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What exactly does virtualization mean?
The term virtualization means that software is running on some sort of virtual foundation rather than the physical hardware it typically expects. Instead of a single operating system controlling a computer’s hardware, the virtualization software controls it, providing multiple compartments called virtual machines for the operating systems to run in. Inserting a virtual layer can be liberating. For example, a running operating system can be moved to a fresh server or pool of servers (called clusters) if the one it’s running on is suffering a failing memory bank or overtaxed processors.

Virtualization actually has been around the computer industry for decades, for example to run multiple jobs on mainframe computers or to hide the particulars of individual hard drives in a storage system. But now, it’s no longer just a high-end technology.

Why is virtualization popular now?

Because the technology is maturing and can help fix some common problems. Much of the credit for making virtualization a reality goes to an EMC subsidiary called VMware, which brought the technology to computers using mainstream x86 processors such as Intel’s Pentium and Advanced Micro Devices’ Opteron. In the first quarter of 2007, VMware’s revenue grew 96 percent from the year-earlier period to $256 million and continues to double annually.

VMware built its business gradually. It began on desktop computers, where programmers could harmlessly test crash-prone new software in virtual machines or run Linux and Windows on the same computer, for example. In more recent years, the company’s server software business became more lucrative as virtualization enabled customers began to replace several inefficiently used servers with a single server running multiple virtual machines. This became so popular and as a result rapidly evolved into clusters of VMware enabled servers from manufactures like HP, IBM, Dell etc. to allow many organizations to virtualize their entire server farm down to 3 or 4 high end servers, reducing operational costs by nearly 300%

Before you venture into your journey of Cloud Enablement Services for your IMS, we would like to provide an overview of what is a cloud computing is and how virtualization helps in this large but beneficial undertaking.

Cloud computing is a general term for anything that involves delivering hosted services over the Internet. These services are broadly divided into three categories: Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS), Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) and Software-as-a-Service (SaaS). The name cloud computing was inspired by the cloud symbol that’s often used to represent the Internet in flowcharts and diagrams.

A cloud service has three distinct characteristics that differentiate it from traditional hosting. It is sold on demand, typically by the minute or the hour; it is elastic – a user can have as much or as little of a service as they want at any given time; and the service is fully managed by the provider (the consumer needs nothing but a personal computer and Internet access). Significant innovations in virtualization and distributed computing, as well as improved access to high-speed Internet and a weak economy, have accelerated interest in cloud computing.

A cloud can be private or public. A public cloud sells services to anyone on the Internet. (Currently, Amazon Web Services is the largest public cloud provider.) A private cloud is a proprietary network or a data center that supplies hosted services to a limited number of people. When a service provider uses public cloud resources to create their private cloud, the result is called a virtual private cloud. Private or public, the goal of cloud computing is to provide easy, scalable access to computing resources and IT services.

Infrastructure-as-a-Service like Amazon Web Services provides virtual server instance API to start, stop, access and configure their virtual servers and storage. In the enterprise, cloud computing allows a company to pay for only as much capacity as is needed, and bring more online as soon as required. Because this pay-for-what-you-use model resembles the way electricity, fuel and water are consumed; it’s sometimes referred to as utility computing.

Platform-as-a-service in the cloud is defined as a set of software and product development tools hosted on the provider’s infrastructure. Developers create applications on the provider’s platform over the Internet. PaaS providers may use APIs, website portals or gateway software installed on the customer’s computer. Force.com, (an outgrowth of Salesforce.com) and GoogleApps are examples of PaaS. Developers need to know that currently, there are no standards for interoperability or data portability in the cloud. Some providers will not allow software created by their customers to be moved off the provider’s platform.

In the software-as-a-service cloud model, the vendor supplies the hardware infrastructure, the software product and interacts with the user through a front-end portal. SaaS is a very broad market. Services can be anything from Web-based email to inventory control and database processing. Because the service provider hosts both the application and the data, the end user is free to use the service from anywhere.

This has become very clear recently with a flurry of announcements that package the various parts of VDI into bundled solutions, focus on the need to make rich applications and media perform well, and expands the types of endpoints that can be on the receiving end of VDI.

Hewlett-Packard (HP) expanded its thin-client portfolio with new offerings designed to extend virtualization across the entire enterprise, while providing a more secure and reliable user experience. The solutions bundle software from Microsoft and VMware along with HP’s own acceleration and performance software, as well as several HP thin client hardware options including both wired and unwired possibilities.

HP stepped up the competition by combining their hardware and VMware software on the server too. Combining these two components makes it an irresistible marriage giving them better market share and it sure makes a lot of sense.

Seriously, there are few companies in the better position to bring VDI to the globe, given what technologies they gain with Mercury and Opsware, along with internal development ? Oh, and there’s EDS to make VDI hosting a service in itself. If you’ve been paying attention, you will see there has been a grand push from HP into this enterprise productivity solutions area.

Leading the pack in this latest round of VDI enhancements are several thin clients offered by HP both wired and wireless, single and dual screen more. These offer new rich multimedia deployment and management functionality – rich Internet applications (RIA), Flash, and streaming media support – that enhance the Microsoft Windows Embedded Standard.

HP has also recently announced several other great new features:

The HP Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) Enhancements software that provides out-of-the-box multimedia and USB device redirection including PCoIP technology.

Collaboration between HP and VMWare to allow HP Remote Graphics (RGS) software to deliver a rich multimedia and collaborative VM virtual desktop experience.

HP Client Automation thin-client support, which allows administrators identify issues before they occur and allows them to automatically update administrative requirements.

The thin clients feature Microsoft Internet Explorer, Windows Media Player and the ability to run applications locally, they also include Microsoft RDP, which enables devices to connect and take advantage of the latest security and enterprise management technologies from Windows Server 2008 / 2011 and of course the VMWare View Client.

RDP Enhancements multimedia and USB redirection enable users to easily run web applications, videos and other files within a virtual desktop environment, while avoiding frame skipping and audio or video synchronization issues. The software downloads the processing directly to the thin client, creating an enhanced multimedia experience while lowering the load on the server, which results in increased server scalability.

This also creates a near-desktop experience for VMware View environments, including support for the latest VMware View Manager broker with no need for additional employee training. Users simply log in on the thin client to take advantage of its multimedia features, such as training videos, and USB device support, PCoIP and more.

HP and VMware also are working together to enable VMware View Manager’s universal access feature to leverage RGS for remote desktop sessions.

RGS is designed for customers requiring secure, high-performance, collaborative remote desktop access to advanced multimedia streaming and workstation-class applications. The software includes expanded, real-time collaboration features to allow multiple workers from remote locations to see and share content-rich visualizations, including 2-D design, 3-D solid modeling, rendering, simulation, full-motion video, heavy flash animation and intense Web pages.

Not surprisingly, a lot of the technology being used in these VDI bundles originated with secure CAD/CAM virtual workstation implementations, where graphics and speed are essential. If it works for developers in high-security areas, it should work for bringing ERP apps and help desk apps to the masses of workers who don’t need a full PC on every desktop. They just need an interactive window into the apps and data.

HP offers thin clients priced from $499 to $799. More information is available through Itex, HP or from http://www.hp.com/go/virtualization.

As of the Last update: 2011-12-23 @ 14:30 on the Computer Acquisition Guide, IBM?s x3850 X5 Proliant DL585, rated top of the category for Usability as rated by the NSTL benchmark report.

The ranking provides IBM clients with the eligibility for a $300,000.00 call-up on this model. An explanation of the elevated call-up process is provided below.

PWGSC Call-up Limitations / Elevated Call-ups

“The PWGSC Standing Offer Authority, on behalf of a client, is permitted to place Call-ups for specific systems up to the value shown in this column on the Pricing and System Configuration page. This Call-up value, including taxes and any applicable environmental surcharges, cannot exceed the Call-up Limitation.
Call-ups placed by PWGSC are subject to a minimum discount as described by the table below.

Note: Use of these higher Call-up Limitations is optional for the NMSO Offerors.
When a volume discount applies to a Call-up, the discount is applied to the current NMSO prices (meaning the NMSO price published on the CAG website on the day of the Call-up). Any applicable disposal surcharges and GST/HST must be added after the discount has been applied”

The elevated call-up mechanism provides the client with an excellent blend of choice and cost benefit whereby you receive the discounts for higher volume without giving up the freedom to specify a preferred technology.

For more information on the elevated call-up process, the timing requirements of the process or the technology in question please don’t hesitate to contact us at:
Email – sales@itex.ca
or
Tel: 613-599-5550.

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