoft, that still need to release its first 32bit Virtual Server edition. It’s quite improbable MS will change plans and restart developing a 64bit product.

VMware releases GSX Server security updates!

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Quote from a VMware letter to customers:

The following versions of VMware GSX Server use versions of OpenSSL for securing remote management connections that have known vulnerabilities.
These vulnerabilities can expose systems to denial of service attacks:

– VMware GSX Server 3.0.0 (for Windows and Linux systems) build 7592
– VMware GSX Server 2.5.1 (for Windows and Linux systems) build 5336 and earlier

The vulnerabilities affecting OpenSSL are described in these reports:

OpenSSL Security Advisory [17 March 2004]
http://www.openssl.org/news/secadv_20040317.txt

CERT Technical Cyber Security Alert TA04-078A
http://www.us-cert.gov/cas/techalerts/TA04-078A.html

CAN-2004-0079
http://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CAN-2004-0079

CAN-2004-0112
http://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CAN-2004-0112

CAN-2004-0081
http://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CAN-2004-0081

For GSX Server 3.0.0 systems, VMware has made OpenSSL patches available to correct the reported vulnerabilities. These patches update GSX Server 3.0.0 systems and virtual machine consoles with OpenSSL version 0.9.7d. See the following VMware Knowledge Base article for instructions on applying the OpenSSL patches to GSX Server 3.0.0
systems:

http://www.vmware.com/support/kb/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=1257

For GSX Server 2.x.x systems, VMware has released an updated version of GSX Server (version 2.5.2) that incorporates OpenSSL version 0.9.7d.
See the following VMware Knowledge Base article for information about GSX Server 2.5.2:

http://www.vmware.com/support/kb/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=1256

VMware strongly urges GSX Server customers to apply the OpenSSL updates as soon as possible.

EMC Corporation reports unexpected revenues raise for VMware

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A quote from Business Wire:

VMware, acquired by EMC in January 2004, exceeded revenue expectations during its first quarter as an EMC subsidiary, posting record revenues and triple-digit growth as customers turned to VMware technology to consolidate server and workstation operations. VMware continued to advance the virtualization industry with new releases of its server virtual infrastructure software. Also during the quarter, VMware strengthened its relationship with Dell through a new agreement, evidence that VMware’s value is resonating with partners and their customers.

As I already said immediately after acquisition, EMC could really boost its revenues in two ways:

1) Tighting togethere VMware and Legato technologies, offering a native VMs live backup solution
2) Offering a very low priced SAN bundled with Dell servers and VMware ESX and GSX Server

So IMHO they have much more room to grow in the next couple of years.

Microsoft Virtual Server navite support could arrive as Feature Pack

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Everybody here knows Virtual Server 2005 will be available as stand alone package, but some of you also knows Microsoft initial plans, when Connectix technology was acquired, were to embed virtualization technologies inside Windows.
This wasn’t possible immediately and required gradual integration, so Microsoft is starting to play the virtualization game.

First step could be Windows native support for further Virtual Server releases, after the imminent one. This support could arrive, a Gartner analyst said, in a Feature Pack format, which will be optional for customers and will only add highly wanted features to existing operating system.
If so, this will happen somewhere between 2003 and 2005, maybe at the same time of planned Windows XP Second Edition release.
The next step will probably be integrating Virtual Server, as a standard feature, in next generation OS: Longhorn. At that time, Microsoft only competitor’s life, VMware, could become much more harder than before…

If you want some more details, here you can read the article about Gartner prevision.

VMware and Bull partnership agreement

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On 23 March (sorry for this late post) VMware and Bull signed a partnership: Bull strongly wants to support customers that choosed its proprietary operating system GCOS7, but still need to work with Windows and Linux servers and applications.

So Bull starts offering VMware GSX Server solution on DPS 7000/XTA servers, thanks to logical partitions. The agreement permits Bull to adapt GSX for GCOS7 integration.

This is an important move for VMware, that can expand its position in Europe market.

Rumors report VMware VirtualCenter 1.1.0 due in May

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VirtualCenter 1.0.1, ready for ESX 2.1.0 administration, is just released but isn’t the most wanted update VMware community is waiting for.
Everybody around are waiting for VC 1.1 cause it will support GSX Server 3.0.0, just released too.
On the VMware official webforum a user just reported that VC 1.1 is expected for May (eventually cause he’s in the beta program).

This new release is greatly expected cause will finallt permit to plan and deploy serious enterprise virtualized environments at a fraction of the ESX-based infrastructures cost.

Many users also hope to see VC enhancements, taken from 3rd parties tools, and stability improvements, since some users reported VMotion problems in heavy load networks. Some leaked screenshots of an interim VC release, last month, contibuted to raise these hopes.