Archive for the ‘VMworld’ Category

[The following is piece I wrote recently for TechTarget. Sadly, I rather dropped the ball on the brief, and it didn't make the "cut". It was meant to be technical tip, but quickly became an opinion piece about the current economy uncertainty we are facing - and its impact or not on the world of virtualization.

Sorry about the title. Generally I can't abide this fashion for putting software version numbers in things to describe the next generation - like Web 2.0. Sounds too much like some sort of media construct...]

Over here in Europe we all seem to bracing ourselves for yet another round of the credit crunch, as European leaders once again meet to discuss what can be done to reduce the affect of the Euro sovereign debt crisis. One would think that the market uncertainty was creating gridlock with IT projects, with everyone batting down the hatches and tightening their respective belts.  I took it upon myself to do an informal unofficial survey whilst at last weeks VMworld Europe event in Copenhagen. The responses from the many people were many and varied but I did see a pattern emerging…

(more…)

Well, it feels like Copenhagen was many weeks ago – so much can be happen in a single week! With that said its only two weeks ago that I was checking into my hotel near the Bella wondering where the hell I left my iPhone.

I want to draw your attention to some TechTarget content out there which maybe of interest to folks who attended or didn’t for that matter. Some of it is pre-VMworld build up content – other stuff is post-VMworld analysis. I’ve edit this down somewhat to what I think might be of top interest:

IT shops stick to ESX for now
It’s likely that the bigger corporates will need anywhere from 9-18 months to get on to the new vSphere5 distro. I guess that’s why many folks are sticking with ESX “Classic” for now. This article delves a little deeper.

TechTarget announces Best of VMworld Europe 2011 winners
I was a judge this year of the “User Awards” along with David Davis and Gabe Van Zanten. The User Awards all about recognizing customers and what they do with products – which is something I have a lot of time for, given that most awards are for vendors & products.

Best of VMworld Europe 2011: Winners’ slideshow
Check out the pictures of the winners of Best of VMworld Europe 2011 user awards announced at this year’s conference in Copenhagen last week.

Microsoft data purports its Hyper-V as cheaper than an equivalent VMware set-up
As ever Microsoft takes the “VMware cost way too much stance”. I find it kind of odd, given that a lot of people are actually saying quite nice things about HyperV 3 in terms of new functionality. Perhaps its time for MS stop selling HyperV as the “donkey” of virtualization.

VMware mobile virtualisation arrives, but with baggage
At VMworld Europe 2011, users learnt that VMware Horizon Mobile service will soon be available on Verizon smartphones. But does VMware’s mobile virtualisation plans allay users’ bring-your-own-device concerns?

Will VMware change its licensing model again? ‘Who knows…’ says Martiz
When VMware chief executive Paul Martiz was asked about VMware’s recent licensing structure furore, he admitted that the industry will have to move to a consumption based model.

VMware’s cloud vision has little on storage
A single most important focus of VMworld Europe 2011 conference was the cloud. But VMware may not have any plans yet to effect the cloud delivery of storage.

Is VMware focusing all its attention only on cloud and mobile virtualisation?
At VMworld Europe 2011, VMware expanded its management tools for vSphere5, outlined its roadmap for the cloud and showcased the tools for mobile virtualisation. Has desktop virtualisation taken a backseat?

Best of VMworld Europe 2011 User Awards podcast
Listen to me & Gabe yack on about the User Award process. Warning: PR folks we can spot you a mile!

This is your final opportunity to submit your virtualisation use case for the Best of VMworld Europe 2011 Awards taking place on the show floor, on 18-20 October in Copenhagen. Give your IT project the recognition it deserves by filling out our online submission form now before time runs out:

The awards are broken down into five main categories, which include:

• Best virtualisation and server consolidation project
• Best virtualisation for disaster recovery project
• Best remote-office/home-office deployment project
• Best private cloud project
• Best desktop virtualisation project

Also, one Best of Show winner will be chosen based on the winning entries for the categories above

Each winner and their case study will be featured on SearchVirtualDataCentre.co.UK, a site devoted to data centre and virtualisation technologies. As an added bonus, all winners will receive a certificate recognizing their achievement, as well as a 50 GBP Amazon.co.UK gift certificate, and be entered to win an Apple iPad 2!

The deadline for submission is tomorrow, 16 September 2011, so we strongly encourage you to submit your entry today!
(*Please make sure the form is filled out completely and accurately or else it will not be considered a valid entry. Also, you or another representative from your company must be present at the show to be eligible to win).

Those who have been following the exploits of my fictional character – Luke Maverick will no that he’s been experimenting with scripted installs of vSphere5. Maverick’s work was done using the Release Candidate of vSphere5, and he’s in the process of testing his work against the GA release currently. That work has formed the basis of an article for TechTarget.

Read on MacDuff…

Well, I’m back from VMworld. Carmel and I, stopped off at Palo Alto for a weekend decompression – and hooked up with some SF friends – including the legendary “Chickenman of VMware” Hans Bernhardt. We also got a chance to see Cary Grant and Grace Kelly in Hitchcock’s “To Catch a Thief” at the Stanford Theatre – and old timey cinema that was rescued and restored some years ago.

In case you didn’t hear I finally picked up the gauntlet that was laid down many years ago – of attending the VMworld Party as Elvis. It was a hoot – here are some sample photos:

[If you were at the event last week, and got your photo taken with vElvis - let me know I would love to see them!]

(more…)

In this miniwag with Edward Haletky we discuss his experience at the VMware Labs, and we also chat about Edward’s session on security.

In this miniwag I chat with David Davis about his new vSphere5 video series, and TrainSignal’s plans for videos on other VMware Technologies.

Me & Eric had double-blind face-off over the rights and wrongs of virtualizing vCenter…

;

I first met Mike at the Indy VMUG – we chat about the regional event I attend (and the massage you could get) and we also talk about his recent deployment of FlexPod…

In this miniwag I chat to John Troyer, VMware Social Media guy… We chat about VMworld’s past and present, and how the VMware Community has evolved over the years.