CRN's Virtualization 100: Part 2
Virtualization 100: Part 2
Vendors often claim that virtualization is a stepping stone to the cloud, and it’s tough to argue, but there is still a ton of innovation and attention being paid to virtualization itself. The early ROI for server virtualization has been impressive, and now virtualization players are working to get those same advantages going in other parts of IT.
Even as many data center virtualization startups have moved on to the cloud, virtualization is still one of the IT industry’s most charged buzzwords. Of course, virtualization isn’t just happening in the data center. Desktop virtualization continues to make inroads and storage virtualization startups have been getting a ton of attention in recent months. But the hottest part of the market right now is virtualization management, where startups are building tools and functionality that plugs gaps that exist in big companies’ portfolios.
Here we take a look at part two of CRN's Virtualization 100, a comprehensive list of who's who in the virtualization space. See Part 1 for more of the list.
Mellanox Technologies
Sunnyvale, Calif.
Expertise: Server Virtualization
Maker of InfiniBand silicon, says its I/O virtualization cuts data center cost, power by 40 to 50 percent, scales I/O performance to native-OS levels. Enables interoperability with existing infrastructure and maintains compatibility with applications.
Microsoft
Redmond, Wash.
Expertise: Comprehensive Virtualization Portfolio
Portfolio includes Hyper-V on server, VDI through Citrix and others, App-V for application virtualization and enterprise desktop virtualization with MED-V. Gives away Hyper-V for free in battle with VMware, sees virtualization as OS feature on server.
MokaFive
Redwood City, Calif.
Expertise: Desktop Virtualization
Bills itself as ’the only virtual desktop solution that allows your corporate world to run on a Mac.’ Divides desktop stack into so-called Virtual Layers, which allows for central desktop management while letting users customize experience in other layers.
Nasuni
Natick, Mass.
Expertise: Storage Virtualization
Nasuni Filer is a downloadable virtual NAS appliance that runs on a local server, monitors the cache and directs traffic to the cloud. Includes interface for selecting cloud provider, managing volumes and performance, and using file protection tools.
NComputing
Redwood City, Calif.
Expertise: Desktop Virtualization
Sells Office in a Box, a desktop virtualization bundle that includes software, licenses, hardware and peripherals. Sells a similar product to educational market. Pretests everything to ensure interoperability; works with partners to add elements like NAS.
NetApp
Sunnyvale, Calif.
Expertise: Application Virtualization
Sells storage for desktop, server virtualization; offers guarantee customers will use 50 percent less storage with NetApp than traditional storage. Also provides storage for Citrix, Microsoft, VMware environments. Bolstered portfolio with Akorri buy.
Netuitive
Reston, Va.
Expertise: Virtualization Management
Management software provides holistic view of virtual and physical environments, as well as service and system health. Proprietary Behavior Learning Engine technology automatically correlates streaming performance and resource utilization data.
NextIO
Austin, Texas
Expertise: Server Virtualization
Offers server I/O that can lower capex by cutting number of necessary adapters and cables, and opex through lower maintenance and management costs. Sees I/O virtualization’s mobility aspects as the future of server rack architecture.
Novell
Waltham, Mass.
Expertise: Comprehensive Virtualization Portfolio
Acquired virtualization and workload management technology with PlateSpin, helping companies migrate, consolidate business-critical Windows, Linux, Unix workloads in virtual data center environments. Also offers virtualization-based disaster recovery.
OnPath Technologies
Marlton, N.J.
Expertise: Virtualization Management
Technology creates a virtual infrastructure layer in a data center that boosts security, increases ease of management. Also develops Horizon, network monitoring and management software featuring simple provisioning, remote control and diagnostics.
Oracle (via Sun)
Redwood Shores, Calif.
Expertise: Comprehensive Virtualization Portfolio
Combined existing virtualization technology, including management from 2009 Virtual Iron deal, with Sun portfolio after 2010 acquisition. Goal was to reduce reliance on VMware and challenge market leader with end-to-end virtualization portfolio.
Pano Logic
Menlo Park, Calif.
Expertise: Desktop Virtualization
’Zero client’ product contains no CPU, memory, OS, drivers, software or moving parts and connects over LAN to Windows XP or Windows 7 desktop virtual machines. Pano Direct Protocol ’fools’ virtual machine into treating the device as local.
Parallels
Renton, Wash.
Expertise: Comprehensive Virtualization Portfolio
Sells desktop, server virtualization products and automation technology. Started in desktop virtualization and in January 2008 merged with its parent company, SWsoft, keeping name Parallels. Competes with VMware in Mac desktop virtualization.
PHD Virtual
Philadelphia
Expertise: Storage Virtualization
Appliances use virtual machines to back up virtual machines; provides backup for Citrix and VMware deployments on the server side and on desktop side. Doesn’t require separate physical backup/proxy servers, additional software or agents.
Pivot3
Austin, Texas
Expertise: Storage Virtualization
vBank packages VMware ESXi virtual server environment with dedicated local compute resources and uses virtual machines inside an IP SAN. Claims integration of virtual servers, scale-out storage resources save 40 percent on physical servers, storage.
Platform Computing
Markham, Ontario
Expertise: Virtualization Management
ISF product focused first on virtualization, now aimed at private cloud. Sets up computing platform using heterogeneous physical, virtual resources; supports plethora of OSes and virtual machines, offers simplified management from single console.
Quest Software
Aliso Viejo, Calif.
Expertise: Comprehensive Virtualization Portfolio
Includes server and desktop virtualization and cloud automation, supports multiple hypervisor platforms. vWorkspace brokers connections to VDI desktops running on Hyper-V, vSphere and desktops, applications on Remote Desktop Session Hosts.
Quorum Labs
Fremont, Calif.
Expertise: Storage Virtualization
onQ appliance provides enterprise-grade business continuity without complexity or cost of traditional solutions; restores applications and data within minutes. Can be used locally for high availability and remotely for disaster recovery, or both.
Red Hat
Raleigh, N.C.
Expertise: Comprehensive Virtualization Portfolio
Portfolio includes server and desktop virtualization technology. Server side includes management software and hypervisor; also provides virtual desktops on servers located in a centralized data center. Shares view that virtualization is an OS feature.
Red Bend Software
Waltham, Mass.
Expertise: Virtualization Management
Acquired VirtualLogix in September 2010. Main product, VLX, is a hypervisor that decouples hardware management from ARM and Intel architectures and application environments, enabling separation of design and functionality within devices.
Reflex Systems
Atlanta
Expertise: Virtualization Management
Virtualization Management Center handles IT policy enforcement for virtual servers, desktops in data center; Virtual Security Appliance handles security. Secret sauce is VQL, which correlates different types of information into single query.
RES Software
Plymouth Meeting, Pa.
Expertise: Virtualization Management
Virtual Desktop Extender lets virtual desktops run local applications, eliminating multiple logins. Dynamic Desktop Studio gives IT departments centralized workspace management and can automate day-to-day tasks and cut down overhead from manual tasks.
RingCube
Mountain View, Calif.
Expertise: Desktop Virtualization
vDesk VDI product provides centrally managed virtual desktops on top of VDI offerings from Citrix, VMware. Each user gets own vDesk workspace, a lightweight container that includes user or departmental-installed applications.
RTO Software
Alpharetta, Ga.
Expertise: Virtualization Management
TScale boosts performance, scalability, capacity of terminal servers, including Ericom WebConnect, Citrix XenApp and Microsoft Terminal Services environments. VMware acquired RTO’s Discover, PinPoint and Virtual Profiles management tools last year.
Savvis
St. Louis
Expertise: Analytics and Virtualization Management
Cloud vendor with roots in the virtualization space. Offers professional services for virtualization assessment, optimization and migration. CenturyLink just announced that it plans to buy Savvis for $3.2 billion.
Scense
Rotterdam, Netherlands
Expertise: User Virtualization
Sells desktop management, app delivery solution for Windows environments, also offers workspace management in physical and virtual environments. Separates application, desktop configurations and user information, and presents via centralized console.
SmartPeak
Melville, N.Y.
Expertise: Virtualization Management
SmartPeak WLM delivers Windows-based workload management, including dynamic allocation of resources. Works with system integrators to deliver solutions to financial services, telecommunications, utilities, manufacturing and public sector.
Solarwinds
Austin, Texas
Expertise: Virtualization Management
Storage Profiler manages performance and growth of multivendor storage environments. Virtual and Server Profiler provides visibility into VMware virtual machine and physical server performance. Added virtualization management with Hyper9 buy.
Spoon
Seattle
Expertise: Application Virtualization
Spoon Server lets customers host and manage virtualized applications on their own servers; Web-based interface manages deployment. Spoon Studio lets companies turn existing software applications into virtual applications. Formerly called Xenocode.
StoneFly
Hayward, Calif.
Expertise: Storage Virtualization
Applies virtualization in development of iSCSI and IP SAN products. Storage Concentrator Virtual Machine and Enterprise Storage Services products create virtual IP SAN storage as a virtual machine in pre-existing or new server deployments.
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Video messages for solution providers from our Virtualization 100 vendors. (Sponsored)
Symantec
Cupertino, Calif.
Expertise: Comprehensive Virtualization Portfolio
Altiris, now Symantec Endpoint Virtualization Suite, includes on-demand application streaming, desktop connection brokering, endpoint management. Benefits include lowering of TCO for notebooks and desktops, and boosting mobile worker productivity.
Synchron
Austin, Texas
Expertise: Virtualization Management
VirtualIQ software helps enterprises progress through the stages of virtualization design, deployment and delivery. Helps with physical-to-virtual migrations, ROI calculation, managing server capacity and controlling server sprawl.
Teradici
Burnaby, B.C.
Expertise: Desktop Virtualization
Developer of PC-over-IP protocol, which compresses, encrypts, encodes PC functionality at the data center and transmits it across standard IP networks to stateless PCoIP-enabled desktop devices. Partners with VMware, which uses it in View product.
ThinLaunch
St. Paul, Minn.
Expertise: Desktop Virtualization
Thin Desktop turns Windows-based PCs into locked-down thin clients that run a single application. Requires no server footprint or management tools. Eliminates non-work-related surfing and improves productivity, cuts PC management costs.
ToutVirtual
Carlsbad, Calif.
Expertise: Virtualization Management
VirtualIQ software helps enterprises progress through the stages of virtualization design, deployment and delivery. Helps with physical-to-virtual migrations, ROI calculation, managing server capacity and controlling server sprawl.
Tresys Technology
Columbia, Md.
Expertise: Virtualization Management
VM Fortress Desktop provides TCO benefits stemming from stronger security on both host and the guest OSes. Enables organizations to consolidate workstations while meeting operational, security, regulatory compliance requirements.
Tricerat
Columbia, Md.
Expertise: Virtualization Management
Simplify Suite handles virtual desktop deployment, application access, security policy enforcement and personalization management. All-in-one interface automates Terminal Services, virtual desktop and workstation configuration.
UC4 Software
Bellevue, Wash.
Expertise: Virtualization Management
Technology automates IT and business processes across physical, virtualization and cloud computing environments. Anticipates problems before they arise by identifying trends in the data center; also handles configuration management.
Unidesk
Marlborough, Mass.
Expertise: Desktop Virtualization
Tackles managing heterogeneous VDI environments and supports fully personalized desktops. Helps cut complexity and cost from managing enterprise-scale desktop operations. Extends reach of VMware View, Citrix XenDesktop and others.
Userful
Calgary, Alberta
Expertise: Desktop Virtualization
MultiSeat takes one PC and turns it into 10 virtual desktops, using USB zero clients from HP, Wyse, DisplayLink, MCT and others. Uses Linux-based software to support up to 10 independent users at the same time from a single machine.
VDIworks
Austin, Texas
Expertise: Desktop Virtualization
Virtual Desktop Platform combines VDI connection brokering, virtual machine management, monitoring and physical management. VDIworks console works with VMs, hypervisors, physical servers in Active Directory environments.
Veeam
Columbus, Ohio
Expertise: Virtualization Management
Management Suite handles backup, management and automation of routine processes in VMware environments. Veeam ONE wraps multiple functions into one to eliminate need for multiple vendors. Veeam Monitor provides analytics, alerting, reporting.
Virtual Bridges
Austin, Texas
Expertise: Desktop Virtualization
VERDE virtual desktop management and provisioning solution encompasses VDI, offline VDI and remote branch solutions. Cuts TCO and boosts hardware utilization with fewer servers, cheaper NAS storage and no external WAN dependency.
Virtual Computer
Westford, Mass.
Expertise: Virtualization Management
Simplifies management of desktop and laptop PCs by enabling admins to create and manage a single virtual machine per OS that can be published to thousands of users. Takes guesswork out of enterprise IT infrastructure decisions.
VKernel
Andover, Mass.
Expertise: Virtualization Management
Operations Suite uses predictive and realtime analysis to simplify monitoring, capacity planning, reporting, chargeback and optimization of virtual environments. Installs as a single agentless virtual appliance in 20 minutes, offers single management pane.
VM6 Software
Montreal
Expertise: Virtualization Management
VMex combines virtual storage, servers, clustering and management, low capex attractive to smaller firms. Offers high availability and load balancing, monitoring, alerting and automation capabilities for remote administration and quick reaction to bottlenecks.
VMware Palo
Alto, Calif.
Expertise: Comprehensive Virtualization Portfolio
Has become synonymous with virtualization, first on the server, where it still enjoys dominant share, but increasingly on desktops, too. Now moving channel partner base to cloud computing, sees virtualization as a step on the journey.
Wyse Technology
San Jose, Calif.
Expertise: Desktop Virtualization
Maker of thin clients and software designed for virtual desktop infrastructures. PocketCloud enables access to a PC, Remote Desktop Services, Terminal Server, VMware View and other virtual machines from an Apple iPhone or iPad or Android device.
Xangati
Cupertino, Calif.
Expertise: Virtualization Management
Management Dashboard provides performance insight into VMware ESX/ESXi hosts, VMs, storage, network, applications and end-user devices on both virtual and physical infrastructure. Also sells VDI Dashboard and Remote Object Viewer.
Xsigo Systems
San Jose, Calif.
Expertise: Server Virtualization
I/O Director cuts capex and opex by allowing any server to connect to any network. Able to configure up to 64 isolated connections per server through a single cable; eliminates limitations of cards, cables and switch ports.
For more of CRN's Virtualization 100, see Part 1 of our list.