VIrtualization Vendor Matrix

Posted by Michael Keen on May 21, 2008. send this link to your friendsprint this post
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I had a meeting with a group of executives during lunch the other day.  It was one of those that the "geek" gets to show up and they ask a bunch of dumbass questions (at least that is what it has been), like I can't get my all-in-one printer to work.  I exaggerated that last statement of course, but you get my drift. 

But one guy stands up and says that he has been hearing a lot about this "virtualization thing" and "how many companies out there are there in that industry".  I thought "WOW", that came out of left field.  It just so happens that I ran across the "Virtualization Vendor Matrix" the other day and printed off a few copies to carry around in my briefcase.  I shared this with the guy and I swear if he could have given birth to something he would have.  I love sharing knowledge and ideas and seeing the lightbulb go on for people.  I get totally jazzed man, I'm tellin ya.

Anyway, I wanted to share this matrix with the rest of you as well.  I'm not expecting lightbulbs or people giving birth to large cows or crapping bricks sideways, but it's a good collection of companies that are involved in the virtualization space.

You can find it here.  Enjoy

Reader Comments
Sun corection
Thursday, May 22, 2008 11:09:15 AM

Guest

Sun Microsystem:

"Cons

Historic enmity with Microsoft might disrupt Solaris/Windows VM integration; commoditization of Xen hypervisor reduces attractiveness of Solaris; focus on SPARC may turn off integration-minded customers."

I think you are talking about old Sun Micro... Au contraire, new Sun Micro is friends with Microsoft (follow the link) and everybody else:

"Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq “MSFT”) and Sun Microsystems Inc. (Nasdaq “JAVA”) today announced that Sun has signed on as a Windows Server® OEM. Additionally, Sun and Microsoft will collaborate to further enable deployment of Windows Server on Sun x64 systems.

Key components in today’s announcement include:

•

Windows Server OEM agreement. Sun will offer Windows Server on their x64 hardware and will provide additional utilities and value-added software offerings to server systems carrying Windows Server. Windows Server 2003 will be available on Sun x64 systems within 90 days.

•

Sun x64 systems and storage. Microsoft recognizes Sun’s compelling x64 server and storage products in the market today. Microsoft and Sun will continue to work together to test and validate the Windows platform on these systems for scale-up enterprise computing.

•

Solaris and Windows virtualization. Sun and Microsoft will work together to ensure that Solaris runs well as a guest on Microsoft virtualization technologies and that Windows Server runs well as a guest in Sun’s virtualization technologies. Sun and Microsoft will work together on a support process for customers using the virtualization solutions. This joint commitment to customers ensures that Windows and Solaris will provide a solid virtualization experience

 Expanded investment in interoperability. Microsoft and Sun will build an Interoperability Center on Microsoft’s Redmond campus. The center will include a demonstration area for Sun x64 systems, act as a working lab for Windows on Sun benchmarks and sales tools, and support customers running proofs of concept for projects focused on Windows on Sun x64 systems, including joint Sun/Microsoft solutions in areas such as databases, e-mail and messaging, virtualization, and Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) support in Sun Ray thin clients. The Interoperability Center will expand Sun’s presence on the Microsoft main campus, adding to existing Sun systems showcased and customer-tested in the Microsoft Enterprise Engineering Center."

"The two companies have also created a basis for tighter interoperability between Platform Enterprise Edition (Java EE), the Microsoft .NET Framework 3.0 and Windows Communication Foundation in Sun’s Web services interoperability technologies (called Project Tango). Sun is also a founding member of the Microsoft Interop Vendor Alliance and a Microsoft Gold Certified Partner."

  

Also, Sun has focus not only on SPARC, but heavily on x86 and x64 servers, using processors from both Intel and AMD and with agreement to optimize Sun's hardware and Software with them both. Part of Intel's agreement is a joint development to enhance Solaris on Intel based processors (again, follow the links).

Also, Sun has another agreement with VMWare, with full support of VMware products under Sun's hardware and software, put aside the joint thin-client offerings.

You may also want to add Sun xVM VirtualBox to the list, as its part of the Virtualization lifecycle with xVM.

 That aside, good chart

Re: Sun corection
Thursday, May 22, 2008 11:53:01 AM

Guest
I don't think Michael MADE the chart. It was published at CIO magazine. Your comments might be better directed there.
Re: Sun corection
Thursday, May 22, 2008 11:58:47 AM

Guest
heh.. I didn't find any way to comment there, but since michael is the one spreading the table, he might as well spread a correct table
Re: Sun corection
Thursday, May 22, 2008 12:53:09 PM
I'll pass your comments on to the right person at CIO.com.  Nice catch and thanks for the info on the "new" Sun.
Re: Sun corection
Thursday, May 22, 2008 12:54:37 PM

Guest
It also didn't include VirtualBox which is now a Sun product
Re: Sun corection
Thursday, May 22, 2008 2:30:31 PM

Guest

Thanks Michael, glad you found that info useful

 also @Guest#3, if you check the lis, you will understand why they didn't include Virtualbox... it's only server-class virtualization, so VMWare Workstation, Parallels Workstation and Virtualbox are not included... But, if you check the link I put on my first comment (this one), regarding virtualbox, unlike VMware and Parallels, Sun includes Virtualbox as part of their server offering, allowing anyone to create a virtual server on any machine were VBox works on (Windows, linux, mac and solaris so far) and then deploy this machine on xVM server

This could be cited as another advantage under Sun's wing if you will

Re: update
Friday, May 23, 2008 11:18:44 AM

Guest
I also noticed that it lists Vizioncore as another small company.... when it actually has been owned by Quest Software for quite some time, and Provision Networks (also owned by Quest Software - QSFT) is not listed at all. 
Re: Re: update
Friday, May 23, 2008 7:03:48 PM

like I said earlier, I didn't make this matrix, but I will pass on the feedback to the appropriate person at CIO.com to make sure that their information correctly reflects what is going on in the industry.

Thanks for the feedback.

Cheers

Michael

SUN Containers and AIX LPARS??
Monday, May 26, 2008 2:48:55 PM

Hi

I don't see SUN containers (Zones) or AIX LPARS (http://www-03.ibm.com/systems/i/advantages/lpar/)??

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 About Michael Keen
Michael Keen is the Director and Senior Solutions Architect in the Enterprise Architecture group at Alliance Technologies in Des Moines, Iowa. He is an innovative, results-oriented architect and executive with over a ten years of experience using technology to reach business objectives and eliminate barriers to business growth. Before his career in IT, Michael was a professional alpine climber. He spent over seven years on and around the highest peaks of the world. He has learned what it takes to prepare oneself for large challenges and has taken those experiences and translated them into his successful career in IT. Today, Michael spends most his time speaking in front of C-level executives and other business groups around the U.S. on the how to integrate IT and business. He brings his experience in strategy and execution from alpine climbing to the world of strategic IT automation and execution using dynamic IT concepts and virtualization and application delivery.